tphe Monitor
' A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN AI BERT WILLIAMS. Editor •*)«.
- -;_;_. .. — •-=' ■ — - . . —. ---7
$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy ^ OMAHA, NEBRASKA. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1923 Whole Number 416 Vol-VIII—No. 52
FINLEY WILSON
IS GIVEN CORDIAL
WELCOME BY LODGE
Grand Exalted Huler of Independent
Brotherhood Progressive Order
Of Elks Visits The City
Tuesday
FORMER OMAHA RESIDENT
Greatly Impressed With Growth of
Our City—Guest at Banquet—
Delivers Address Outlining
Ideuls of Order
Arriving in Omaha Tuesday after
noon, J. Finley Wilson of Washing
ton, D. C., Grand .Exalted Huler 1. B.
P. O. E. or W., spent a busy twenty
four hours in the city. He was met
by a committee consisting of Frank
Golden, Exalted Huler Iroquois lodge
No. 92; I^roy C. Broomfield, G. T. I>.,
I)r. John A. Singleton, past exalted
ruler Iroquois Lodge, and Leroy Bird.
As Mr. Wilson is a westerner and was
a resident of Omaha twenty-five years
ago, this being his first visit since
then, he was kept quite busy renew
ing acquaintances, neoting old friends
and sight seeing. He was amazed at
%he tremendous growth made by Om
aha the past quarter of a century, and
expressed himself as highly gratified
with the progress made by the race.
At k:00 o’clock he attended a meet
ing of Iroquois Lodge, followed by a
banquet given in his honor at the
‘ North End Branch of the Y. W. C. A..
this being followed in turn by a hall
at Dunbar Hall, which brought a
strenuous night to a close in the "wee
sma' hours o’ the morning.” lie left
Wednesday afternoon for Wichita,
Kansas.
The banquet was attended by about
150 guests. Included in this-number
were the women’s lodge, Cherokee
Chapter of Does No. 223, and several
invited guests. The program consist
ed of an invocation by the Itev. W. C.
Williams, pastor of 8t. John’s A. M.
E. church; the introduction of the
Master of Ceremonies, Dr. John A.
Singleton by Frank Golden, in a few
well-chosen words; brief remarks by
Dr. Singleton, who pushed the pro
gram through wlih dispatch and pep;
singing of opening ode; address of
welcome by the Rev. John Albert Wil
liams; address by J. Finley Wilson,
and beendiction.
In the atjdress of welcome Father
Williams briefly reviewed some of the
facts of civil and racial progress dur
ing the twenty-five years that had
elapsed since Mr. Wilson was an Om
aha resident. The city of 90.000 then
had grown to be one of 204,000; the
colored population from 4,000 to more
than 12,000, owning real and personal
property estimated at $2,500,000;
growth in churches, fraternities, bus
iness and professions was also noted.
“This, sir, is the city to which you
have returned after so many years.
You are at home. A welcome warm
as western wine, to quote Dunbar's
well-known line, is yours.”
In his address Mr. WIlBon expressed
his gratitude for the cordial welcome
given him. He was gratified to note
the progress made by the municipality
and the race. He then outlined the
principles for which the Elks stand,
told of the growth of the order during
his incumbency, the number of lodges
having been increased by 100. He met
the criticism which is frequently
passed upon the Elks by saying that if
Ihe order can take In a man who is
reputed to he a "sport” or “had man,”
and make him a good man. it has
done an excellent work. He said fur
ther that while some folk talk about
their goodness the Elks show their
creed by relieving widows and or
pans and dispensing charity. He told
also of the growth of the order among
the Chinese and Japanese and be
lieved this to be helpful fraternity. In
closin ghis address, which wub a most
excellent one, he counselled racial un
ity and Independence in thought and
action ramifying in industrial and po
litical life. t
Mrs. Irwin, on behalf of Cherokee
Chapter of the Does, preesnted him
with a beautiful bouquet of white
roses, which was gratefully acknow
ledged by the recipient.
employed in office of
fll.ERK OF DISTRICT COURT
i Robet Smith, clerk of the district
court, has given employment In his
office to Worthington L.. Williams,
who was employed in the same ca
pacity during his vacation last sum
mer, giving eminent satisfaction. He
is file cleric.
