. the monitor r^n
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
S2.00 a Year :,c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, MARCH 17, 1921 Vol. VI No. 38 (Whole No. 280)
PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA VISITING UNITED STATES
DRAlvX LEAGUE
HOicSS RACE STAR
Charles Gilpin, Famous Actor, Attends Banquet at Fashionable
New York Hotel as One of the Distinguished Guests and Re
ceives a Remarkable Ovation at the Beginning and Close of
His Brief. Well-Chosen and Unaffected Address—Not a
Jarring Note Disturbs Function.
RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE AT BANQUET
The I nprecedented Number of More Than Siv Hundred Gather
Vround the Festive Board Despite Presence of Black Artist.
Who Was “Joyously Welcomed. Enthusiastically Acclaimed
as a Great Actor and Made to Feel That Art Knows No Bar
rier Either Sectional. Geographical or Racial.”
TVEW YORK CITY, March 17.—
* Threatened dissension among
members of the Drama League be
cause Charles Gilpin, the Negro actor
In “The Emperor Jones,” had been in
vited to the annual dinner, evidently
failed to materialize, for the dinner,
held Sunday night, March B. at the
Hotel McAlpin, was one of the most
successful In the history of the league
Insofar as attendance was concerned,
if any members refused to attend be
cause of the presence of the black
actor. It was not apparent, for the
number on hand was so large it be
came necessary to placp twenty addi
tional tables In the ball room adjoin
ing the main banquet hall where the
dinner proper was held.
More than 600 members and their
friends appeared and Gilpin himself
put an end to all speculation as to
whether he would he on hand by ap
pearing at 7 o'clock, one of the firs!
of those honored by the league to ar
rive. He was cordially greeted on all
sides, and was seated between Lee
Simonson, who was honored as a
scenir artist for his work In “Heart
break House,” and Hilda Varesi, hon
ored for her work as an actress and
as co author ot "Enter, Madame.”
Miss Varesi was one of the stanch
est defenders of Mr. Gilpin as an ar
tist entitled to receive recognition.
She had telegraphed the league dur
ing the discussion that she would he
proud to sit next to him and deplored
doing American art a wrong by ex
cluding him.
When his turn came to speak he was
greeted with a storm of hand-clapping
JURY DISAGREES IN
McCLURE SUIT
Case Tried Before Judge Fitzgerald
Who Instructs Jury to Find For
Plaintiff and Assess Amount of
Damages—Cannot Agree I pon All
Persons Who Should Pay Damages
Case Will IK- Retried
Met LI RES' CH \ It ALTER CLEAR
After deliicerating for twenty-seven
hours the jury disagreed in the
$25,000 damage suit brought by
Charles McClure and wife against J
Dean Ringer, police commissioner;
Marshall Eberstein, chief of police; IT.
L. Mossman, former city attorney;
Police Officers Olaf Thestrup, John
Herdzina and Ed Farrell, Orkin Bros,
stores and Julius Orkin, which was
tried last week in dis trict court be
fore Judge Fitzgerald. The suit was
brought by the McClures as the result
of a raid on their home in the Kings
bury apartments at 2538 Dodge street,
May 7, 1919, supposedly for liquor,
but in reality for a suit of clothes, al
leged to have been lost by Kenneth
Trutoc, a delivery boy from Orkin
Bros, store. The McClures alleged in
their petition that the police officials
used illegal proceedings, wrongfully,
fraudulently and maliciously to gain
access to their home by issuing a
"whiskey warrant.”
McClure testified that after gaining
access to his home or apartments, the
police began inspecting articles >f
women’s apparel, mens clothing and
shoes, and that one officer looked in
an empty revolver for booze, and
searched shirts, camisoles, ties and
hats, being careful to note even the
trade marks. Some merriment was
created when Officer Herdzina testi
fied that in the thoroughness of his
search he looked under the bed, when
subsequent testimony allowed that it
was a Murphy-in-a-door lied.
Attorneys Lynch and Murphy, re
tained by the McClures, demanded
that the search warrant he produced.
Attorney H. L. Mossman, after some
delay, produced it. Judge Fitzgerald
ruled that the warrant was illegal on
the fuce of it. Officer Olaf Thestrup
testified that the warrant cume from
and some cheering which quite
'eclipsed that accorded Dudley Digges,
Hilda Varesl, Lionel At will, Margaret
Severn and others who preceded him.
And the artiste who had spoken first
did their best to make his greeting the
most hearty.
