i — i The monitor i = i
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
Ti^5 REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
i $2.00 a Year 5c a Copy OMAHA. NEBRASKA, APRIL 7, 1921 VoL M No. 40 Whole No. 301
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WOMAN GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER
CLAIM SENSATIONAL
V^R-RISK SCANDAL
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Will Be Revealed ' War Risk Investigation Asked by Presi
dent Harding. v \lleged by Persons in Possession of Im
portant Facts, t, 'V,- • Cases of Discrimination Against Col
ored Soldiers Will t» % J Before Commission.
LIEUTENANT CLIFFORD HAS COLLECTED DATA
Former Officer Who Served in War Risk Department and Re
signed Because His Petitions for Relief of Men Were Ignored
Will Present Facts in His Possession to Committee on Inves
tigation of which Roosevelt is a member.
(By the Associated Negro Press)
Washington, April 7.—Startling in
formation will be revealed in the War
Risk Investigation asked for by Pres
ident Harding. General Charles G.
Dawes, of Chicago, heads the Commis
sion, and Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt is one of the mem
bers. The Commission is now sitting
in Washington, and during its ses*
sions it will be disclosed that Negro
■t soldiers, in that department, under the
Wilson administration suffered shame
ful and unbelievable ttreatment.
One of the former officers who
\ served in the War Risk Department,
I Lieutenant J. Williams Clifford, has
gathered a fund of data on this sub
ject, and he will offer it to the Com
mission.
In an exclusive interview for The
Associated Negro Press, he declared:
“It was because my petitions for
these suffering men were practically
ignored that I resigned from the de
partment some time ago. The people
will be aroused to action when they
know what these brave boys are going
through.
"What we need is close, sympathetic
contact with ail former soldiers. There
are thousands of opportunities to be
helpful \hat thousands of soldiers do
not know anything about. We must
educate them into the advantages of
war risk, but the discriminations must
be stopped.”
Lieut. Clifford showed the Asso
ciated Negro Press representative let
ters that he has received from various
soldiers. Only brief quotations from
a few of them can be given here. The
following are representative of scores
of letters in his possession:
Quotations From Soldiers.
Oscar Flewellen, of Waco, Texas: “I
have asked these doctors here in camp
to send in my medical record but they
will not look after the interests of the
Colored boys. Colored boys are treat
ed like cattle and dogs. The officers
are low bred, uncouth, and if they are
not careful a race riot is liable to oc
cur as these boys have all decided to
stick if anything occuis.”
S. H Cavitt, Houston, Texas: “1
write you in the interest of our Col
ored returned soldiers and the treat
ment that-is given them as to their
i just compensation and hospital treat
1 ment. It is quite evident that they are I
1 not getting what the government gives ,
to them, owing to the fact that there
is no one here to represent them in
their grievances as the doctors and
nurses turn deaf ears to their plead
ings.”
- I.loyd Bates, Texarkana, Ark.: “I
have just received the letter stating;
that you have cut my compensation
from $20.00 per month to $18.00 per1
month. I want to know why you cut
the Colored boys and allow the whites
in the South to get $00.00 to $115.00
per month. I am asking how 1 am to
work when I lost my chances when I
entered the army, for I am now unable j
to walk and work and I am a cripple.
I want a new rating from some doc
tor who does not call us Nigger and
make us wait two hours until all the!
whites are waited on. I have proof |
from over 500 Colored men in Camp
Logan who will say the same."
Augustu- Stan berry, Dallas, Texas:
“It seems that all these white doctors]
here are giving us a raw deal, they
will not send in our medical reports so j
that we can get our compensation.”
Theodore Roe, Halley, Ark.: “I have
waited patiently to hear from my med-1
ical report but it seems that no one in
this camp will write or send in our re- j
ports for compensation. We do know ;
they will write to the Bureau for the
white boys but not for us.”
J. E. Davis, Y. M. C. A. secretary,
Marshall, Texas, wrote: “I do not
know how it is in other states, but
may I say to you that hundreds of
Colored people hereabouts in the State
of Texas are being robbed, cheated,
deprived of the things rightly due
them from the Bureau. I have just
received information of a man’s hav
ing secured an agreement from the
War Risk policies for the payment of
a considerable sum of the proceeds if
he will adjust it or get them the
money.”
