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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1923)
..The Monitor — 9\ A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16th, 192.3 Whole Number 397 Vol. Vffl-No. 3S TEXAS JUDGE RELEASES NEGRO; WHITE MEN HELD RACE RELATIONS SUNDAY OBSERVED IN CITY CHURCHES Movement Inaugurated by Federated Council of Churches of Christ in America Starts Out Successfully. IMTEI PROGRAMS ARE GIVER Mass Meeting at Zion Baptist Church In Afternoon Feature of the Observance.—May Exchange Pulpits. Race Relations Sunday, the observ ance of which on the Sunday nearest the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, as suggested by the National Council of the Federated Churches of Christ in America, which includes all the Protestant denominations, was very generally observed throughout the country last Sunday. Omaha churches entered wholeheartedly into the movement. Several of the churches, white and colored, carried out the program suggested. Most of the churches had their special services and exercises in this connection in the evening. Among the white congregations who had colored persons on the program were the First Presbyterian church, the largest and wealthiest of that de nomination in the city; First Central (’.race Methodist; Westminster and Covcsnnt Presbyterian and Plymouth Congregational. At the First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Edwin Hart Jenks. pastor, made a brief address commending the movement and expressing the hope “That from such occasions as this may a spirit of helpfulness be generated by reason of our getting to know each other better.” The Harmony Quar tette, Dr. John Andrew Singleton, bar itone; George Griffin, second tenor; H. Sherw’ood, first tenor; and H. L. Preston, bass, sang several songs to the delight of the congregation pres ent. Several of the colored congrega tions united in a mass meeting Sun day afternoon at Zion Baptist Church, at which a fair proportion of the aud ience was white. The meeting was opened by the Rev. E. L. Hollis of the C. M. E. church. Other ministers taking part in the program were the Rev. Wm. Franklin, pastor of Pilgrim Baptist; the Rev. Fred Divers, pastor of Bethel A. M. E.; and the Rev. E. H. McDonald, pastor of Mt. Moriah Bap tist. The principal address was made hy Attorney John Adams. A solo was sung by Rufus C. Long and several selections were sung by a union choir. At the Westminister Presbyterian church, Twenty-ninth and Mason streets, in the evening, a Lincoln ■ lay program of Negro music, poetry and literature was given, a visiting quartet made up of representative colored church singers sang, while the church choir and quartet together rendered "Swing Ix>w, Sweet Chariot.” The Rev. Melvin Robert Laird pre sided. Archie Baley delivered an address on Lincoln. At the Plymouth Congregational church, Eighteenth and Emmet, a similar program was held in the eve ning, including singing by a visit ing colored quartet, and a play de picting the advance of the Negro race in this country. The play, “What We Have Done,” was presented hy the young people of the church, and the Rev. F. H. Anderson, pastor of the church, and Mrs. Anderson, took the roles of “Dad” and “Mammy." A quartet from St. Paul’s’ Colored Presbyterian church, Twentysixth and Seward streets, members of the con gregation and the pastor, the Rev. RuHsell Taylor, visited the Covenant Presbyterian church, Twenty-seventh and Pratt streets, of which the Rev. F. H. Grace is pastor, at the evening service. The Rev. Mr. Taylor ad dressed those assembled. Several young peoples meetings held race re lations programs in the afternoon. An interchange of pulpits between white and colored churches, which was originally planned, could not be carried out because it was too, late to make such arrangements when notification of the proposed dates was received by many of the pastors. Dr. A. A. DcLarme of the First Bap tist church, the Rev. M. Allen Keith of Pearl Memorial Methodist, and the Rev. Charles W. Savidge, People’s church, were among those who would have welcomed such a program if ar_ rangements could have been com pleted. Mrs. Larry N. Peoples returned last week after a three months’ vacation with friends and relatives In Chicago and Davenport.. FOUGHT SEGREGATION IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS New York, Feb. 16—Irving T. Nutt, president of the Camden, New Jersey, Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, w'ho consistently and persistently fought segregation in and about Cam den, has been appointed a member of the Camden school board by Mayor King. Mr. Nutt, according to the Camden Post-Telegram (white) “is a well known colored resident of the Seventh Ward and is an earnest advocate of equal rights for his race. He has been making a determined effort to have colored children sent to the schools nearest their homes, and is op posed to making them travel