—”’\ THE MONITOR
-- \ _ _
A'NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILL1AM8, Editor
$2.00 a Year 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JULY 21, 1922 Vol. VIII—No. 3—Whole Number 367
GOVERNOR MAKES
BRAVE ATTACK OR
GEORGIA MOB LAW
Stands Ready to Declare Martial Law
in Counties Where Local Offi
cials Find Themselves
Powerless.
OPPOSES THE USE OF MASKS
Atlanta, Ga., July 21.—Critizing the
Ku Klux Klan for wearing masks and
robes, Governor Hardwick put himself
on record Friday afternoon, in an ex
temporaneous address before the
Georgia League for Law Enforcement,
as favoring a law forbidding the wear
ing of masks in public.
Governor Hardwick declared that
the state of Georgia does not need
masked men and that as long as he
is its governor there will be no “in
visible” government within its boun
daries.
The governor- denied that he is a
member of the Klan. He said that
he-had been invited to become a mem
ber, and has read its rituals and print
ed principles, but had declined to join
because of its regalia.
Warned of Effect.
He said that he had warned those
who approached him from the Klan
of the effect the wearing of masks
and hoods probably would have on
certain ignorant and irresponsible
classes.
Governor Hardwick said that high
officials of the Klan had told him
that mob outbreaks which had been
placed at the door of the Klan had
not been perpetrated by the order.
"It is unfortunate, however, that
groups of men participating in such
affairs have used the same regalia as
the Klan,” he said.
Will Aid Officers.
The governor said that if the sher
iffs and judges of counties where law
lessness has been perpetrated by
masked men will request assistance
from him when they find themselves j
unable to cope with the situation, he
will gladly give them any assistance
in his power, and if necessary declare
martial law until the lawbreakers
have l»een apprehended and punished.
Governor Hardwick was given a ris
ing vote of thanks by the league at
the conclusion of his address.
PRESENT PUPILS IN RECITAL
On Saturday afternoon, July 15th,J
at the Presbyterian church, the pupils j
of the Misses Frances Gordon and
Lucy Allen were presented in piano
forte recital in the presence of the
parents and friends of both, in a very
delightful program. The numbers were
well rendered and showed the result j
of conscientious work and reflected '
credit upon both teachers and pupils.
Twenty-three pupils were presnted
and all had memorized their pieces.
Program was approved by Mrs. Jack
Pinkston whose pupils the Misses
Gordon and Allen are.
AFRICAN RULERS SEE
SIGHTS OF GAY PARIS
Paris, France, July 21.—With the j
president of France on a tour of his
North African provinces, a score of
African rulers of French possessions
arrived here this morning to see the
sights. They wore the latest gar
ments, spoke French fluently and
seemed most interested in the latest
makes of French automobiles.
Each ruler had from four to six
wives and their solicitation for their
better halves was a source of admira
tion of the French.
CORPSE WORTH *1,500
Norfolk, Va., July 21.—Verdict for
$1,500 in favor of plaintiffs was ren
>, ,]ered in Circuit Court in the case of
I Lula Wilson and Martha Ford against
Edward and George Roberts, under
takers, on the charge that the under
takers left the corpse of plaintiffs
mother in a stable in the cemetery one
night and that the stable burned and
reduced the corpse almost to ashes.
NO CHARGE AGAINST
PULLMAN WAITER
Birmingham, Ala., July 21. News
paper reports of Walter E. Hayes,
pullman waiter, forcing himself upon
a white woman in the rest-room, have
been proven without any foundation.
No charge will be made against
Hayes. H. S. Cook, white steward,
who had threatened “to get” the wait
er, is held responsible for the false
report.
Jean, youngest daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. 8. H. Dorsey, is 111 with tonsilitis.
ATTACKED BY A
WHITE DEGENERATE
Mrs. A. L. Lastly and Mrs. Ella
Roe Jackson were attacked by a white
degenerate Monday morning about 6
a. m. at the entrance of the Y. W. C.
A. where Mrs. Jackson is matron.
Mrs. Lastly went to assist her so she
might be off early to rest up foi; the
primary election Tuesday. W. A. R.
Mayfield tried to assault them hut
they fought him off. Their cries for
help reached the colored elevator
boy’s ears who came to their rescue.
The man was arrested before he could
make his escape. In Judge Wappich’s
court he called the women Niggers,
stating he was from Texas. Two High
school boys as witnesses gave good
testimony for the women who are of
good character, but the judge only
gave Mayfield a fine of $15.00 and
costs.