% ‘
ANNIVERSARY WEEK OF
THE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
Dr. W. F. Botts, Fastor.
The Zion Baptist church is celebrat
ing the thirty-fifth anniversary of the
church and the thirteenth anniversary
of the pastor. Beginning June 28th
each night will be in charge of the
various auxiliaries:
Thursday night—Progressive club.
Friday night—Choir.
Saturday night—Sunday school and
B. Y. P. U.
Sunday—9 a. m., Bible school; 11
a. m., Anniversary sermon of church
by Dr. E. H. McDonald; 6 p. m., B. Y.
P. U.; 7 p. m., "Progress of the Work
Under Dr. Botts’’, a) Numerically—
Sis. E. Howard; b) Financially—Dea
con A. M. ‘Harrold; c) Spiritually—i
Deacon D. fi. Shaw; d) Zion’s Oppor
tunities—Sis. L. T. Dallas. Thirteenth
anniversary sermon of pastor—Dr. W.
M. Franklin.
Monday night—Wide-Awake 24.
Tuesday night—B. Sharp club.
Wednesday, July 4th, all day cele
bration and picnic at Miller park.
Everybody welcome.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WAR
IIAVIS AWARDS COMMISSIONS
• TO THE H. O. T. C. MEN
At the recent commencement exer
ciser of Howard University thirtv
five students were awarded commis
sions by Honorable Dwight F. Danis,
Assistant Secretary of War. Mr. Da
vis, in his address to the men who
received commissions in the Reserve
Officers Training Corps, congratu
lated them upon the completion of
their course and urged them to "keep
always ag their inspiration the ex
ample of that splendid soldier who
was buried in Arlington Cemetery re- j
cently with the highest military hon
ors—Colonel Charles Young."
Mrs. A. U. Hawkins entertained the
Coue Whist club at her residence on
North Twenty-fourth street Tuesday 1
afternoon. There was a large at j
tendance and a delightful afternoon
was enjoyed.
HUMMEL REMOVES
NOMAD SUPERVISOR
PARR PLAV8ROUHO
Refusal to Work With Colored Super
visor and Attempt to Cause Trouble
Results in Woman's
Removal.
COMMISSIONER STARDS PAT
Maintains That Color Should Not Bar
Competent Persons from
Honest Employ
ment.
It is reported that refusal to work
with Mrs. Ada Hill Smith and an al
leged attempt to incite opposition to
her that might have led to serious
trouble has caused Mrs. Harnett to
lose her position as one of the city
play grounds supervisors. Mrs. Smith
who could easily pass for white, if she;
so desired, but never attempts to, ap
plied for a position as playground
supervisor and was regularly appoint
ed by Park Commissioner Joseph
Hummel and was assigned to Kountze
Park, where her work was entirely
satisfactory. During certain hours it
was necessary to have two supervisors
at some of the playgrounds. Mrs.
Hartnett was the other supervisor as
signed to Kountze Park. Last Friday j
it is said that Mrs. Hartnett, learning'
of Mrs. Smith's racial identity, re
fused to work with her and attempted
to stage opposition of such propor
tions as would force Mrs. Smith’s re
moval. The matter was brought to
the attention of the General Recrea
tion Superintendent Ira JonOs, who in
vestigated and reported to Mr. Hum
mel, who promptly dismissed Mrs.
Hartnett. /
ENTERTAIN FOR UNCLE
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson enter
tained a number of friends at a six
course dinner at their beautiful home.
