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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1923)
The monitor I A National Weakly Newpaper Devoted Primarily to the Interests of Colored Americana. Published Every Friday at Omaha. Nebraska, by the Monitor Publishing Company. Entered as Second-Class Mall Matter July 2, 1915, at the Postofflce at J Omaha. Nebraska, under the Act of March 3. 1879. ■ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. I W. W. MOSELV, Associate Editor. Lincoln, Neb. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. $2.00 A YEAR; $1.25 6 MONTHS; 75c 3 MONTHS Advertising Rates Furnished Upon Appllcaton. Address The Monitor, Postoffice Box 1204, Omaha, Neb. I Telephone Atlantic 1322, Webster 4243 ^ _ .. ) > MS $♦♦«♦♦♦$♦$♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦$$$♦$$♦♦$$$$$♦♦♦♦ I > $ I ARTICLE XIV. CONSTITUTION OF THE : ; UNITED STATES. I j Citizenship Rights Not to Be Abridged. ! 1. Ah persons born or naturalized in the United States, ;; ; ; and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the ; > ; United States and of the State wherein they reside. No I, ’ state shah make or enforce any law which shah abridge the ;; | ; privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor ;; ; shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or prop- < < ’ eity without due process of law, nor deny to any person I 1 ! within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. ;; < » it 1 THEORY AND FACT. ■ynCE President Coolidge in his ex cellent address delivered at the opening of the “Government Hospital for Negro Veterans of the World War” at Tuskegee on Lincoln’s birthday, enunciated several fundamental prin ciples to which all right-minded ana well-thinking people will subscribe. He clearly defined the position to which America in theory, at least, is committed, and the principles for which she theoretically stands, but even a superficial observer must admit that there is a wide divergence be tween theory and fact. The theory is, as Mr. Coolidge aptly states it, “That America stands unchangeably committed to the principle of the right of individual freedom made forever clear and plain by Abraham Lincoln,” but the fact is that “the right of in dividual freedom” is largely mythical' so far as a large group of American citizens is concerned. The theory is, that the United States is a democracy, where all her citizens are entitled to the same privileges in American na tional institutions; but the fact is, as the opening of this very hospital ex clusively for “Negro Veterans of the World War” most grahically illus trates, that principle and application are at hostility. It is because there is such a wide divergence between theory and fact in our American life that the voice of protest is becoming clearer and louder with the belief that ulti mately theory and fact, principle and practice will become more fully in ac cord. We are grateful for Mr. Coolidge’s review of the deeds of our race which have justified the faith of Abraham Lincoln. We accept with gratitude his statement that "The Negro’s record at home and abroad during the war won for them the gratitude of the American people,” but we regret to say that we fail to see much evidence of this gratitude. In this again there is a yawning gulf between theory and fact. If the undeniable increase of race prejudice, in all sections of the country, studied and systematic ef forts to restrict privileges and humil iate and embarrass our self-respecting people, be manifestations of this grat itude. then indeed are the American people grateful for “the Negro’s rec we are by no means discouraged, nor ord at home and abroad during the war” But even though we thus speak will our people abate bv on jot or tittle all honorable efforts in the future to surpass their splendid record in peace and in war during the past sixtv-five years until by the very strength of tbp>r character, manhood and achieve ments thev will force the ideals to wb'rh America is unquestionably com mitted to become real not only in theory’ but in fact. AN ILLUSTRIOUS TRIUMVIRATE. JT is rather remarkable that Febru ary should have been the birth month of that most illustrious trium virate of Americans, Washington, Douglas and Lincoln. If named in chronological order, it would be Lin coln, Douglas and Washington, for * Abraham Lincoln was bom on Feb. 12, Frederick Douglass on Feb. IB, and George Washington on Feb. 22. The first two were bom in humble circum stances and lowly station, and the last in comparative wealth and affluence. Two were of white parentage and free bom, the other of African blood and lineage and born a slave. Yet all three rose to eminence and useful ness in the nation. Two of them reached the presidency of the Repub lic; the other, despite his color and previous servitude, arose to the high position of minister pleniotentiary of the United States and the trusted ad visor of presidents. When Lincoln