Kenneth McGowan, dramatic critic
acted as toastmaster. In Introducing
Mr. Gilpin he briefly reviewed the
actor’s work and said: ‘T take pleas
ure In introducing the greatest actor
of his race, Mr. Charles S. Gilpin.”
The applause greeting this introduc
tlon was enthusiastic and lasted fot
fully three minutes. The star of "Km
iieor Jones" was visibly affected by
such a rousing ovation, and said:
“This is one time when I am hardly
able to go through with a monologue,
and they say J do a pretty good one.
There |s a fancy among the Orientals,
you know, that the dead must cross a
bridge of red-hot Iron, and that is the
way I feel. In fat ing an audience of
this kind 1 feel as nervous ns a girl.
“An artist. I always thought, was
something a long, long way off. I
never expected to reach that height,
but you have called me that. I am so
glad, if I have given you an evening
of pleasure, and I am happy to be
among yon and have you know my
work.”
Mr. Gilpin concluded his remarks by
promising to try to make his work
stand out us prominently In the fu
ture.
When he saf down the applause was
even greater than at his Introduction,
and he was forced to how several
times. „
John Dunn, the then chief of detec
tives. Mr. Ringer and Chief Eber
stcin also stated that such warrants
came from John Dunn. The attorneys |
for the plaintiffs called John Dunn- to
the stand, who testified that he had
never issued the warrant or given any
otder for searching McClure's home.
Several character witnesses were in
troduced for the McClures. Mrs. Mc
Clure made a good witness and was
complimented for the clearness and
directness of her testimony.
Judge Fitzgerald instructed the jufy
to return a verdict for the plaintiffs,
informing them that their only duty
was to jix the amount ot damages and i
name the defendants against whom
the damages should be assessed. The
trial was begun Tuesday and the case
was given to the jury at 10:30 Friday
morning. At noon Saturday the jury
was dismissed, being agreed as to the
amount of damages, hut being unable
to agiee us to the principals against
whom the damages should be assessed,
i The case, it is stated, will he re
tried.
SHOOTS SELF TO
ESCAPE BURNING
(By The Associated Negro Press)
BEAUMONT, Texas., March 17.—
Rather tlian Ire burned to death Mon
roe Gilder shot and killed himself. He
had barricaded himseif at his home
after he hud killed three men in an
altercation. Citizens surrounded the
home of Gilder And in the effort to
capture him filed the house. Finding
escape impossible, Gilder shot himself.
make preliminary plans
BUSINESS LEAGUE MEETING
(By The Associated Negro Press)
ATLANTA, Ga., March 17.—Reuben
Black and Charles A. Shaw have re
turned from a visit to Principal Moton
at Tuskegee, with whom they prac
tically closed the arrangements for
the meeting of the National Business
League which convenes in this city
during the month of August next. Ah
industrial exhibit is to be the chief
feature of the convention. This ex
hibit will include models of Negro in
ventions, samples of manufactured
goods, agricultural products and live
stock. The local committee promises
many surprises for the occasion.
LIBERTY LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY SECURES QUARTERS
(By The Associated Negro Press)
CHICAGO, 111., March 17.—Presi
dent Frank L. Gillespie of the Liberty
Life insurance company has an
nounced that the company has leased
the entire second floor of the mag
nificent Roosevelt State Bank that is
being erected at the corner of Grand
Boulevard and East Thirty-fifth
street. This is an unusual departure
for “big business” even in Chicago,
and when the building is completed
Liberty Life will have one of the most
beatitiful office locations and equip
ment in the entire city.
PITTSBURGHERS ARE
ENJOYING PROSPERITY
(By The Associated Negro Press)
PITTSBURGH, Pa., March 17 —The
colored people purchased more than
$f>00 000 of proper last year and their
three banks did a business of over
S 1,600,000. There facts were brought
to light at a recent meeting of the
common council’s committee on pub
lic safety by the Rev. J. G. Austin, a
colored preacher of this city.
DISCHARGED BY JURY
(By The Associated Negro i’ress)
THOMASVILLE, Ga., March 17.—
John Wilson, charged with assaulting
a white woman, was discharged by a
jury in Judge Thomas' court lust
week. The accused man established
;i good alibi and the woman declared
that she was not. sure that he was the
man who assaulted her.
RAISING FUND FOR
CLARA JOHNSON
(By The Associated Negro Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 17.
FiVc hundred dollars have been raised
to help Clara Johnson, a victim of last
year’s race riot, to procure her free
dom. Prominent Washingtonians arc
interested in the woman’s case.
ORGANIZE TRUST COMPANY
(By The Associated Negro Press)
SPARTANS BURG, S. C., March 17.
