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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1920)
r^i The Monitor i-"-i A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. THE REV JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS Edit... $3.00 a Year. 10c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, OCTOBER 28,1920 ,Vol. VI. No. 18 (Whole No. 278) hay i> Women are % !ONG THE KILLED Secretary Daniels Makes Public (he Report of Admiral Knapp,! Who Was Officially Appointed to Investigate Charges of Ruthless Slaughter Among Natives STATEMENT GUARDED BUT SUSTAINS CHARGES{ Admits That Over 3,000 Persons Have Been Killed During American Occupation—Women Among Slain—Such Cases Accidental Not Intentional—Not Clear Concerning “Flog ging, Strangulation and Sept” Vy/"ASH1NOTON, Ocl. 2S—The long death roll of Haytians incident j to American occupation, approxi- j mately one out of every 400 inhabi tants, included women, according to Rear Admiral H. S. Knapp, who was sent to the island to make an investi gation by Secretary of the Navy | Daniels. The Navy Department made public today a letter from Admiral Knapp, addressed to Charles McKinley of Portland, Ore., in which Mr. McKin ley asked some pertinent questions i concerning affairs in the distracted island. The fact that the reply of Admiral Knapp is made public by the Navy j Department is regarded as indicating the department’s belief that it is a defence of its activities there. In sgjtc nf tin favorable no' .1 of the Admiral’s replies, admission: are made concerning the killing of worn- i en, although it is explained they were1 killed within the fighting lines. The : admission is made with a vague sug gestion that the report that women were killed might or might not be so. I “There may hove been cases of women being shot," Secretary Dan iels’ investigating report says, “dur ing action when these women were in company of bandit bands, but such cases, if any occurred, were accidents incident to the campaign and were not the result of an intent and were in despite of every desire of the American troops engaged.” The Admiral says he has heard of no cases of children being killed. Figures 3,000 Haytians Killed. This is the first public admission that women “may have been killed,” and indicates the desperate manner in which, the natives, men and women alike, resisted occupation of the is land. The Admiral admits the casu alties among Haytians, also making this admission with the accompani ment of some doubt, saying casually, “it is very’ possible that 3,000 Haytian men in all may have been killed," and SECRETARIES OF STATE AND NAVY CLASH OVER HAITI Colby and Daniels Attempt to Switch Illume !'|><m Each Other for Condi tions Under Investigation on Island DANIELS PLACES BLAME ON STATE DEPARTMENT Contends That Marines Police island as Stale Department’s Agents— Navy’s Self-Exculpation Not Ac cepted by Colby ASHINGTON, Oct. 28.—A bitter controversy has arisen between the navy and state departments ovei the “indiscriminate killing” of natives in Haiti. Full responsibility for the autocratic rule by American marines in Haiti was placed directly on the state department by Secretary Dan iels. In policing the island Mr. Dan iels said the marines merely act as agents of that department. The. state department admitted this but maintained that it cannot be held responsible for individual nets of op pression bv the marines. The administration’s policy in Haiti is entirely in the hands of two state department officials — Arthur Bailly Blanchard, the American minister, and Col. John Mcllhenny, the financial ad viser. Both are accused of oppression against the civil government in Haiti hardly less startling than the accusa ■' S' tk _ , „ ' k adds Uie operations resulting in these ,arge casualties were necessary in order to restore respect lor life and property. Admiral Knapp says he is not pre pared to answer fully the question whether “flogging, strangulation and sept’ ” were practiced to obtain in formation from the natives, but says le has been unable to substantiate .he reports and professes to be ignor int of what is meant by “sept.” The Admiral’s letter explains the ‘coivee” system, by which labor was orced to make roads, and savs it has been abolished. He admits the sys-' cm was retained in “oW or two re mote regions” after the American oe ■upation