There are scores and scores of cases
similar to these, many of them un- j
printable in their scandalous debauch-:
ery. In the matter of neglect, covering I
up and studied insult, it appears that j
thousands of disabled Colored Ameri- J
cans have suffered untold agony.
STHWVS THAT TELL HOW THE CURRENT OF RACIAL
PROGRESS FLOWS.
The Commercial Bank and Trust
Company of Richmond, Va., during 12
weeks of business passed the $100,WO
mark Depositors numbered 1174 and
depu its totalled $61,000.
Howard University has 1,721 stu
dents: college, 878; law', 161; religion,
232; medicine, dentistry and pharmacy
450.
George White, a letter carrier at At
lanta, Ga., has been retired after forty
years’ service. J. Frank Rickards of
Detroit, Mich., has also been retired
after a like term of service.
A report of The House Committee
on Education says "there are over
1,000,000 more white illiterates in the
United States than Negroes.”
The Standard Life Insurance Com
pany of Atlanta, Ga., has $10,864,650
worth of insurance in force. This i3
a Colored company and its policy hold
ers ar© Colored people. Heman C.
Perry is the president
The Charleston Mutual Savings re
ports resources of $120,0W after ten
months of business.
James E. Herndon, a retail produce
dealer of Baltimore, Md., does an an
nual business of $40,0W and employs
six assistants.
James A. Jackson of New York City
has been added to the editorial staff
of the Billboard.
The Special Grocery Company, Inc.,
has been launched with $50,W0 cap
ital at Roanoke, Va.
Mayor Babcock of Pittsburg, Pa.,
has reappointed Attorney Robert L.
Vann to the City Law Department.
He will serve as counsel for the De
partment of Public Safety. His sal
ary is $4,250 a year
CK1.KHRATE COLORED
AMERICAN DYY
(By The Associated Negro Press)
WINSTON-SALEM, N. C., March
24.—Colored American day was duly
celebrated here last Saturday. The
exercises included a parade which was
reviewed by the mayor and city offi
cials, speeches by prominent wj|ite and
black citizens and singing by a big j
children's chorus. The day will be an j
annual celebration.
Rl RAI. SCHOOL FI ND RAISED
(By The Associated Negro Press)
JACKSON, Miss., March 24.—Mis
sissippi is the first state to pass the
$50,000 mark set by Julius Kosenwald,
the Chicago merchant, who has
planned to establish a group of rural
schools for Negroes in the several sec
tions of the south. Bura Hilburn will
conduct the work in this state.
DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE
(By The Associated Negro Press)
DANVILLE, VA., March 24.—Giles
• Snyder has been sentenced for a crim
inal assault on Ixittie V. Cunningham
a young colored girl A jury in the
court of Judge W. R. Barksdale re
turned the verdict. Snyder will be
executed on the 8th of April next."
PROVIDING AID FOR EX-SLAVES
MERIDIAN, Miss., March 24.—If
the plans of a citizens’ committee ma
terialize “old time slaves’’ in this state
will be provided with a home and fou
acres of land before the year is ended.
Many white people are interested and
there appears every prospect for the
success of the project.
SLOGAN: “The Monitor In Every Home And I’ll Help Put It There”
City Primary Winners
James C. Dahlman .*. L. Sutvm
I
Dan Butler H. W. Dunn
. D. Ringer T. Falconer Roy Towl .iphn Hopkins
• ________________
C. A. Grimmel J. Koultky W. G. Urs J. F. Murphy
EX-MAYOR DAHLMAN
SWEEPS CITY
Slates won at Tuesday's primaries.
Former Mayor Dahlman swept the city
receiving 10,000 votes more than J.
Dean Ringer, the high man on the op
position slate, known as the “5,000.”
The entire slate of the Committee of
5,000 was nominated, its six candidates
taking sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth
11th and 14th places. The five mom
nos of th* Dahlman slate on whom
Dahlman support centered likewise
won, ranking first, third, fourth, 10th
and 12th.