Had the cases been reversed and
it had been a black degenerate in
sulting or attacking white women the
colored degenerate would have been
held without bail.
21TH NOT TO BECOME
A LABOR BATTALION
Washington, D. C., July 21.—The
24th Infantry will not be reduced
from a combat unit to a labor unit,
Robert C. Davis, acting adjutant of
the war department has announced.
Rumors of this change have been rife
for sometime and announced in army
bulletins.
In answer to the Afro’s question
if white marines might not be with
drawn from Haiti and colored soldiers
of the regular army sent to replace
them, Secretary Davis said, this
change is unadvisable. He added,
that many reasons, including the
necessity of economy and the recent
reduction in the enlisted strength of
the regular army made the change
unadvisable.
FIRST NATIONAL TN BOLEY
Boley, Okla., July 21.—A first col
ored national hank*was organized here
September 10, 1021. The national
bank opened in Chicago was therefore
the second to be established among
colored people.
WON’T SURRENDER
SUSPECTED MAN
TO LYNCHING MOB
Man Who Escaped Moh in South Will
Not Be Sent Bark, Says Fearless
Executive of the Buck
Eye. State.
IS HELD IN CLEVELAND, OHIO
Home, Ga., July 21.—Declaring that
Henry Marwell, colored youth, held
in connection with the killing of a
white merchant, would be a victim
of “southern mob justice”, Governor
Davis of Ohio last week refused to
honor extradition papers from Geor
gia.
The action, which has few parrallels
in the country, was announced here
last week when a Georgia sheriff re
turned empty-handed after having
traveled thousands of miles to get
the prisoner.
Maxwell, who was arrested in Cleve
land recently, is wanted by Georgia
authorities on a charge of killing Geo.
Hubbard in 1917. Following the kill
ing, feeling was intense, when it was
found that authorities had claimed
Maxwell as the killer. The youth es
caped, however, and travelled thorugh
many different sections of the coun
try.
When arrestel in Cleveland, he was
recognized as the man wanted in con
nection with Hubbard’s death, and the
Ohio authorities notified the local po
lice that a suspect was being held.
Sheriff Wilson, with two other men,
was sent to Cleveland. According to
Wilson, Judge Levin, of the County
Court at Cleveland, ruled that the
identification was sufficient, but coun
sel for Maxwell prevailed upon Gov
ernor Davis to decline the request for
his return to Georgia.
PHYSICIAN HANGED BY
NECK AND FLOGGED
Bakersfield, Cal., July 21—John H.
Vitelle, convicted by a jury of as
saulting Dr. Dwight R. Mason in a
recent Ku Klux Klan raid at Taft,
was sentenced to serve an indeter
minate term in state’R prison. At
the time of the assault on Dr. Mason
who was hanged by the neck and
flogged, according to testimony at
the trial, Vitelle was “Exalted
Cyclops” of the Taft Klan.
Colored Folks, Roman Catholics and Jews Decline to Take
Chances With Candidates Against Whom Rests
Suspicion of Membership or Sympathy With the
Kluxies.—Disavowal of Membership or Approval of
Klan an Imperative Duty of Any Political Aspirant
Under a Cloud.
The editor of the Monitor was one
of a committee which on last Monday
was shown a list which Is alleged to
be an authentic roll of some of the
members of the Omaha Klavern of
the Ku Klux Klan at or about the time
the organization was supposed to have
been put out of business in this city.
At that time the local Klavern was
credited with a membership of nbeut
400. We say “supposed to have been
put out of business,” advisedly, be
cause while we have great respect for
the intelligence of Nebraska's citizen
ship and believe that such an organ
ization cannot thrive in this atmos
phere, we are convinced that the com
munity contains some individuals of
such a low grade of intelligence and
moral turpitude, that they would feel
honored by being classed as “Citiz'ms
of the Invisible Empire.” While there
fore, the organiatlon may be inactive,
let no one be lulled into the belief that
It is entirely dead, or that it has no
“Initiates” or "Citizens” here. It may
be true that "we have only scotched
the snake, not killed it.’’