and after the system had been ordered discontinued. Unforced Labor Caused Trouble. It has been understood that eon .inuation of the system was largely! responsible for the disturbances in the Hinche-Missaide districts, where ille gal killings are reported to have taken place. Answering the question whether it is true or not that the representative legislative system has been abandoned md whether it is true that no legisla tive assembly has been convened since 1910, the Admiral says the literal an ■er is “no.” He qualified this by ex plaining that a congress was elected after the occupation but after meet ing was prorogued by the Haytian president after the coup d’etat of June 19, 1917. Since that time no legisla tive body has met. The Constitution of 1918 provides that the election of the legislative body shall take place on January' 10 of even numbered years. Under the orovision of the same Constitution it is provided that a council of state shall exercise the legislative powers ■ntil a legislative body is elected. There can be no legislative elections until 1922. It is admitted that the United State.", seized the custom house before the convention of 1915 was in effect. j -1 tion . against the marines. Following complaints three weeks ,:go that he had cut off the salaries of l the president and all other high offi-; rials in Haiti because they would not ign a contract giving virtual control, of the island finances to an American banking concern. Colonel Mellhenny was ordered home to Washington to ex plain. Secretary Daniels announced that Brigadier General W. C. Neville will he substituted for Brigadier General John TJ. Pendleton in the court of in quiry that will investigate the charges of "indiscriminate killing” of natives in Haiti. Brigadier General Barnett arrived in Washington and conferred with Mr. Daniels regarding the inquiry. CANDIDATE FOR HOARD OF EDUCATION i By the Associated Negro. Press.) LOUISVILLE, Ky.. Oct, 28.—The Uolored people of this city have launched the candidacy of Wilson Tjovctt. for a place on the local Board of Education. His petition has been filed with flftv-seven more than the required number of names. It Is pro ms, d to "single shoot” the Colored vote for him and thereby make sure of Ms election. There Is also consid erable sentiment nealnst the Univer sity of Louisville bond issue. It is very nrobable that the Colored vote will he against the issue. M ILL TEACH WOMEN j cofing election by a committee ot Col IIOM TO VOTE ,iret| women recently organized for the purpose. A series of meeting have i By the Associated Negro Press.) been held and addresses delivered by PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Oqt. 2S.—The Mrs. Alice Dunbar-N'elson, Mrs. S. W. women of this city will lie instructed > ion and Mrs. J. fi. Robinson, the how to east their ballots at the forth- organizers of the movement. I'V,X*vvvvvvvvvvv*X,*l,vvvv'!**X.*l"l*1l*vv.X*v.X*v*.Mt.,''*X**.,..X*V'.,vvv.’‘*i*'X‘ | ’ | ’!* ZJo the Colored Voters of the 9/at/on: l % We are now on the home stretch of the greatest political :• drive of this day and generation to dethrone the Democratic £ £ oligarchy which has been created, encouraged and fostered £ i; by the autocratic South, and led by that dreamer of world :• power and world dominion, Woodrow W'ilson. £ We have never had such an opportunity to display real £ £ patriotism and party devotion. The nation expects much £ ;i; of us. The party expects even more. £ In some states there are complaints of the Colored voters £ £ against candidates on the Republican ticket for the Senate £ £ and lower house of Congress for divers reasons inspired by £ £ designing Democrats and mercenary Colored leaders with A £ £ view of muddying the waters that the Democratic candi- £ £ dates might escape unnoticed and unobserved with power X £ and position. But please be it remembered that no matter £ X how conservative any Democratic candidate for Congress £ £ may be, you cannot get away from the fact that if these £ £ Democratic candidates are successful, they go to Congress £ £ and come under the lash of the Democratic whip. For eight £ £ years the Democratic whip has been in the hands of South- £ £ ern leaders and these Southern leaders in Congress have in- £ X troduced legislation touching the race only when it meant £ £ the setting back of the wheels of progress of our