The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928, March 03, 1921, Image 1
i •— the Monitor A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS A C1..1 i. . fa - THE ItEV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor _ > tMta Yw K a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA* MARCH 3, 1921 Vol. VI No. 36 (Whole No. 296) ENGLAND WATCHING AMERICAN LYNCHINGS Newspaper Correspondents Take Accurate Note of Acts of Vio lence Committed Against Black Citizens of the United States —Every Lynching Is Reported in the English Press—Race Clashes Featured in Newspapers of Great Britain. HAROLD SPENDER ANALYSES % IE PROBLEM -\ Charges Britain With Responsibility Thr> V Slave Trade for Black Problem—Race in Southern Stat* »idly Increasing —I-egit imale Ambitions for Self-Determ. <g ' Developing in Like Ratio—Dissatistied With Wholesal. ’ranchisement and Social Ostracism. IONDON, March 2.—Recently at a -J tea the curious English institu tion where a cup of tea and a cress sandwich furnish an excuse for a gathering of persons of various view' ( —Stephen Graham declared In all sln serity that in the event of war be tween the 1'nlted States and Japan the latter country would find a valu able ally In the American Negroes. He had just published his book, '“The Soul of John Brown,” written after a three months' tour of the South, most of It spent in walking along Sher man's path to the sea, and natuially y everything he said was accepted with out question by his English auditors. Whenever an Englishman and an American discuss Ireland the former invariably counters with “How about your Negro problem?” Every lynch ing Is reported In the English press Every disturbance in the South is fea tured In the newspapers of Great Britain. Sympathy for the Negro Are we blind, indifferent, as the English were In the years preceding the passage of the home rule bill of 19H and the Dublin Easter rebellion of 1916? The English believe so. lib erals on this side have a sympathy for the American Negro not iinlik1' that of certain Americans for thi Irish. Graham's trip through the South was not prompted by a deslri to muckrake; he went there because he had a sympathy for the Negro. Harold Spender, another English liberal, tbe author of a biography of Eloyd George, has written a series of articles on America, one of which dis cusses “The Black Problem.” To most Americans, Spender’s treatment of the question would be considered eminently fair and devoid of sensa tion. but the English are greatly Im pressed and undoubtedly more thin ever sympathetic with the Negro. # Spender points out that the British did a thriving business In slaves and that they arc more or less responsible for the "black problem." “Tlie black specter dogs America still,” he says. “Behind all her poll cies there Is a deep rooted fear —a fear of the black man In the present and a still greater dread of him in the fu ture. "America fears for her civilization * and for her race She dreads lest North America should become a black man's continent. Those who travel in the North may think this absurd. But in the South the peril is nearer. There are Southern states where the white man Is only In a bare majority; there are states where he Is now actually outnumbered. “AH the time the black population is increasing at a great pa< e More important still, their ambitions are In creasing also. They are no longer content with the policy of wholesale disfranchisement and social ostracism which has been so long pursued In the Southern states. There are hundreds of black lawyers and black parsons; thousands of black teachers. Many of these black men have proved them selves the equal of the whites. "Often they work harder So the claim to white privileges Ik threat ened, und a very serious problem looms ahead. It Is not a question of actual slavery; It Is a question of po lltical freedom. The broad fact is that In spite of tbe civil war and Hie fa mous fifteenth amendment to the con stitution the Negro has been by one means or another deprived of his po 4 lltical rights and often of his civil rights also—throughout the South." Farther on Spender says: “There Is grave danger for America in allow ing the black problem to drift. In Great Britain such a trouble would find Instant voice In parliament. There would he frequent, questions about lynching episodes. There would be legislative proposals of various kinds, and probably the government would send the whole question to a royal commission which would Inquire and report. But In America, despite their courage and vigor, there seems a curi ous reluctance to face the great prob lems of the future. "Neither great party seems to hew out a policy and stand by It, after the fashion of our parties In England. The result Is that public opinion is left without guidance. It is not faced with a choice of policies. Now, we have various policies in regard to the black problem in our empire. South Africa has one and India another. 