Commissioners Ure, Zimman and
Rutler were the unstated winners both
the latter benefitting by slates in cer
tain sections. Ure, who declined en
dorsement by the Committee of 5,000
was nominated by a scratch. He made
viritually no campaign.
Former Mayor Dahlman and Police
Superintendent Ringer were the win
ners of personal endorsements. Dahl
man ran away in the lead of all com
petitors, topping Commissioner But
ler, runner-up, by nearly three to two.
Ringer led the slate arranged in his
behalf by the Committee of 5,000
passing not only Commissioners Fal
(MIIMIIIIHMfiMraimfltf if if if If it UK tt ti.it JT X-it'tt'.
coner and Towl, his colleagues recom
mended for re-election, but A. L. Sut
ton, the Ringer candidate for mayor
as well.
All things considered, John T. Mc
Donald, Sr., who was not well-known
among our people, ran well, being
thirty-fifth man with thirty below him
among whom were several experienced
campaigners. His running ranked
with that of sucV men as Trainor, Ku
gel, Bostwick and Best, and outdis
tanced that of Ray Sutton, Bi-oat,ch
Bruning, Leeder and a score or more
of others. His vote was 1,335.
Following are the totals for all ol
the 161 precincts in the c?tv for the
fourteen successful candidates:
James C. Dahlman . . 21,402
Dan B. Butler . ...15,659
Henry W. Dunn .13,786
Joseph B. Hummel . 13,571
Harry B. Zimman .....12,020
J. Dean Ringer .11,679
Thomas Falconer . 11,621
Abraham L. Sutton ..1.11,297
Roy N. Towl . 10,433
:John Hopkins ... 9,484
Charles A. Grimmel . 8,819
Joseph Koutsky . 8,462
W. G. Ure .!. 7,432
| John F. Murphy . 7,378
iQKHWWJX xxxx xxrow*row** " « ** ~ ** ~ « ~ ~ ~ ~~—■ ■""—■ ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■
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A WARNING
THAT MAY BE TIMELY
JUST prior to the Court House Riot for several weeks
there appeared a series of articles in the daily press of in
flammatory nature telling of alleged attacks by Negroes
lpon white women. These stories bore the unmistakable
sar-marks of a common authorship or souice. They served —
their purpose. The Monitor sounds a note of warning to
the justice-loving citizens of Omaha to be on fheir guard
against a similar propaganda for political purposes at this
time. We also urge our people to continue to be law-abiding
and circumspect in their conduct.
1
GEORGIA GOVERNOR PROMISES
PUNISHMENT OF PEONAGE
New York, April 7.—The National
j Association for the Advancement of
i Colored People, 70 Fifth Avenue, New
York, has made public a letter re
ceived from Governor Hugh M. I jer
sey of Georgia, relative to the dis
closures regarding peonage in Jaspei
| County, Georgia, which caused the
murder of eleven Colored peons. The
Governor definitely promised to do
all in his power to see that the per
petrators of the system are punished
Governor Dorsey’s letter to the As
sociation reads as follows:
“I assure you that all true Geor
gians deplore the awful tragedies re
cently brought to light, and I am leav
ing no stone unturned to put the
‘wheels of justice’ in motion, and hope
to bring about the conviction of the
guilty parties. The Governor, as you j
know, has no jurisdiction. All he can !
do is to try to bolster up the officials!
elected by the people.”
JURY FIND MCNICHOLS
WOMAN GUILTY OF
MANSLAUGHTER
Mrs. Mattie McNichols was found
guilty of manslaughter by a jury in
District Judge Troup’s court Tuesday
afternoon in connection with the kill
ing on January 23 of Mrs. Emma
Polke. The case was given to the
jury at 9:30 Tuesday morning and a
verdict was reached by 12:15. Six
ballots were taken before the verdict
was agreed upon. Mrs. Polke was
killed by a butcher knife in the hands!
of Mrs. McNichols in the kitchen of;
the former's home Sunday morning j
January 23, in a quarrel that arose (
over the disappearance of some money j
concerning which Mrs. McNichols wa4
accused by Mrs. Tolke of having
knowledge. The husband of Mrs. Me-.