was bom in the backwoods of Ken tucky who could have foreold or for seen the work to which he would be called, the eminence to which he would arise and the historic place he would held among the nobly great ? When the little Negro slave was born on a Maryland plantation, who ever dream ! ed that he would become a free man, I sway hundreds of thousands with his eloquence and serve his native land, which counted him as a chattel, with merit and distinction, and attain a high niche in the hall of fame ? Though the son of a country gentleman, none i would have foretold that George j Washington would have become the first president of the United States and won a place among rulers and princes of the earth. From birth and parentage his case is not so phenom enal as that of either Lincoln or Douglas. The case of the latter seem ed the most unlikely and unpromising of all and yet note well to what emi nence he arose. All things are pos sible when a child is born. No mat ter how lowly his parentage or humble his birth who can gauge the eminence to which he is destined to arise? It is well for us to celebrate the anni versaries of this illustrious triumvir ate. They force upon our attention many helpful thoughts. The lives of Douglass and Lincoln should prove an inspiration to all youth bom in hum ble circumstances. The life of Fred erick Douglass, the slave boy who be came a United States minister and the adviser of presidents, should prove an inspiration to children of our race and fill them wdth the desire and de termination to be and do al’ that may become a man. The life of Douglass and of Lincoln teach clearly this truth among many others: “Honor and shame from no condition rise, Act well thy part, there all the honor lies.” LENT. Hundreds of thousands of people 1 throughout the world are observing | i forty day period of fasting, peni- j tence, prayer and special services, j This forty day period, or to be exact,' forty-six day period, for the Sundays are not included as days of fasting, i is known as Lent. The word “Lent” j really means spring, but in common j usage it means the period of special i religious exercises and observance, which many thousands of people find to be of great help to them in the - spring of each year. A period of this kind, so generally used by so many ‘housands and for many hundreds of years, must have some real meaning, value and significance. It has. That such a season of intensive religious training, for that it what it really is, must be helpful to those who use it, goes without saying. The purose ol the observance of Lent is to help dis cipline character and strengthen the will. For many years the observance of Lent was confined to Roman Cath olics, Episcopalians and Lutherans '•Heflv, but in later years other bodies of Christian people have begun to re cognize its value and so its observ ance is growing. It may be a mere perfunctory thing, or it may prove a veal spiritual help. We are quite sure *1'at those who enter rightly and sin cerely into the spirit of Lent will re ceive help from it. Like everything else worth while people will get out ol ffco observance of Lent just what thev put into it. RACE RELATIONS 'J'HE movement inaugurated by the Commission on the Church and Race Relations of the Federal Council of Churches is a step in the right di rection. The plan proposed is suffi ciently elastic to be applied to all com munities where there is the slightest desire to come to a better under standing and more genial relationship between the races to counteract the much to be regretted and uncalled for misunderstanding which is becoming acute and which only the spirit of Christ can allay. The interchange of visits upon the part of representatives of both groups to their respective houses of worship and an attempt thereby to become acquainted cannot but bear good fruit. Where this is not deemed practicable conferences be tween representatives will be helpful. If the spirit of Christ is in the heart of both races, as we believe it is, even though it may be very imperfectly manifested, there is no reason in the world why amity and goodwill should not supplant suspicion and dislike which develops rapidly into hatred. HEROISM OF RACE IN WAR IS LAUDED BY VICE PRESIDENT (Continued from Page One) made marvelous progress. That pro gress is shown not only in the prop erty which they have acquired, not only in the talent which they have ex-* hibited in the arts, in the professions, nor yet in the administration of busi ness affairs, all of which have been very great, but most of all in the hon est, industrious way in which the great body of their people have performed Their greatest contribution lies in the fact that they have helped to do the work of the nation. “When the call came in time of war they were ready and desirous of enlist ing. More than two and one-quarter millions of them were registered un der the selective draft. They were more anxious to enlist than they were