1 do not say that they are perfect policies, but they are policies. No Policy on lllack Han “America' has ffo policy in regard to the black man. It might decide to dis franchise him. On the ,-ontiary, it an nounces in the federal constitution on no aceonnt is he to be disfranchised Then in the state constitutnons i( pro ceeds to do so. It might put the Ne gro under a special law and confine him 1o special regions, as Hotlia p:o posed In South Africa. "Hut it does nothing of the sort It claims for him the full liberty and protection of an American citi en. Then it proceeds to stand aside whll lie is hanged and burned without trial I call that a dangerous policy, te anse It provokes the greatest possible amount of unger and resentment while il places no real restraint on a devel opment which Is growing note and more formidable every day.” The English are never likely to be come the champions of the Negro to the extent a large section of the American public supports Sinn Fein it Is equally true that the British »r: unlikely to Interfere In what Ameri cans consider their domestic affait But there Is unmistakable evidence that the British are becoming Increas ingly interested in the future of the Negro. New York Tribune. MII.EKK PREDICT* RACE COBf tJHESH.HEN FROM THREE CITUN (By the Associated Negro Press) NEW YORK CITY, March 3. in a recent address here Dean Kelly Miller of the Junior College of Howard Uni veraUy, Washington, I) (’., predicts! that within six years there will be Ne cro representatives from New York City. Philadelphia and Chicago In con gress. This will he one of the political results of the migration of some 600, ooo%.Negroes from the South during the last decade. Ho read census sta tistics showing the Negro imputation t. New York to be 176,000, in Phila dolphin 134,000, in Washington an Chicago 109,000 each. “From these concentrations there will develop a political self-conscious ness,” he added. “You will find that these communities will he sending representatives to city councils and state legislatures, After a while they will send representatives to the eon gress of the United Stales. It is safe to predict that within fouV or s:x years there will be a Negro congressman from New York City, one from Phila delphla and one from Chicago. The population is sufficiently large to come within requirements of congressional districts." XI PERVININ<« ERECTION OP V $100,(Mill RESIDENCE Eor a l eading While Capitalist of Tulsa—Dn| of Fifty Hen Employed One Half of Them Ire Colored. TUIjSA. Ok la., March 3. There is in course of construction here in TiiIhu a residence for Hon. Tate Brady which, when completed, will cost $400,1)00. The supervising contractor I* Mr C. 11. Murphy, a member of our group, and who Is recognized ns one of the leading mechanics In the conn try. For ten .veals this young man was In the employ of Westernhouse, Church, Kerr & Co., New York, the largest const ruction house In the United Slates, where he made a great leputation. During the Kwar Mr. Murphy was building inspector unit superintendent for the United States and at times had as many as 2,000 men working under him. This gentle man has been a mechanic all his life and has in his possession some very strong recommendations from persons for whom be has worked. The Brady residence, which is in course of con struction at 620 North Denver street, will, when completed, be one of the prettiest homes In the city. Putting Mr. Murphy in charge of the erection of such a building is proof of bis abil ity and shows that If you have the goods and can deliver them, your services will always be In demand.— Tulsa Star. ACTORS RESENT “COLOR LINE” DISCRIMINATION Charles Gilpin, Famous Actor, Among Ten Distinguished Guests to lie Invited to Annual Drama League Dinner—Proposal to Exclude Him Brings Storm of Protest From Influential Mem bers of Theatrical Profession. DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS TAKE FIRM STAND Emphatically Declared That They Would Not Accept Invitations to Dinner If Gilpin, Whose Art Entitled Him to Recognition. Were Excluded as Was Proposed on the Ground of Race or Color—Art Should Make No Such Distinctions. KW YbRK, March 3.