—Negroes of this cjty have organized
the Woodward Trust and Loan com
pany with a capital of $10,000. The
company was organized by L. H.
Woodward and will engage in the
handling of real estate.
WANT NEW SCHOOL BUILDING
(By The Associated Negro Press)
WILMINGTON, Del., March 17.—
Wilmington colored people have in
augurated a movement which seeks to
procure new school buildings for col
ored children. The city council has
been petitioned in the matter and the
colored citizens believe they will get
the new building at the coming session
of the state legislature. ^
PROMINENT EDUCATOR
GIVEN RECEPTION
(By The Associated Negro Press)
NEW ORLEANS, La., March 17.—1
Public school teachers recently ten
dered a reception to H. H. Dunn n
appreciation of his work as president
at the Colored Educational Alliance.
Dr. Dunn has accepted a secretary
ship in the A. M. A. league.
CONFIRMATION AT ST PHILIPS
Bishop Shayler svill visit the Church
of St .Philip the Deacon Sunday aftei
noon at 4:30 to administer the Sacra
ment of Confirmation. The other
services of Palm Sunday will be the
holy eueharist and benediction of
palm, at 7:30 a. in.; church school at
10; holy eueharist and “Store of tlie
Cro.-s" at 11 a. m.
Last Sunday Melba Mary Ellen ami
Irma Lucille, daughters of Melvin and
Edith DeMadden McCaw were baptized
at the 11 o’clock services.
The usual daily and Good Friday
setvices during Holy Week.
ItAPTIST MISSIONARY
RETURNS FROM FIELD
Rev. M. H. Wilkinson, general mis
sionary for the Negro Baptists of Ne
braska, returned this week after visit
ing several of the fields over which
he presides. Ilis last point of activity
was at Lincoln, where he preached for
Rev. J. P. Staves of the Morning Star
and Rev. H. W. Botts of the Mt. Zion
churches. He was guest of Rev. Mr.
Ilotts, Sunilay a very sumptuous
meal was served in his honor at the
residence of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur
Clarke, 663 South Twentieth street.
Others present were: Rev. H, W.
Botts, Mr. and Mrs. P. Williams, MrJ
and Mrs G. Wyley The host and host
ess covered themselves with glory.
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.
PRESIDENT AND MRS. C. B. KING OF LIBERIA
I'his picture was taken in 1010 when the president and his wife arrived in
this country on their return from the Peace Conference
GUARDS ON WAY
TO SPRINGFIELD
Policeman Shot a* Threatening Crowd*
Gather Atter Eleven-Year-Old
Girl is Attacked
MACHINE GUNNERS READY
Extra Police and Firemen Prepare for
Action if Mob Form*
BULLETIN
iSpecial to the Plain Denier)
SPRINGFIELD, 0., March 12 (Sat
urday).—Company C of the national
guard is en route to Springfield from
London this morning following the
formation of a crowd of more than
1,000 persons in front of City hall an<i
the central police station. The guards
men are expected to arrive before l
o'clock.
The crowd assembled quickly aftc
it became known a man had shot Pa
trolman Joseph Ryan when he and a
fellow policeman hail tried to disperse
another crowd a short distance from
the police station. A youth was ar
rested a short time afterward, but po
lice are keeping his whereabouts
secret.
BULLETIN
SPRINGFIELD, March 11.—Patrol
man Joseph Ryan was shot tonight by
a man whom he was searching. The
bullet struck Ryan in the breast. His
condition is serious.
Two machine gun companies of the
national guard of Springfield, com
piising about forty men, w'ere ordered
out following the shooting of Ryan.
Plain Dealer Bureau.
21 S. Kish St.
COLUMBUS, O., March 11.—Four
companies of infantry, national guard
troops, were tonight under orders to
hold themselves in readiness to leave
upon a moment’s notice for Spring
field, to assist authorities there in
quelling a riot
This afternoon Adj. Gen. George
Florence received a telephone com
munication from City Manager Par
sons, asking that troops be sent. He
immediately dispatched Asst. Adjt.
Gen. Harry C. Horner, and Capt. Kay
niand L. Cheseldine of London. O., to
view the situation and make a pei -
sonal report.
These officers at 8:10 this evening
reported there were fifty-two police
men and some city firemen available.
The adjutant general at 7:50 p. m. i
telephoned Sheriff David Jones and
infoimed him it would be necessary
foi him to make a telegraphic request
before troops could be sent.