Nichols is still to be tried as accessory
to the crime. The jury debated as to
whether they should return a verdict
frr murder in the first degree, second
degree or manslaughter, finally agree
ing upon manslaughter. The penalty
is f:om one to ten years.
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
STUDENTS PRESENT GREAT
SH AKESPEAREAN TR VGEDY
Or. the nights of March 4 and 5, the
students of Morehouse college, Atlan
ta, Ga., presented Shakespeare’
“Hamlet” to capacity audiences, which
were composed of some of Atlanta’s
highest literary critics, under the di- j
rect:on of Mis.-. Mary L. Strong. Aside j
from the strong personality of th-3
whole cast, the audiences were at
traded by the stage scenery and the |
gorgeous costumes which were repre- i
sentative of the Shakespearean times.
The interpretation of A. Jackson
Rigell in the leading role as Hamlet ,
was of the very highest quality j
throughout the play. Special mention ;
should be made of the mad scene of;
Mrs. J. B. Watson as Ophelia; the
aueenly bearing and interpretation ol
Mrs. P. M. Davis; the regal and ma
iestir appearance of W. E. Anderson
as king; the impressiveness of the
ehost, Ralph Harris; the humor pro
voked hv Charles Perkins as Polonius j
and Julian Barnett and Burnett Hud
son as grave diggers; the dramatic
interpretation of H. W. Thurman a
Horatio; and the duel scene of E. S.
Hope as Leartes and A. Jackson-Rigel!
as Hamlet.
The success of this production was
j due largely to the untiring efforts oi
| Miss Mary L. Strong who is one of the
piofessors of English.
CONSTRUCTIVE
* ENTERPRISES
%
The Monitor Continues Its Interesting Story of the Business
Ventures of Our People To Be found On North Twenty-fouth
Street. Factory Building Representing Value of $8,000 is leased
to Manufacturing Finn which Employs Several Women.
ESTIMATED $35,000 INVESTED IN ONE SLOCK
Well Epuipped Drug Store, a Unique Cafe, several Taxis and an
Undertaking Establishment among the Progressive Enterprises in
One Short Block. Sidelights on One or Two of the Proprietors
Who Cater to the Public.
Last week we ended our trip!
among the business enterprises
on North Twenty-fourth Street
on the southwest comer of Bur
dette Street. Crossing the street
to the northwest comer an ex
ceptional building greets one.
It is a one story cement block
factory building known as the
M. E. Smith Company Shirt |
Factory Number 7. The build
ing is owned by St. John’s A. M.
E. Church, and the Rev. W. C.
Williams, pastor, and is rented
fo the M. E. Smith Company
for factory purposes. The build
ing is fitted up with electric
sewing machines and gives em
ployment to about thirty young
women. It is a race enterprise
only in the sense that the build
ing, including the ground, all
representing a total valuation of
"bout $8,000 is owned by colored
ieonle,which is of itself a strik- ;
inglv significant fact.
Just north of this the north
ward traveler can have his thirst
ouenched at the “Oasis” a soft
drink parlor, secure tonsorial
work or find amusement and re
creation in ways that please
“ome of the colored gentry
Next to this is the Bee Taxi
Itand and across the street is!
the “Little Fontenelle” an j
attractive and popular cafe of
which the genial Frank Golden j
fs proprietor, and whose fame
as a purveyor to the epicurean
testes of his patrons rivals that
)f chef de cuisine of the big
Fontenelle down town. Two
tr three taxi stands can be
reached here.
Returning to the west side,
there is Williamson’s well equip
ped and up-to-date drug store
with a full line of drugs, toilet
articles etc., and a soda fountain,
with the genial proprietor Mr.
E. A. Williamson alwavs on the
iob and never singing the blues,
if he were inclined to try to sing
the blues, the Monitor believes I
that the unfailing good nature j
of Mrs. Williamson who helps
bpy husband out would not make
this possible.