—That ait knows no color line, and that artists are above petty limitation and restrictions which would follow as a result of the action of color prejudice, has been clearly and unmlsakably shown within the past ten days by de velopments following upon what was reported as the intended action of the Drama League of New York In the matter of its dinner In honor of the ten persons who have contributed most to the art of the theatre during the last year, and Charles Gilpin, the Negro actor who has made a distin guished success in the play, “The Em peror Jones,’’ now elljotlng a run at the Princess theatre. Norman Trevor, Philip Moeller and George Cram Cook*. Several of these men and women signed and issued to the press the fol lowing statement: "The undersigned men and women of the theatre, appreciating creative and interpretative ability wherever It springs, feel It our duty to publicly express our Indignation at the alleged lis'-i lmination by the Drama League against the distinguished Negro actor, Charles S. Gilpin, now appearing in New Yoik In Ihe title role of ‘The Em peror Jones.' II has come to our no tice that Mr. Gilpin, for no other rea son than that he is a colored man, has been eliminated as otn of the guests at Hie Drama league dinner to ten full returns might not place him nmong the first ten. Gilpin Is One of Ten The balloting was concluded on Sat urday, February 19, and announce ment was made in the morning papers of Monday, February 21, that Gilpin stood sixth among those balloted for and would consequently be invited to I lie dinner guest of the Drama League at the annual dinner on March i; at Hotel McAlpin. Walter Hartwlg, in charge of the dinner arrangements, made the formal statement as to the result on Sunday evening at Plymouth theatre, prior to a lecture. The audi ence" applauded the reading of the names- the ten persons being: Dudley Digges of “Heartbreak House.” Gilda Varesi of “Enter Madame.” David Belasco, putting on “Debu rau.” Eugene O’Neil, author of "The Em peror Jones.” Ben-Ami of "Samson and Delilah.” Charles Gilpin of “The Emperor Jones.” Lionel Atwlll of “Deburau." Lee Simonson, scenic artist. “Heart break House.” Margaret Severn, use of masks in dances in “The Greenwich Village FollieB.” Fred Stone, comic artist. Mr. Hartwlg afterwards stated most emphatically that Mr. Gilpin would be invited, the invitations being sent out on Monday of this week. It is the hope ■if certain elements, judging from the -vs items concerning the matter, . ^ a u Warrerv G. Hardirvg \K^ Who takes oath of office Friday, March t, as I’res dent of (he United Stales The three thousand members of the Drama league were asked to vote for the ten persons to be chosen as guests at the dinner, and it was announced early last week that although Charles Gilpin had received votes sufficient to place him among the ten to bo Invited, the league board decided to eliminate him as a dinner guest and simply send him a nice letter assuring him of the high esfiein In which he was held. This announcement aroused a storm of protest on all sides. The Metro politan dallies carried the story aB "first page news” and at the same time gave a strong editorial expre? sion condemnatory of Ihe proposed ac tion. 11 was declared that color and race should not be considered in a matter of so vital artistic Importance and many of the most prominent of the prospective guests declared that they would not countenance such ac tion by attending the dinner. Distinguished Artists Protest Among those who declared most em phatically that they would decline in vitations to the dinner if Gilpin was dis criminated against were Mary Gar den, director of the Chicago Opera company; Gllda Varesi, Jacob lienja min, Hubert Edmund Jones, Eugene G. O’Neil, who wrote "The Emperor Jones;" Dudley Digges, Dee Simonson, I actor* and actresses of distinction on .March 0 and this In spite of the fact that Mr. Gilpin's work in ‘The Km peror Jones' has won him a place In the Drama League balloting to estah II ,h the year’s ten biggest contribu tors to dramatic art. ‘‘Confirmation or denial of this act of prejudice has been refused by the responsible officers of the Drama league In the circumstances, re specting nH we do the masterful abil ity of Mr. Gilpin, we wish to announce our decision to stay away from the Drama League dinner unless the Drama League sees lit to deny intern lo discriminate against Mr. Gilpin." Officials of the Drama League has tened to Issue a statement which de clared that the circulation reports were based on a