The city manager under the law can
not ask for troops. The request must
come from a sheriff, judge or a magis
trate. Adj. Gen. Florence directed the
sheriff to take every precaution and
to exert every possible effort before
requesting troops. ,
Sought Troops at Once
The sheriff informed the adjutant
general that he wanted the troops sent
immediately. Two machine gun com
panies in Springfield under Maj. Ar
thur B. Bland are being held in its
armory in readiness.
UfAHE Monitor desires to call atten
A tion to the above article which
is reproduced verbatim, headlines and
II, from the Cleveland (Ohio) Plain
Dealer. We wonder if there is any
thing in it that strikes our readers as
remarkable. Please notice that there
is no mention whatsoever of the race
of the man who shot Patrolman Ryan;
:ior any reference to the racial com
position of the crowds. The Associated
Press dispatches gave prominence to
the fact that “a negro" shot the police
officer, when he was seeking to “dis
perse a crowd of negroes;” and that
bad feeling had been caused by ‘The
attack upon an eleven-year-old white
gill by an unknown negro.” The press
throughout the country carried the As
sociated Press dispatches, and with a
few notable exceptions placed up
strong “Negro,” “White” and “Race
Riot” in their headlines. When every
thing should be done to promote good
will among America’s polygeneous and
polylingual population, and bring har
mony among the races, we submit the
policy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer
which, by the way. is a democratic
newspaper, as an example of how
newspapers may help bring this har
mony and goodwill to pass, instead
of intensifying rare 'hatred and fo
menting strife by stressing race rather
than crime which is so generally their
policy. We commend the example of
the Plain Dealer to the Omaha Daily
News, the Omaha Bee, which offend
greatly in this respect, ands also to
the World-Herald, w’hich is a less
grievous offender in this matter. We
thank the Plain Dealer for adopting
this wise, just, and pacific policy in
repoiting news of this character.
HUS. lintllAltl) DIES
AT NASHVILLE
(National Negro Press Association
Service)
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 16.—
Mrs. George Q. Hubbard died at 7:30
today. The funeral was held in the
Meharry auditorium Thursday, March
17, with Dr. Tlllett, dean of Vander
bilt University, in charge.
Mrs. Hu hard was 34 years old and
had been In the south fifty years. Her
husband recently retired as president
of Meharry Medical College. She
passed nwny on the eve of entering a
home which Is being built by Meharry
alumni.
FOREMAN OF JURY;
FIRST IN STATE
(By The Associated Negro Press)
BURLINGTON, N. J., March 17.—
As a foreman of a jury in the Bur
lington county courts, last week, Ed
ward Lane enjoys the distinction of
being the first man of the race to be
honored in this section of New Jersey
if not in the entire state.
LOAN OF $5,000,000
MAY SOON BE SECURED
Distinguished Citizens of African Republic Have Arrived to Con
fer With the Department of State Concerning Large Ixtttn to
Liberia—Loan Was Negotiated During Last Administration,
But Was Limited by Conditions Which Liberians Deemed Too
Radical and Inadvisable for Acceptance.
PRESIDENT KING HEADS THE COMMISSION
Chief Executive Tells Purposes for Which Loan Will Be Used—
Program of Industrial Development Has Been Outlined by the
Government Which Embraces the Opening of the Interior of
the Country, Which Is Rich in Natural Resources—Railroads,
Telegraph and Telephone Facilities to Be Put in Operation.
NEW YORK, March 17.—A party of
distinguished Liberian citizens
reached New York on Sunday, Marcli
6, on board the liner Panhandle State.
It was headed by Charles D. B. King,
president of Liberia, and he was ac
companied by F. E. R. Johnson, asso
ciate justice of the supreme court of
Liberia; John L. Morris, former sec
retary of the treasury of Liberia, and
Gabriel L. Dennis, secretary of the
delegation.
The party was met. at quarantine by
a representative of the department or
state of the United States, the Liber
ian minister and the Liberian consul
general, and were escorted to the
Waldorf-Astoria.
The commission is visiting the Unit
ed States to take up with the adminis
tration at Washington the final nego
tiations for a loan of $5,000,000 from
this country to the African republic,
which was granted in 1918, bet which
has been hanging fire ever s' ice be
cause of the unfair financial condi
tions which the Wilson administration
sought to impose.
Object of Loan
With President Harding and Secre
'ary of State Hughes now holding thp
: ieins of governmental control, Presi
dent King is hopeful that the protract
ed negotiations will now be brought
to an early and mutually satisfactory
conclusion.