long dis tances to attend schools set apart for colored children. As a member of the hoard Mr. Nutt will be in a position to more vigorously press his demand for equal rights for his race.” HARLEM OFFICE GETS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY New York, Feb. 16—Louis Berry, of Indianapolis, pastor of St. Philip’s Episcopal church in that city, will take up the duties of executive secretary ot the Harlem office of the National As sociation for the Advancement of Col ored People in New York City begin ling March 1, it has been announced. Mr. Berry is the first person to fill the office which is newly created in order to deal with the increasing work of the Association in New York City. He was educated at Howard Univer sity and at the General Theological Seminary and has had experience in organization work. The Harlem Office of the N. A. A. C. P. is located at 2360 Seventh Ave., New York City. COMMUNISTS REJECT FRENCH OVERTURES Essen, Feb. 16—(Crusader Service) The French army of occupation ap proached the Communists here with a view to reaching a friendly under standing in case of serious labor troubles, but the Communists peremp torily rejected the overtures, one oi the Communist leaders telling a French official that the Communists were at no time in favor of enslaving the German workers to pay France re parations for a Capitalist war for which French Capitalists were as much responsible as German capitalists. HEROISM OF RACE IH WAR IS LAUDED BY VICE-PRESIDEHT Coolidge Commends Contribution of Negro to Progress of Country During Times of Peace and of War. EULOGIZES LINCOLN’S WORN Negroes* Have Justified the Faith of, Abraham Lincoln, Declares the Speaker at Dedication of Government Hospital. Tuskegee, Ala., Fab. 16—America stands unchangeably committed to the principle of the right to individual freedom made forever plain and clear by Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Calvin Coolidge declared Monday in an address dedicating the $2,000,000 government hospital for Negro veter ans of the World War. "The life of Abraham Lincoln," he said, "gave a new and practical mean ing to the right of self-government which was to grow into a great world of influence. Americans are not with out justification in assuming that this nation has been called into existence to establish, to maintain, to defend and to extend that principle. Insofar as the World War was a conflict between dif ferent theories of civilization, it was a conflict between those who supported this principle and those who oposed it. It was the liberty-loving nations of the earth, those most generously commit ted to the principle of sovereignity of the people, who were victorious. In that victory, Abraham Lincoln had a very large share.” “Freedom places grave duties and responsibilities on the individual which will bring success if met and perform ed, but failure if neglected and evad ed,” the vice president asserted. “It was the belief of Abe Lincoln,” he continued, “that all people could and would finally rise to these require ments. In the less than 70 years that the Negro race in America have been in the enjoyment of freedom they have (Continued on Page Two) FREDERICK DOUGLASS Horn a Slave in Maryland, February 15, 1817, hut who escaped from slavery and subsequently rose to high positions of honor in the United States. AH our youth should read the story of his life. THE NEGRO SANHEDRIN Kelly Miller Submits Ceii&in Practical Suggestions Looking Towards Effective Functioning of Pro posed Conference of Colored Americans My suggestion for an all-race con ference has met with a nation-wide response. It is unanimously agreed that such a conference is not only im portant, but imperative. The propo sition elicits immediate and spontan eous reaction. Great ideas are rarely ever the pro duct of a single mind. They are but the outcome of scientific or social ne cessities demanded by the advancing state of knowledge or social need. Fundamental thoughts stir spontan eously in the minds of many thinkers. It is only by chance or good hap that? some fortunate individual is first to formulate and give them public utter ance. Fortunate indeed is he if he escapes the rivalry and jealousy of those who are fond of the self-glory of priority. I claim no originality or special mer it for proclaiming the suggestion of a Negro Sanhedrin. When the cloud is surcharged with electricity, the flash may break out at any point. I have merely expressed the general feeling not before sufficiently focussed in def inite form of statement. Enthusiastic supporters of the idea declare that it was already floating in their minds without form—and void. Indeed it had already received implicit or ex plicit expression in sundry, partial ways. The National Race Conference had felt the need and uttered it. The Equal Rights League had already sent out invitations to the several Civil Rights organizations including the N. A. A. C. P., the