This list bears the appearance of
being authentic. It Is written on what
appears to be the official stationery or
letterhead of the “Invisible Empire
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan,” such
as is sent out from Atlanta, Ga., a
copy of which letterhead we have. The |
list Is alleged to be In the handwriting
of a former King Kleagle, or organizer,
for Nebraska. A comparison of the
alleged handwriting and signature ol
the aforesaid King Kleagle would seem
to Justify tills allegation. There art
certain letters and documents, which
seem to establish, beyond the shallow
of a doubt, that at least throe of the
officers listed have been corrects
en, namely the Exalted Cyclops (pres
ident), the Kligrappe, or secretary, and
the Klabee or treasurer. It is a fair
assumption, then, that tlirr ) being cor
rectly given, that the other officers
listed are also correct, and that the
names enrolled, alphabetically, on this
list, are correct too. This is unques
tionably a reasonable conclusion.
This list therefore, has the appearance
of being authentic. The custodians ot
the list would not swear to Its authen
ticity, but expressed themselves as
being convinced in their own minds as
to its genuineness.
We were surprised to find the names
of some men here enrolled, whom,
from what we have known of them, we
cannot believe are in sympathy with
the vicious and un-American princi
ples of the Klan. They may have been
Induced to join, assuming, of course,
that they have been "naturalized” bv
the official representative of the Im
perial Gizzard, through the Importun
ity of others in whom they had confi
dence, without due investigation. Per
haps they went in through idle curios
ity, or by the general disposition of
Americans, both black and white, to
become “jiners.” But the fact remains
that their names are there. How they
got there we do ,not know. Whether
they were authorized we do not. know.
We know that they are there and that
we saw them with our own eyes. We
know further that if any man’s name j
Is on that list, without his knowledge
or consent, he owes it to himself to !
come out in a manly straight-forward
statement over his signature and say j
so, otherwise he must rest under the j
suspicion that his undenied enrollment i
there places upon him.
On tlie list are the names of several l
men who were candidates on the Re
publican ticket for nomination at the
primaries. Four or five of these owe
their defeat to the fact that their name
were known to be o,u the list. Chas. '
B. McDonald's manly denial of mem
bership in the Klan, made over his
signature in the New Era last week,
and reiterated in public speeches by
him, and also the denial made with
editorial comment in our columns,
while it swung back to his support
scores of our people, was unable to
overcome his handicap in the race for
sheriff. It has however won for him
friends which will prove an asset to
him in the future.
The defeat of Dr. Harry A. oster, ,n
the Ninth legislative district by Robt.
R. Strhelow, is wholly attributable to
the fact that his name, whether right
fully or wrongfully, was found on this
list. Even as it was many of Dr. Fos
ter’s friends gave him the benefit of
the doubt and voted for him, which
accounts tor his opponent’s small plu
rality. *
Another candidate for a high office
lost only a comparatively few of our
people’s votes, his record and stand on
a vitally important measure alone pre
venting any large defection. Our peo
ple are proverbially grateful, loyal
and forgiving.
Other candidates were opposed not
only by our own group but the othei
groups against whom the Klan is in
imical. Some two or three have been
nominated, BUT THEY ARE NOT
ELECTED YET. They doubtless j
will not be in November, unless they;
clear their skirts, which The Monitor
sincerely hopes they will do.
On this list are the names of law
yers, doctors, clerks, business men and
at least one minister. If the list is
spurious, these men owe it to them
selves and to the community to so de
clare it and prosecute to the fullest
extent of the law whoever is respon
sible for its compilation and circula
tion. If it be authentic, then the indi
viduals thereon must be content to pay
the penalty of their folly, prejudice or
bigotry.
SERVED U. S. 41 YEARS
Washington, D. C., July 21.—John
Roberts, aged 79, was honored by fel
low-employees last week when he re
tired fi-om the Rureau of Engraving
after forty-four years of service.
Superintendent DeHart declared Rob
erts had rescued thousands of dollars
from waste baskets.
Mrs. J. C. Dordey gave a picnic at
Elmwood park last Wednesday after
noon in honor of Mrs. R. C. Cottrell
of Oklahoma City, Okla.
PROHIBITS KU KLUX PARADE
Topeka, Kansas, July 21.—“I am
directing the county attorney and
sheriff of Cowley county to prvent
both the demonstration and parade
announced by th*e Ku Klux Klan for
Friday night at Arkansas City,’' Gov
ernor Allen announced.
Mrs. Katie Lewis and daughter,
Vivain, of St. Louis. Mo., mother and
sister of Mr. Charles H. Stanton of
2615 Erskine street are his guests for
the summer.