to evade any service for their country. In spite of every deception or tempta tion to which public enemies artfully subjected them, they exhibited a layol ty and devotion to the cause of Amer ica which was unsurpassed. Nearly 400,000 of them went into military service. “The total casualty of Negro troops, he said, was approximately 103 offic ers and 1,543 enlisted men, of whom six officers and 203 enlisted men were killed in action. Four Negro officers and 43 enlisted men received the dis tinguished service cross, he added. It was not merely their soldiers in the field but their citizens in the sup porting army of production and trans portation at home, both men and wom en, whose efforts contributed to the success of the allied armies, the vice president asserted. “More than that, they gave generously of their re sources, purchasing the securities ot the government and contributing to the Red Cross and other war charities. Their patriotism 'shines forth in every field of action.” The Negro’s record at home and abroad during the war won them the everlasting gratitude of the American people, he said. “They have justified the faith of Abraham Lincoln.” Turning again to the life of Lincoln, the vice president said: “It takes time and patience and per severance to put into practice our theory of human rights. Lincoln knew that. If there was one virtue that he seemed to possess more than another, it was that of forbearance. It is well for us, who must live together as Am ericans, whatever our race or creed may be, constantly to remember his words: “We are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies.’ Liberty, the vice president said, is of slow growth, but irresistible. It took the long debates of Clay, Calhoun and Webster and the vigilant action ot Jackson, no less than the decisions of Marshall and the wise counsel o? Washington, to reveal the true spirit of the union. At length the time came for another forward step, another ex tension of the principle of freedom. Like all others, it was wrought in sac- i rifice. At last the national charactei i of our government was finally est lished. The fabric of the union was finally complete. The rank of citizens ! was all free. It was out of this per iod of suffering and sorrow them emerged a great statesman. Abra ham I.incoln.and two great soldiers. Grant anl Lee. Each of these repre sented an American ideal. Lee stands ! for the power of the states. Grant stands for the power of the nation. But to Lincoln it was given to stand for the power of the people.” URBAN LEAGUE IS STEADILY MAKING INFLUENCE FELT (Continued from Page One) son whose prejudices have been foster ed there have been many real Amer icans who have accepted the challenge to our traditions of justice and fair play and have become aroused to throw their influence with the con structive forces. “The resuJt has been an Increased interest in and support of the Urban League movement and a like stimula tion of the other forces for co-opera tion, such as the Commission on Inter Racial Relations which is becoming so important as an influence In the j South, and the activities of the Fed eral Council of Churches of Christ In 1 America.” I As material evidence of this In creased Interest, the Urban League an nounced that four new cities had or ganized affiliated groups In 1922 and that the income of the national organ ization had increased from $15,000 to a total of $43,486. Announcement was also made that friends of the late Mrs. Harry Plotz, who died in Paris last spring, had raised $10,000 which had been given to the National Urban league for the establishment of the Ella Sachs Plotz Fund, the income from which is to be I devoted “to the development and training of some Negro man or woman ! especially fitted for socaal and civic ; service in the community.” Mrs. J Plotz, who was a daughter of Samuel ! Sachs, was an active member of the Urban League Board and a Trustee of Fisk university. Irving S. M err ell, president of the Merrell-Soule Company of Syracuse, and a trustee of Tuskegee Institute, and C. C. Spaulding, secretary-treas urer of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest Negro insurance company, were elect ed to the Executive Board, and among those re-elcted for a term of three years were Felix Adler, Mrs Julius Rosenwald Mrs. Booker T. Washing ton, William G. Willcox, Miss Nannie Burroughs of Washington and James f. Dillard of Charlottesville, Va. The officers, including Mr. Wood, chair ran; Dr. Robert R. Moton as vice chairman, William H. Baldwin as sec retary and A. S. Frissell as treasurer, were re-elected. The executive secretary of the league, Eugene Kinckle Jones, pres ented his annual report showing the establishment of four new branches of the league, the establishment of a new monthly magazine, “Opportunity”, a journal of Negro life, surveys of the Negroes of Hartford and of the in dustrial opportunities of the Negroes in Baltimore. Record of the