National Race Con gress, and the Wood Brotherhood, for a joint meeting and united action. Sev eral secret and fraternal orders were contemplating similar procedure. My suggestion differs from the others only in the comprehensiveness of its range and scope. I would have the onference take into consideration, “ths state of the race," involving the entire circle of interests pertinent and pecu liar to our race, and its relations to the larger social entity in which it is submerged. The national race move ments hitherto have limited their at tention to some particular pressing and distressing features of the prob lem. The dynamic power of politics has been the chief reliance. These [conferences have split on the rock on which they were founded. The political agency must loom large in any effective race program, but the subject must be approached in he spirit of comprehensive race states manship, and not of personal and par tisan manipulation. Politics forms but a single factor of our tangled problem. The internal development of the race is of primary importance aside from its external relation to the environing white world. The statesmanlike at titude will not allow itself to become excited over any single distressing factor, but views the whole problem, with sobriety of temper and deliber ateness of judgment. Napoleon Bonaparte suggested a Sanhedrin of the Jews of Europe in 1807. The constitution of this body comprehended the entire fabric of Jewish life and relationship. The agenda covered the whole field of Jew ish interests as affecting and affected by the dominant Gentile world in which they were enveloped. The out come of this conference has potent in fluence in Jewry until the present 9 _ |~|| Hotbeds If] me £ast Indians meet in <ui **ual session ol an All Indian Confer ence lo consider tne imook oi tne raeA ii-seii, ana its outiook upon tlie world ui. utrge. Tne Negro needs most ol all the stimulation ol a race conscien tiousness and the formulation of a idee ideal which will furnish inspira tion to every member thereof. The proposed conference looks to this end. Tne need is plain. A way farer, ti.ougn blind, may see it. The demand is upon us. Hove we the wisdom ana courage to meet it? The difficulties are great. To the timid they seem in surmountable. The cowarlly spirit always sees lions in the way. But to chose who have unswerving faith in the humanity of man, nothing is im possible. The next step is to devise some feas ible and effective method of proced ure. Merely to issue a sudden call of the wise ones to meet and deliver fiery orations, and adopt heated and nasty resolutions would accomplish nothing. Violent protest against op pression and wrong is but natural ebu ation of feeling. Such has been the method of all the conferences which nave gone before. I now suggest that this be a confer ence of conferences. Let the varied organizations and agencies of nation wide aim and puropse designate some representative in Washington City. The representatives so designated will form a provisional committee. This committee is to meet as often as ne cessary and deliberae as long as re quirements of the situation demand. When it has reached agreement upon a proper agenda let it set the time ana place, and issue the call for the gen eral conference. I suggest the city of Washington as most fitting seat of the committee be cause of its central location and focai advantages. In order to meet inevit able objections I suggest that the cen tral committee jn Washington may or ganize, on the same plan of its own complexion, local committees in var ious centers to cooperate in the form ulation of plans. The judgment of the committee should express the find ings of our best minds and hearts and conscience, and should be based upon counsel as wide as the race and as broad as its needs. If my suggestions are acceptable let the various organization proceed at once to designate representatives. I will undertake to call them together. Then my function will be at an end. The rest will be in the hands of the race. Yours truly, (Signed) KELLY MILLER. URBAN LEAGUE IS STEADILY MAKING INFLUENCE FELT Gift of $10,000.00 For Its Work Re ported at the Annual Meeting When Reports are Read and Officers Elected. PHENOMENAL ADVANCEMENT Organization Which Began as Local Body With Expenditure of $2,500 Has Grown Into National Movement. New York, Feb. 16—Steady in crease in the forces making for coop eration between the Negro and white races was emphasized by L. Hollings worth Wood, Chairman of the National Urban League, at its eleventh annual meeting in the Russell Sage Founda tion Building Wednesday afternoon. He reported that the year 1922 had : been the most important in the history ! of the Urban League movement which j started with a small group in New iYork spending $2,600 in 1910 and has grown to a national movement with branches in more than forty cities spending more than $250,000 a year. “The