STUDENT KILLED IN WRECK
Norfolk, Va., July 21.—Milton Sel
don, a graduate of Lincoln University,
Darmouth College and a student in
the Law School of the University of
Penn, was buried here last week. His
body was brought here from Camden
City, N. J., where he was killed in the
recent train wreck.
Miss Rozella Thompson of Minne
apolis, Minn., is visiting her aunt, Mrs.
Frank Shropshire, U18 North Seven
teenth street.
Nebraska Civil Rights Bill
Chapter Thirteen of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska, Civil Rights.
Enacted in 1893.
Sec. 1. Civil rights of persons. All persons within this state shall
be entitled to a full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advan
tages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, public conveyances,
barber shops, theatres and other places of amusement; subject only to the
conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to every
person.
Sec. 2. Penalty for Violation of Preceding Section. Any person who
shall violate the foregoing section by denying to any person, except for
reasons of law applicable to all persons, the full enjoyment of any of the
accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges enumerated in the
foregoing section, or by aiding or inciting such denials, shall for each
offense be guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined in any sum not less than
twenty-five dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars, and pay the costs
of the prosecution.
L"The original act was held valid as to citizens; barber shops can not
discriminate against persons on account of color. Messenger vs State,
25 Nebr. page 677. N. W. 638.”
“A restaurant keeper who refuses to serve a colored person with re
freshments in a certain part of his restaurant, for no other reason than
that he is colored, is civilly liable, though he offers to serve him by setting
a table in amore private part of the house. Ferguson vs Gies, 82 Mich.
358; N. W. 718.”
KELLY MILLER COMING
—
Distinguished Educator and Author
Will Deliver Lecture Here Early
in August.
Kelly Miller, of Howard University,
Washington, D. C., who has an inter
national repctation as an educator and
author, will deliver a lecture here
Tuesday, August 8, under the auspices
of the Men’s Club of the Church of
St. Philip the Deacon. Professor Mil
ler’s literarry works are numerous.
His latest publication, “Is Race Dif
fererence Fundamental, Eternal and
Inescapable?”, an open letter to Pres
ident Harding, on his Birmingham
speech, has won high commendation
and has had a wide circulation. Pro
fessor Miller merits a large audience.
NEWS OF THE N. W. C. A.
The N. W. C. A. held its regular
monthly meeting at the Home, Wed
nesday, July 5. There was a large
and enthusiastic attendance. Mrs. W.
H. Mortimer was chosen chairman of
the finance committee, Mrs. Shelton,
chairman of the house committee, and
Mrs. Elisabeth Reed, chairman of the
purchasing committee.
A chicken and green dinner for the
benefit of the Home will be given
at the “Y” Thursday, July 27, price
50 cents. All members are requested
to brinf a pie. Please come and your
dinner at the “Y”.
CANDIDATES ADDRESS
DOUGLAS LEAGUE
A well attended meeting of the
Douglas Republican League was held
in St. Philip’s Guild rooms last Fri
day night. The president, M. F. Sin
gleton, presided. Speeches were made
by Nathan Bernstein, Charles B. Mc
Donald, Joe Marrow, Robert R. Streh
low, Denny Ryan, Harry Stevens, Dr.
Harry A. Foster, the Rpv. L. G. Mc
Ghee and Dr. L. E. Britt.
SINGS UNDER WATER
Washington, D. C., July 21.—Lovers
of freaks have their eyes on Miss
Bernice Hackney, 1222 New Jersey
avenue, who has the knack of singing
while completely immersed in a pool
of water.
MEN IN STATE OF "
BONDAGE FOR MANY
MONTHS RELEASED
Disclosures Rivaling Those of Famous
“Williams Case” Promised When
Prosecution Will Begin
Its Work.
WEIE VICTIMS OF PEONAGE
Gainesville, Fla., July 21.—Disclos
ures rivaling those of the famous Wil
liams’ “peonage cases”, in which the
entire country was alarmed over the
wholesale murders of farm hands, are
promised when three white fanners,
arrested in connection with a sweep
ing investigation of peonage cases
throughout the south, will be brought
to trial next December.
The farmers were arrested last
week, after two men, held as abject I
slaves for more than two years, were I
released through the efforts of the I
local investigation bureau. The men,
who were later released under heavy
bonds, are W. A. Brown, M. L. Brown
and W. H. Mathias, supposedly prom
inent and respectable Dixie county
laymen.
Held for Alleged Debt.