work in local com munities was also presented. N. H. THOMAS PROTESTS AGAINST “MAMMY” STATUE Neval H. Thomas, member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement ol Colored People, has written a letter to the Washington Evening Star, pro testing against that newspaper’s edi torial endorsement of the plan to erect a memorial to “colored mammies” of the south in the national capital. Mr. Thomas refers to the plan as “move ment having for its object to keep col ored people in their former state of servitude.” Mr. Thomas, after point ing out that the rqeasure is sponsored by Senator John 'Sharp Williams of Mississippi, continues: “We are glad that the white race appreciates the divine virutes of truth and loyalty which the ‘black mammy’ and has in abundance, but it over looks the other divine virtue that is here, a divine love for her offspring. She bore her sufferings in patience because she believed that through them America’s conscience would quicken and give her children and her chil dren’s children the justice they so rich ly deserve. My own beloved mothei was one of those unfortunates who had the flower of her youth spent in a slave cabin, and I know the heart of a slave mother, its intense longing for better things for her children. “Every ‘black mammy’ who looks down from Heaven today upon this disordered world delights to see hei beautiful daughters and granddaugb ters aspiring and attaining unto tv< beautiful and the true in spite of theii handicaps which the southern spiri which proposes this monument throw around them. She loves to see De* reading the best in literature, filling positions of usefulness, taking horn at the best universities in the I™'' and reigning over cultured homes, not as ‘old mammy,’ but as dutiful wife and tender mother. "So if the South has such deep grat itude for the virtues of this devoted group from which it reaped vast riches let it remove the numberless barrier? it has gone out of its way to throw up against the progress of the noble Ne gro womanhood who sprang from these ‘mammies.’ Democracy is the monument which the ‘colored mammy’ wants erected to her, and not a mar ble shaft, which at best will be but a symbol of our servitude, to remind white and black alike that the menial callings are our place in the scheme of things.” TEXAS JUDGE FREES COLORED PRISONER CHARGED WITH RAPE (Continued from Page One) automobile the night Skipworth was killed at “lover’s leap.” In releasing Clay, Judge Munroe stated that the evidence was insuffi cient, even to hold Clay under bond. And as the spectators, feeling the undercurrent and the sensational rev elations likely to be disclosed, wildly cheered the decision of the bench, the reporter silently reiterated the state ment that “Texas has at last played fair.” ONLY FIFTEEN STATES FREE FROM LYNCHINGS Washington, Feb. 16 — (Crusader Service)—Only fifteen states have been free from lynchings in the past ten years, the commission of church and race relations of the Federal Coun cil of Churches of Christ in America declared recently in an analysis of lynching statistics from 1885 to 1921. Of these, no lynching has ever been reported in Massachusetts, Rhode Is- j land, New Hampshire or Vermont, the statement said, and none has been re ported since 1889 in New Jersey, Utah or Connecticutt. The other states with a "clear record” in the last ten years were Nevada, Colorado, Iowa Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Dela ware, and Pennsylvania. The lynching victims from 1885 to 1921 included 1,011 white men, 17 white women, 3,001 Negro men and 68 Negro women. The number of white persons lynched has decreased rapid ly since 1900. The statement cited the lynching of Italians, Mexicans, Jews, and a German during the war as “in dicating that lawlessness spreads where prejudice abounds.” It added that the annual rate of lynching declined slowly after the peak years of 1892 and 1893 until 1900, in creased in that year and the next, and then fell off until 1918, when the ten- j dency again turned upward. — KLAN PROBE ASKED Lansing, Mich., Feb. 16—An inves tigation of alleged activities of the Ku KIux Klan in Michigan is demanded in a resolution prepared for introduction in the legislature by Representative James A. Burns, of Detroit. PROBATE NOTICE In the matter of the estate of John H. Costello, Deceased. Notice is hereby given, that the creditors of the deceased will meet the executrix of said estate, before me, County Judge of Douglas County, Ne braska, at the County Court Room, in said County, on the 27th day of Marcn, 1923, and on the 28th day of May, 1929 at 9 o’clock A. M., each day, for the purpose of presenting their claims for examination, adjustment' and allow ance. Three months arc allowed for the creditors to present their claims, from the 24th day of February, 1923. Bryce Crawford, County Judge. PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. W. M. Franklin, Pastor Because of the inclement