Just north of Williamson’s,
housed in an attractive two
story brick building, is the nu
dertaking establishment of Jones
NEW COMMISSIONERS
APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT
President Harding Appoints Howard!
University Trustee Commissioner ol
the District of Columbia
—
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 24.—
President Warren G. Harding has just
appointed two new commissioners of i
the District of Columbia, namely, Hun.•
Cuno H. Rudolph, president of the Sec
ond National bank, Washington, D. C.,
and Captain James F. Oyster. Both
have served as commissioners before.
Mr. Rudolph is a trustee of Howard
university, being a valued member of
the finance and executive committees.
Foi many years he has been deeply
interested in the work of this import
ant institution for the education of
colored youth at the national capital.
Serving as a member of the executive
and finance committees, he has been
of very great help to the university
administration in the management of
its financial affairs Officers, teach
ers, students and members of the
alumni of the Howard university very
greatly appreciate the high recogni
tion which has come to a member of
its board of trustees.
EDUCATIONAL MOTION
PICTURE SHOWS
(By The Associated Negro Press)
CHARLOTTE, N. C., March 24.—
Fannie Butler, supervisor of schools
has just closed a prograih of educa
tional motion picture shows. The ex
hibits were presented in the various
school houses and created a deal o1
, interest among the colored people.
and Reed. The offices are done
in terra cotta and buff and the
large chapel which opens 'off
the offices in a similar color
scheme. Heavy French drap
eries are at the windows and a
live business-like air prevades
the establishment.
The Monitor is not in a posi
tion to say just how much cap
ital is invested in the business
enterprises here named, but a
conservative estimate would be
at least $25,000. With the four
or five taxis, which we failed to
take into account in this esti
mate, perhaps $35,000 would not
bo too high.
PENROSE DECLARES
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Washington, April 7.—The Senator
Penrose Statement. To the delegation
of Colored citizens of Pennsylvania
who called on Senator Penrose to ask
his support in behalf of the civil rights
bill before the legislature of his state,
the Senator made the following re
markable statement:
“I see no reason why the Colored
man or Colored woman should not be
able to obtain a cup of coffee at any
restaurant if they want to, or for that
matter go to the hotels, cafes and
other public places frequented by
white persons.
“The time has long since passed
when there should be any discrimina
tion or repression towards our Col
ored citizens. They are entitled to
their rights under the Constitution.
They are free men under the Consti
tution, and I believe they are entitled
to full commercial and political free
dom of action, especially in regard to
public accommodations and utilities.
“I am glad to be able to use what
influence I possess at Harrisburg,
where a bill is pending to give equal
rights to the Negro race, to secure
the passage of the measure, which has
been hanging fire too long. It should *
be passed.
“I am glad to assist the men and
women of the Colored race to remove
the inequality and discrimination to
which they are now subjected.”
BELIEVED TO BE COMING
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
(By The Associated Negro Press)
DETROIT, Mich., March 24.—Harry
Cook, a young Negro athlete of this
city, is being hailed as a coming light
weight champion pugilist by many
good judges of fighters in this sec
tion. Cook has won a number of stiff
battles during the past year and his
manager, B. W. Tanzy, believes he
has a good even chance to wrest the
crown from lightweight champion
Leonard. Mr. Tanzy recently declared:
"We are ready to fight the world in
the lightweight class.”
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PATENTS M ACHINE GI N
KANSAS CITY, Mo.’, March 24—
Clarence Gregg has recently perfected
and patented a new' model machine
gun which has several novel features.
The gun will carry 1,400 cartridges
and can be fired without the imme
diate attention of the operator. Gregg
is making arrangements to take the
gun to Washington, where it will be
i inspected by army officials and if It
I meets the requirements will be adopt
j ed for army use.
—
PRESIDENT OF HOWARD
PREACHES TO PRESIDENT
OF UNITED STATES
(By The Associated Negro Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 24—
i President and Mrs. Harding attended
their first church service at the Cal
vary Baptist church on Sunday, March
in. Dr. J. Stanley Durkee, the presi
dent of Howard university, preached
the sermon. The burden of Dr. Dur
J kee'.s sermon was “World Peace.”