According to facts disclosed in the
investigation, the two colored men
were the unwitting victims of a high
handed “railroading plot”, in which
they were forced to work and sleep
with convicts. When released, the
men told a harrowing tale of hard
ships endured under stem taskmas
ters, of frequent use of the lash, and
other tortures inflicted by the un
scrupulous men placed over them.
More than two years ago, the two
men, who it is alleged, owed a triv
ial debt, were forcibly taken from
their homes, and subjected to “prison
life.” Local authorities, advised by
relatives, offered no aid, and it ap
peared that the men would be forced
to serve an indefinite prlod of serv
itude, when federal officers inter
vened.
W. A. Brown is being held directly
responsible for the instigation of the
“peonage system”, while M. L. Brown
and Mathias are charged with having
been a party to the conspiracy to
“work” the men.
C. D. Bell who has been on the sick
list for a few days is able to be out.
ORDER ON VERGE OF
COLLAPSE, IS THE
GENERAL BELIEF
Members Rebelling Against Role of
High Officials; Imperial Wizard
Simmons Dethroned Is Report.
BRAVE MENACE TO CONNTNY
Atlanta, Ga., July 21.—“The ‘Invis
ible empire’ of the Ku Klux Klan Is
riding to a mighty downfall, from
which it will never rise.’’
Thus spoke a former member of
that damnable order, familiarly known
as the “hooded riders of the night,”
and whose creed is "white supremacy,”
the destruction of Negroes, Jews and
Catholics, last week, followed an an
nouncement that William J. Simmons,
imperial wizard, had been dethroned,
the mysterious disappearance of Ver
non K. Parmeiee, secretary of the New
Orleans branch of the order, and the
reopening of charges brought against
Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler and Edward
Young Clarke.
For more than a year, these mid
night prowlers with weird demon
strations from high hills overlooking
many of the principal cities of the
country, have struck terror In the
hearts of thousands. Their lawless
rule with lead, rope and tar and
feathers has been unsurpassed.
Following a government investiga
tion of the Klan’s activities, which
ended abruptly and with no apparent
reason, the poisoned fangs of the or
der have delved into state and na
tional politics until they have become
a real menace to the law-abiding citi
zens of the entire country.
But the announcement that Sim
mons had left for an extended leave
of absence, the reported “rebellion of
all of the klans of Tennessee, and the
accusation of Simmons by L. D. Wade,
klan ex-secretary, is believed in many
.quarter to have sounded the “begin
ning of the end.’’
Simmons, in a statement to the
press, has denied the charges brought
against the Klan.
However, the threat of Wade to
publish correspondence of a private
nature, which, he claimed, would
prove charges that tin,000 was sup
plied by Young, acting imperial wiz
ard of the klan, to-be used in de
fense of California clansmen accused
of participation in the “Inglewood
raid,” at Los Angeles, has borne
fruit.
Four more states, Wade asserted,
in his latest notice, have joined in the
revolt against Clarke and have declin
ed to recognize authority of the im
perial palace here until Clarke is re
moved.
Governors of many of the states,
including Georgia and Texas, where
most of the outrages laid at the door
of the Klan, have voiced the disap
proval of the order, and threaten to
“wipe it out entirely.”
"No invisible government will be
tolerated in Georgia,” is the state
ment of Governor Hardwick. “The
states do not need masked men and
there will be no 'invisible’ government
long as I am chief executive.”
COLORED WORKMEN
REFUSE TO ACT AS
STRIKE-BREAKERS
Express Themselves as Being in Sym
pathy with Movement of
Union Men.
Springfield, Mo., July 21.—Abso
lutely refusing to take any stand in
the nation-wide railroad strike, over
100 colored men, brought here from
Memphis last Thursday by an employ
ment agency as strikebreakers, left
their jobs here Friday after being in
formed that they were working where
a strike existed.
The men claimed that they were in
formed in Memphis that they were
being sent here to do construction
work on a school building. They also
claimed that they were brought here
under armed guards in box cars.
After the men had walked out, they
explained to the strikers that they
were in sympathy with the movement
and had no intenton of serving as
strikebreakers.
There was no violence, the strikers
raising a large purse to assist the
men in obtaining food.
Others Refuse Jobs.
New Orleans, La., July 21.—Seven
teen men, brought here as strikebreak
ers from Jacksonville, Miss., to re
place strikers, refused to work here.
It is reported that Mayor MeShane
will he asked to supply transporta
tion for their return to Jacksonville.