weather the services were not so well attended Sunday. The pastor gave a very strong and interesting sermon on the Inter-Racial question. Mrs. W. L. Bingham of Chicago, who worshipped with us, was introduced to the church. Rev. J. B. Phelos of Atchison, Kans., preached a very interesting sermon at 8 o’clock on “The White Stone.” The Ladies Aid Society recently or ganized is making splendid progress Mrs. P. L. Anderson is president. Be cause of the growth of the church a new chub has been organized known as the Mississippi Club. Mrs. E. Dus on was elected president. The banquet given under the aus pices of the lone Star Club February 8 was quite a success. Many distin guished persons of the city were pre sent. Attorney Adams and Dr. Jones were the principal speakers. The following persons are reported on the sick list: Mrs. H. M. Wilkin son, Mrs. Jessie Winston and Mrs. Pharr. The B. Y. P. U. will render a special program next Sunday at 5:30. President Ford urges all to be on time. SPECIAL ARTICLES BY EDITOR Beginning with next week’s issue the Editor will give a series of articles under the caption “From Nebraska to Arkansas and Back,” in which he will give impressions received on his trip. These articles will tell of some of the great business blocks owned by the race, for example by the Mosaic Tem plars and others at Little Rock; the Pythians and the Woodmen at Hot Springs; the Masons at Pine Bluff; of schools, homes, business enterprises and important personages whom he met. Readers of the Monitor.cannot afford to miss one of these articles. EDUCATION KEYNOTE TO RACE ADVANCEMENT New Orleans, Feb. 16—Bishop W. A. Fountain of Atlanta, Ga., told vis itors and delegates attending the sec ond session of the Louisiana A. M. E. Conference at St. James church to stop complaining and go to work, striv ing to accomplish something for their race through respect for law and order and through education. Mrs. Jesse Beard is reported recov ering from her recent illness. I_■_■ _ _ Opossum and Coon Dinner Saturday and Sunday Be Cafe 806 South Thirteenth St. X~X~XK~X~XK~X~X~X“X~X«X~X* ! Public Sales I f-i y We have purchased 122,000 y Pair U. S. ARMY MUNSON A •{. LAST SHOES, sizes 6% to 12, £ X) which was the entire surplus A stock of one of the largest U. S. A A Government shoe contractors. 's' y i j y This shoe is guaranteed one X! X hundred per cent solid leather, .|. <• color dark tan, bellows tongue, y X| dirt and waterproof. The actual X! A value of this shoe is $6.00. «j y Owing to this tremendous buy Y X! we can offer same to QO QC A $ the public at. .j. y V y Send correct size. Pay post- y X! man on delivery or send money A A order. If shoes are not as rep- y X* resented we will cheerfully re- X! X. fund your money promptly upon y \ y request. y \ l NATIONAL BAY STATE f SHOE COMPAHY .j. 29H Broadway, New York, N. Y. X-l-l-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X* Consumers Coal & Supply Co. “DEALERS IN GOOD COAL” ATIantic 911(5 ATIantic 9146 "BETTER COAL AT BETTER PRICES” SUPREME LUMP COAL A COAL AS GOOD AS Cl I CTn PER TON FRANKLIN COUNTY'S 'tPXJ DELIVERED ILLINOIS EGG CANTINE NUT A Very Good Grade The Genuine ! ’ PER TON 0*0 r/A PER TON QQ (Ml Delivered OAOU Delivered nPV.UU COLORADO LUMP i Down Goes the Price on our High Grade Colorado Lump Coal. j ! t This is the peak of all in its class. Unlike any other kind sold I here. We are Omaha's Exclusive Agents. / W) PER TON I DELIVERED , Smokeless-—Soot less—Rescreened All Coal Kescreened at Yard Before Delivering .•.V.V.V.'.V.V.V.V.V.'.VA'.VA'.V.V.V.V^AVAVW/AV.V.V Another Hit!) I; BE SURE TO GET THESE NUMBERS j[ “He Used to Be Your Man But He’s My Man Now” £ £ “Dixie Blues” £ ^ Kdith Wilson and Johnny Dunn’s Jazz Hounds f I “I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of This Jelly Roll” “Don’t Mess With Me” Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds £ “Evil Blues” “Pensacola Blues” J £ Edith Wilson and Johnny Dunn £ i ? j. “Aggravatin’ Papa” “Sweet Lovin’ Mama” ^ jl Ladd’s Black Aces i :■ ALSO THE LATEST PLAYER PIANO ROLLS l\ I RIALTO MUSIC SHOP \ 1416 Douglas Street 1512 No. 24th Street £ /W^/.V.V.V.V^.V.V.V.V.V/AV/.V.'.'.V.V.V.VWWAVA' h SUIT and EXTRA PAN TS to order d* >1A X Reduced from $55 £ Other Grades at $45, $50 and Up. A Similar Reduction on Overcoats. § K This is less than the original price of suit alone. An extra pair of B K pants doubles the life of a suit. A few sample garments made in our 5 R own work shop for sale at attractive prices. They are better and 5 || cheaper than ready-mades. s X Grand Special Offer: Fine Blue Serge Suit, $10; Worth $60 ! s MacCARTHY-WILSON TAILORING CO. £ R Big Daylight Tailor Store. S. E. Corner 15th and Harney Sts. £ I Western Funeral Home I 1 Established by the late Silas Johnson X I 2518 Lake Street I I Continuing the same considerate I ■ efficient service I j| W. L. Myers, Successor ■ Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director I I Webster 0248 I