group. £1 £ Therefore, you cannot disassociate the Democratic Senator £l X or Congressman, whether in Missouri, in Maryland or in £ £ Ohio, from the Tom Watson of Georgia or the Pat Harrison £i £ of Mississippi and their kind. X i At this crucial period of reconstruction following the & I £ world war when the political structure is in chaos and being £ •f reerystalized, it is our racial duty to see to it that men are £ £ placed in power who will stand by a president who will ad- X £ minister the affairs of office in the interest of al! of the £ X people irrespective of race, creed or color. £ j; Have no misgivings as to one presidential candidate and £ £ do not lie led away by the confi v,fjons and bickerings touch- £ £ ing the covenant of the'League of Nations. Great as may £ X be the issues involved in the l>ague of Nations, they are of £ £ but small consequence when compared to the Constitution £ £ of our nation, in the enforcement of every letter of which, £ £ we, above all other people, are most vitally interested. £ X To the end that you may the more clearly see the impor- £ £ tance of voting and voting right in this election, we beg to £ £ call your attention to the fact that we have witnessed an un- £ preredented spectacle in the Democratic candidate having £ 5; condescended to the low7 level of injecting the race issue in a £ £ presidential campaign. X It mav he that the Republican party has not done all that £ £ it might have done—but we must confess and admit that the £ Republican party has done all for the American Negro that £ j* has been done. £, Let us see to it by every influence that we can command £ £ and hy all of the activity that we can bring into play, that £ t' our vote is brought out and counted and that we may lie a £ |* most vital factor in this election of Senator Harding and a £| £ Republican Congress, which will mean a new birth of free- £ i’ dom to us and a new impetus to world progress and humane *••! £ endeavor. £ £ HENRY LINCOLN JOHNSON. £ £ R. R. CHURCH, X £ CHAS. A. COTTRILL, £j 1* National Directors Division Colored £ Voters. X X By PERRY W. HOWARD, £ j c Secretary, Western Division. \ . f >.|XMiXMXMXX,,X,4XMMMXX*,X"XMX*,X<,X'«X,,XXMXM.XMiXMX**XMXMXMXMIMX< 1 Watermelons Just Ripe to Cut PROMINENT PASTOR TAKES UP LARGER WORK Enters General Missionary Field for the State of Nebraska—His Pastor ate Marked With Signal Success The Rev. M. H. Wilkinson, pastor of! Ml. Moriah Baptist church, Twenty-' fourth and Ohio, ha- been elected by; the executive board of the Negro Bap- ' ist Association of Nebraska and the ] State Baptist convention (white) to serve in the capacity of superintend ent of missions over the Baptist ■hurches in the state. This new field ’urnishes him with a very much largei vork and a correspondingly larger re ponsibility. There are twelve churches >f this faith in his new jurisdiction epresenting about 2,500 members. The Rev. Manasseh Herr Wilkinson | .'as bom in Jamaica, British West 'ndies, December 24, 1879, and re reived his early training in Callabai ollege on that island. He then taught lU-\. M. H. Wilkinson school in Jamaica and Panama fot | several years, coming to America in ! 1905. He was the first Ne^ro natur-1 al ized in Douglas county. He re ceived his theological training at the Department of Theology of Lincoln university, Chester, Pa., having grad uated with the degree of S. T. B. in 1909. He came to Omaha and took up the pastorate of Mt. Moriah Baptist church, which was located at Twenty sixth and Seward streets, the build ing now occupied by the Seward Street Presbyterian church. During the time of his pastorate the church has made remarkable ad vances. He found a membership of 65 with a debt of $1,000. The mort gage on the church was burned ovei two years ago. The membership has increased to nearly 400. They sold the old church for $3,500 and bought their new site at Twenty-fourth and Ohio streets for $8,500. They owe now only $3,500. They have on de posit in the bank $1,242.00. The church is located on one of the most beautiful corners in the city and speaks well for the retiring pastor. He leaves for his new position No vember 7. The congregation of Mt. Moriah regret very much to have him go. GOVERNOR APPOINTS STATE COMMISSION (By the Associated Negro Press.) JKFfERSON CITY, Mo., Oct. 28 Governor Gardner has appointed A. C. Macklin, Dalton; Joseph Haskell, Maysville; Ephrain Rucker, St. Jo seph; Andrew Craven, Fayette; C. C. Hubbard, Sedalia; J. B. Coleman, Co lumbia; B. F. Butler. Auxvasse; Bin - ton Hayden, Kirkwood; Mrs. G. L. Blodsoe and Philip Jordan, St. Louis; Gevi Ribault, Ste. Genevieve; Mrs. John J. Thomas, Cape Girardeau, and John Lintesey, Joplin, as members of the Negro State Commission. BROUGHT FROM FRANCE FOR BURIAL (By Associated Negro Press) BRUNSWICK, Ga., Oct. 28.