misunderstanding That while the voting was In progress, and before It had been concluded, someone telephoned in and asked as to Mr. Gilpin’s standing in the balloting. At thal time he stood third among the actors, blit no Idea could be given of the final standing us the full liHt. which included producers, stage di rectors, playwrights and designers, also would have to he tabulated. The inquirer wanted to know if Mr. Gilpin was likely to he Invited, and was told that it was probably doubtful, as the that Mr. Gilpin will not accept. It In idetit, however, that there is a strong feeling that Mr. Gilpin should attend, not as a colored man, simply, but because he stands as the repre i ntative of a particular racial art de ' \ elopment. GILPIN WILL ATTEND DRAMA DINNER Charles Gilpin, the star of “The Emperor Jones,’’ told a reporter for the World last night (Tuesday) that ■ he had decided definitely to accept the invitation of the New York Drama League to be one of its ten honored guests at its annual banquet in the M< Alpin hotel, March 6, but only to ' the extent of “dropping in” on the af i lair and paying his respects. So far as having dinner is con ; cerned," he said, “that is out of the ! question. But If the other nine per sons invited as honored guests indi cate they would like to have me, I shall certainly attend long enough to show them my appreciation. As for the Drama League— well, 1 know its members very well, and I do not wish by any means to force an association. "1 am going to attend the dinner given by the Civic Club, of course." i Gilpin said he had written to Laura V. Day, secretary of the Drama CONSTRUCTIVE ENTERPRISES Following the Line of Cuming Street West to Twenty-fourth and North on “Little State Street,” as a Visitor Facetiously Named the L itter Thoroughfare, We Find Various Lines of Business Representing in the Aggregate Several Thousands in Capital. CO-OPERATIVE WORKERS OF AMERICA (Jo-operative Workers of America Conduct Well-Equipped and Up to-Date Grocery and Meat Market, Which Is a Credit to the City and Merits Enthusiastic Support and Patronage. IN accordance with our promise and in keeping with our policy, we are continuing the article of last week on ‘‘Constructive Enterprises." As was told In our last week’s issue, the pur pose of this publication Is to call the attention of the people to the progress made by us In the commercial world. Our activities in business have been increased innumerably in proportion to our growth of population. There has also been a broadening of our In fluence by entrance into more regu lated and beneficial lines. We have spoken of the pathway leading from the downtown district to the precincts of the north, and along the route in passing, we pointed out the fast-growing, big, live business of the Kaffir Chemical laboratories. Turning from there along Cuming street, we find the Cuming hotel, a well-regulated hosterly, the Russell brothers' enterprise, which means an investment of several thousands of dollars, and several more barber shops and two tailor shops, under the direction of members of our group. Turning north at Twenty-fourth street and along that well-traversed commercial avenue, we find numerous barber shops, pool halls, shoe shining parlors, beauty parlors, hair dressers, furniture stores, tailoring establish ments, shoe repairing shops, physi cians, dentists, druggists, cafes, res taurants, grocers and butchers as far north as Lake street. The most pro gressive and distinctive of these is the store conducted and operated by that organization known as the Co-opera tive Workers of America. Mr. G. D. Gordon, president; Mr. Snowden, sec I.eague, indicating his qualified ac ceptance of the invitation.—New York World, February 23. HAITIAN MISSION ARKIVEN TO PRESENT FACTS ON CRUELTY Mill Demand Full Congressional In restIgnt,ion Into Military Occupation of Black Republic—Commission Has Definite Requests to Lay Before the American People. (By the Associated Negro press) NEW YORK CITY, March 3.