greatest handicap to better in ter-racial relations has been the indif ference of the great mass of whites and this indifference has been due mostly to the limited knowledge by the whites of Negroes,” said Mr. Wood. “The last few years have shown a new and significant change which has come about through the great migration of Negroes from the South into the in dustrial centers of the East and Mid dle West and through the attention which has been brought to inter-racial relations by the exposition of Ku Klux activities, by the Congressional debates on the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, by the public discussion of President Lowell’s attempt to scrap one of Harvard’s most precious traditions, and by similar in -idents in Which the Negro has figured in the news. "These Incidents have made the great contribution of focussing atten tion on this matter and for every per (Continued on Page Two) TEXAS JUDGE FREES COLORED PRISONER CHARGED WITH RAPE Man Accused of Criminally Assaulting White Girl and Murdering Her Escort is Freed by Order of the Court. USE ST NIL Ml MOTHERS Another Case Where Truth Thwarta Attempt to Make Negro Pay the Penalty for Crime Commit ted by Whites Waco, Texas, Feb. 16—Watted on the wires of the Associated Press last November, came the report from this southern town that another “lynching party” was in the making, following an accusation that Ivory Clay was held in connection with a ‘“brutal and vicious” assault on a white girl and the murdering of her escort. This crime occurred November 29, last. Last week, wafted on the wires of this same press service, came the news that Ivory Clay had been released, and that the hundreds of spectators, who crowded into the historic court house, vigorously applauded the decision of Judge R. I. Monroe. (It will be re membered that Jesse Washington was burned alive in this same court house yard in May, 1916.) This case is but one of the hundreds of cases reported over the press wires yearly, in which a colored man, accus ed of “assaulting” a white girl, is a prey to the fury of a blood-thirsty mob. The result is death, either via fire, bullets or the hangman’s noose. No one knows the true facts in the case. The victim is hunted to his hiding place like a drowning rat or either picked up, usually taken to the place of the alleged assault, and there forced to go through untold agonies and indignities before rope, fire or bullet puts a merciful end to his life. And this state, with its warped and soulless ideas of justice, the home of the “lyncher and Ku Kluxer;” this state, at whose door the stigma of staining the Stars and Stripes of Old Glory, has fallen no less than four times in the last two months, has finally “played square.” For not only was Clay released, but the decision of the court was cheered. What a contrast to a similar case in North Carolina this past week, where the governor was forced to call out the State Militia to quell the spirit of mob control, that had threatened to lynch a race man, in case a jury deliberating on his case returned a verdict of not guilty, or nnv’rtiing less than murder in the first degree. Girl and Two Brothers Held Clay was arrested shortly after an alleged assault on Miss Naomi Bouch er, southern girl, and the murder of her escort, Grady Skipworth, on the night of November 20. At the hearing, Miss Boucher testi fied that Clay was the man who shot Skipworth and treated her roughly, finally throwing her over a clic'f. The st > •/ as told by the girl was colored to the o tieme and told of the climax to an auto ride, in which the “burly Negro,” had shot Skipworth down in cold blood and then brutally assaulted her. But in direct rebuttal to this story was the action of the father of the slain man ordering the arrest of Miss Boucher and her two brothers, Hor ace and Bernard. What a different angle this puts on the case. Indications point to the fact that the elder Skipworth caused the arrest of the trio after he had gleaned cer tain facts seeming to show that the girl and his son had been surprised in a compromising position, that Skip worth was killed, and that the “Ne gro" story was trumped up in an en deavor to save the girl's “honor” and the lives of her brothers. Arrest Creates Sensation Recently Miss Boucher and her brothers were arrested by Ranger Captain E. D. Shumate and removed separately to other counties in order1 that he might have better opportunity to investigate the death of young Skipworth. The removal of the three from McLennan county created a sen sation which rocked the entire state and the three were brought back only after Judge J. P. Alexander had is sued a warrant for the arrest of Shu mate on charges of evasion of service. “Evidence Insufficient” Habeas Corpus hearing of Clay fol lowed sensational testimony of J. P. Williams and his son, who named Joe Miller, an alleged former roomer at the Boucher home, as the man in tho (Continued on Page Two)