—Man son Grey, a Negro soldier of this city j who lost his life in Fiance during the recent war, was buried here last Sat-! urday. Grey was 23 years old and was the first soldier of Brunswick to lose his life in France. MANY WOMEN REGISTER (Bv Associated Negro Press) NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 28.—The; colored women of this city are regis-1 tered in large numbers. They have i organized a voters’ league and have nledeed themselves to vote for Hard- j ing for president and Roberts for gov- j emor. EUROPEAN FINANCIERS HAVE EYESOH LIBERIA Efforts Are Being Made, It is Seri ously Allege^, to Interest Strong Financial Groups in Valuable Con cessions in African Republic AMERICAN ENTERPRISES WOULD BE CURTAILED Commercial Bulletin Charges Ameri cans With Callousness and Political Cynicism—Evidently Strikes at Of ficials ONDON, Oct. 28.—An effort to in terest some great European finan cial groups in valuable concessions in Liberia is now being made here, ac cording to information the World cor respondent obtained in financial quar ters here. If these plans crystallize it is believed here that these interests will have secured a position calcu lated to serio'vsly curtail American enterprises in Liberia. The United States government has been aware for some time of the ef forts being made by British and other foreign interests to extend greatly their holdings in the African republic, over which the United States has ex ercised a moral sponsorship. In the African World recently there have been published quotations from the Commercial Bulletin of Monrovia (capital of Liberia) which severely criticize the United States. The African World says: "The Commercial Bulletin charges A ■ ir i ■ itli eallou me and political cynicism. Does Ahis descrip tion apply solely to certain American officials who recently have caused so much unpleasantness and unnecessary , annoyance in Monrovia? If so, the remedy lies with Washington. There is a strong dement for an independent Liberia. W'ill President King deal with the situation.” State Department Unaware of Liberian Discontent Officials of the state department at Washington have announced that no information has been received here of the presence in London of Liberians seeking to interest European financial groups in concessions in that country. It ;s also stated that no advices have reached the department of the report that American officials in Monrovia have antagonized Liberians and that as a result an effort is being made to induce European competition against American interests. GROUND IS BROKEN FOR INDUSTRIAL SCHOOI (Bv Associated Negro Press) ATLANTA. Ga.,' Oct. 28.—Ground was broken last Wednesday after noon for a new $.10,000 building foi the Holmes Institute, a home indus trial school for colored children. The ceremony was attended by a large number of white and Negro citizens. VIOLATES HARRISON ACT. PHYSICI AN IS SENTENCED ATLANTA, C.a„ Oct. 28.—Dr. J. S. Cheshire, a physician, was sentenced by Federal Judge Samuel H. Sibley to two years imprisonment in the federal prison for violating the Harrison anti narcotic act. Dr. Cheshire pleaded guilty to five indictments. DETERMINE to VOtf. IN NORTH CAROLINA RALETGH, N. C„ Oct. 28.—The ex ecutive committee of the Negro Re publicans of North Carolina have just issued a call to the Negro voters throughout the state to cast their votes for the republican ticket in No vember at any cost. The whites are* said to he making plans to resist a wholesale casting of the Negro vote. - CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS ON FA RATER-LABOR TICKET (Bv the Associated Negro Press.) ST. T.OTTTS. Mo.. Oct. 28— Robert H. Owens, a Colored lawyer of this city, has announced his candidacy for rep "papntative in Congress from the 12th ’istrict on the farmer-labor ticket. The Colored vote in this district ex ■pphs the white vote bv 8.000. His election is freely predicted.