—A Haitian mission, consisting of Stenlo Vincent, ex minister of the Interior of Haiti, and Pauleus Sannon, ex-Haitian minister to the United States, has ar rived in New York for the purpose of presenting the truth of the Haitian situation to the American people and asking for a congressional investiga tion of the military occupation of the S’egro republic. Messrs. Vincent and Sannon issued the following statement at the offices nf the Natlonl Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People: “We are sent here by the Patriotic Union, a national Haitian organiza tion with branches in every town or the Haitian republic, to acquaint the American people with the truth about conditions in Haiti, to make known Haitian aspirations for independence, and to enlist American co-operation In realizing those aspirations. “The Haitian people want: "1. immediate suppression of mar tial law and military courts. “2. Immediate reorganization ot Haitian armed forces, military and po lice, and withdrawal in a short time or the military occupation by the United States. “3. Abrogation of the 1915 treaty be tween Haiti and the United States. “4. Convicatlon of a constitutional assembly In Haiti. “The various courts of Inquiry and investigation sent to Haiti having sup pressed rather than revealed the truth to the American people, the Haitian mission is charged with demanding a full and searching investigation by the congress of tho United Stales." DANGER SIGNAL A blue pencil mark on your paper means your subscription is due and must be paid at once or your paper will be stopped. NEGRO STANDS HIGHEST Doctor Green, expert mechano theraupist of this city, on December 4, 1920, took a civil service examina tion for clerk in the field service. Among more than one hundred appli cants, of which he was the only col ored applicant, his rating is number one on the eligible list. Doctor Green came here two years ago from Missis sippl. retary, and Mr. J. H. Russell, general manager, which is the handiwork of this group of gentlemen who, along with some twenty others, developed this institution under the leadership and direction of Attorney H. J. Pin kett, assisted by Dr. J. R. Lemma. It is well to pause here and point out to every race man that they have a duty to perform and the responsi bility for the succese of an Institution of this kind depends entirely upon them. So it comes without question to this point, that it is their duty to sup port both financially and morally this institution, regardless of what their opposition may be to the individuals who are attempting to promote it, for it must be remembered that the insti tution will stand as an affair for the benefit of the future generations. Other institution that have features that are worth mentioning and pro moted by members of our group are those in the furniture business. We failed to mention them along with the others in the early part of our article, but they were overlooked uninten tionally. This is a new feature among business men of our race, but points fair to be one of the most successful and remunerative. There are also In numerable transfer wagons, automo bile transfers and taxi lines that seem to flourish because of liberal patron age. Some of the best tonsorial par lors in the city are located in this thoroughfare, and prove more than anything else the fact that we must develop our thought, and put into ac tion our much boasted and oft-spoken expression of race pride and race patronage. MAN SHOT TO DEATH Clarence M. Ross Killed by John Wil liams of Grand Island, Who Finds Wife at Ross’ Rooming House Coroner’s Jury Exonerates Williams I AST Saturday morning Clarence J M. Ross, proprietor of a soft drink parlor and rooming house at 1014 South Tenth street, w’as shot and in stantly killed by John Williams of Grand Island in Ross’ room upstairs over the soft drink stand. At thp inuuest which was held at the undertaking rooms of Jones & Reed Monday afternoon Williams was exonerated and dismissed from cus tody. The evidence brought out at the inquest was to the effect that Wil liams’ wife had left him and come to Omaha. The man responsible for en ticing her away, it was alleged, was Otis Green. Learning that she was stopping at the Ross rooming house, Williams went there to induce her to return home. She saw him coming and ran into Ross’ lied room, where he war ill, Dr. A. B. Madison being present and prescribing for him, ex claiming, “My God, here is George.” At tLis .juncture Williams apneared at the bedroom door where he stood with his hands in his pockets. Ross said: “Take your hands out of your pockets; we don’t want any trouble here.” Williams replied, “They’re my own pockets, and I’ll do what I please.” Ross replied, “Yes, you wdl take them out,” and whipping out a gun from under Ins pillow’, pointed it at Williams, who grabbed Ross’ arm, and drawing his owm gun fired, killing Ross. It was upon this evidence that Wfl liams was discharged. Ross’ body was taken in charge by Jones & Reed. The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon. - - . Z'ZZ SLOGAN: “The Monitor In Every Home And I’ll Help Put It There”