CONSTRUCTIVE
ENTERPRISES
Block Fourteen on North Twenty
Fourth Street Contains a Dozen or
More Business Establishments Con
ducted Mainly by Recent Migrants
from the Southland
Block thirteen on North Twenty
fourth, we learned last week, was the
pioneer block for business ventures op
our race. Although this is true, block
fourteen, located between Paul and
Charles street, has out-rivaled and far
surpassed it in the number and va
riety of its business. For a number
of years there was a small lunch room
on the northeast comer of Twenty
fourth and Paul streets. This was the
lone business place operated by colored
people in this block for many years.
It did a thriving business. General
Scott was the proprietor for a lone
time. Some months ago it 'hanged
hands and is now known as Hall’s
lunch room. A little over two year -
ago, this lunch room began to have
company A large number of people
who had come from Brewton, Ala., and
parts adjacent, began opening up other
lines of business in this block. A man
by the name of Robbins opened a gro
cery store; S. W. Mills opened a fur
niture store; W. M. Franklin, a real
estate office and so it went, until now
nearly every building on the east side
j of Twenty-fourth street between Paul
I and Charles, houses some line of busi
ness operated by colored people.
There is about a dozen business place
in the block, and strange to relate, a.
evidcnce of our proness to minister
to stomachs the block begins and ends
with a restaurant. Not only so, there
is one in the middle of the block. This,
however, can be said of these places,
they arc neat and clean and well kept,
and there are no loafers banging
around any of these business nlaces,
which, as candor compels us to state
is a drawback to so many business
places conducted by our people. Now
these are the business enterprises in
this block: Hall’s Punch room, Chi
cago Cafe, Montgomery & Company
grocers, succesors *o H. R. Pobbins
& Co.; Cloverleaf Cafe, Benjamin
Thomas’ shoe repairing shop, well
equipped with up-to-date machinery;
Eureka Furniture store, John Robbins,
proprietor, carrying a splendid stock
of furniture; Graham tailor shop, with
the proprietor always industriously on
1 the job; S. W. Mills, real estate and
new arid second-hand furniture, and
“The loan Is to be used for the pur
pose of putting into immediate opera
tion a program of industrial develop
ment, desired by the government and
the people of the republic,” said Presi
dent King. “One of our principal
aims is to open up the interior of the
country, which is rich in natural re
sources. Other improvements are
projected, such as the construction of
motor roads and railways, telephone
and telegraphic facilities and Indus
trial schools.
To Increase Exports
With the development of the in
terior of Liberia, which is about as
large as Ohio, the country, according
to the commission, will be in a posi
tion to increase greatly its exports,
consisting of ivory, coffee, oils ana
piasavia brush. Liberia also, said Mr.
Johnson, hopes to develop its trade
with this country, from which she now
receives foodstuffs, in particular.
Liberia lives in a stale of content
ment and peace, untroubled by revo
lutions of the type which beset other
small republics, said Mr. Johnson.
She has neither army nor navy, but
maintains a police force for the pro
tection of her frontiers. Liberia is on
the Atlantic shore of West Africa be
tween Sierra Leone on the and
the Ivory coast on the east, and has a
population of 3,000,000.
the Omaha Wonder Cafe. On the
west side of the street in the same
block a young man, whose name
escapes us. runs a shoe-shining parlor.
It is from ventures of this kind that
large business enterprises develop;
These people are our pioneers in the
commercial world and are entitled to
the patronage of those who believe
in racial development along all lines.
Continued next week.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
OF N. A. A. C. P.
(By The Associated Negro Press)
NEW YORK, N. Y.,— March 17.—
The N. A. A. C. P. drive for 250,000
members is on. Dr. DuBois and Dr.
William Pickens are in the southern
fields; James Weldon Johnson and
Walter F. White are in the middle
west, and Mary White Ovington is in
the far west. The drive is said to be
very successful.
ORCAMZE NEW MASONIC U0DOE
The A. F. and A. M. Masons had a
big time last Saturday night at Twen
ty-fourth and Parker. They didn’t get
home until 8 o’clock next morning. A
new lodge was set up, being mostly
composed of ex-York Rite Masons.
There were about fifty-five men, and
Mr. Nat Hunter, grand master, with
the help of about 200 brother Masons,
helped to put the class through.
Charles H. Bradford was made wor
shipful master, Rev. S. L. Deas, S. W.;
Charles W. Blue, J. W.; W. H. John
son, secretary; R. L. Turner, treas
urer; Ben Banks, S. D., and Fred Hus
ton, J. I). The lodge will meet the
first and third Saturday nights of each
month.
After all the bills were paid the new
lodge had left In the treasury $267.
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SLOGAN: “The Monitor In Every Home And I’ll Help Put It There”