2505 Fourth Avenue, Council Bluffs,
Iowa, Sunday, June 24th, In honor of
Mrs. Wilson’s uncle, Mr. 8amuel Car
ter of Clearfield, Pa. The table was
H. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Artie Thom
as, Mrs. Hutchison, Mrs. Degsie Stev
ens, Dr. G. B. l»nox, Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Payne, Mrs. Harry Payne, Mr.
and Mrs. James Bryant Mr. 8. G. Bry
ant, Miss Mamie Carter, Misa Juno
Haynes, Mra. Jones Haynes. After
dinner the party took an automobile
trip to the lakes.
t *
Our Pet Peeve
From Nebraska to Arkansas and Back
Experiences and Observations of the Editor On Trip to Southland §
Where He Saw Many Things of Interest
A BUSY DAY IN HOT SPRINGS
The unexpected near-zero weather
in Hot Springs froze the people up
or shall 1 say out? Anri it was cold,
no mistake about it. To add to the
discomforture of the Tourists and old
residents the gas pressure was low.
The fuel in Hot Springs and other
places in Arkansas is natural gas. For
some unexplainable reason, perhaps
because of the unusual demand upon
it or because the cold had caused con
densation of water in the mains the
gas flame feebly flickered and flut
tered in grate and “heater” and homes
and public buildings until a late hour
in the day bore close kinship to re
frigerating plants. Providence, how
ever, seemed to smile upon St. Mary’s
rectory or living rooms above the
chrpel, for one room was quite com
fortable—when you sat near the “heat
er”; bra the chapel, whew! Well, that
was another story. “Greenland’s icy
mountains” had but a small edge on
Hot Springs’ frozen strand, when we
entered the chapel a little before 7:00
o'clock Sunday morning for the cus
tomary celebration of the Holy Com
munion, at which I was the celebrant.
I frankly confess that I thought that
Father Whitlock and I would be the
only ones present for the service; but
I was agreeably mistaken, for there
were three young men, earnest and
zealous, whom the cold could not keep
from their bounden religious duty.
This was rather unusual, for as a rule
tendance upon religidfs services, and
especially under difficulties, than men.
This has been my experience. I would
not have been swprisjtf to have found
two or three faithful women present,
and the men missing; but conditions
were reversed. As usual, the quiet,
beautiful service of intercession at
this rather early hour was uplifting.
After breakfast at the Vapor City
Cafe, mentioned aforesaid, where a
garrulous religious crank, bored us
with airing his theological ignorance
—he and we two parsons being the
only early patrons—my host and I
started for a brisk walk which took
us for perhaps a mile or more up
Central avenue, lined on one side with
beautiful bath houses and on the
other—for part of the way, at least,
with handsome up-to-date stores and
business houses. On our way we stop
ped hi a drug store owned and oper
ated by one of our race. I did not
meet the proprietor, but the clerk in
charge was a courteous young man
whose name I cannot now recall. It
is a neat, well-stocked drag store, and
would be a credit to any city. What
did I buy? Don’t be suspicious. It
is quite necessary for a priest to be
“all shaven and sfiorn” and as I could
not shave without soap, and had left
that necessary article behind 1 pur
chased k shaving stick. Yes, I a Inn
got a few picture po.stal cards to mail
buck home. Is your curiosity satis
fied? Our walk homeward brought
us by two or three of the large hotels,
churches, theatres and post office.
Our brisk pedestrian trip in the bit
ing, bracing air gave me quite a favor
able impression of the Vapor Cty.
The hour of the second morning'
service was 11 o’clock. The chapel
of St. Mary’s was still suggestive of
Greenland’s icy mountains. The choir,
mostly young women, with a thin
scattering of the male contingent,
bravely vested, hovering meanwhile
around the modestly heating heater.
The congregation was small, number
ing less than twenty. At that it was
a large congregation, all things con
sidered. The service was hearty and
the sermon brief. Several thanked me
for the “helpful sermon”. I have a
suspicion that its helpfulness was
more in its BREVITY, than in the
thought-matter. Most sermons, how
ever, would be improved by condensa
tion, voluntary or enforced. In this
case it was enforced.
After dinner, Fr. Whitlock and I
went for another walk, bringing us
finally in front of the magnificent
Pythian Bath House and Sanitarium,
which was then nearing completion.
My host said, “I wish it were so that
ou could see through this fine build
ing before you leave, but as you are
leaving so soon in the morning I guess
it is out of the question, unless we
can get in touch with Dr. Wade, and
| I’m sure he would arrange it.”
Dr. C. M. Wade, who is one of the
i pioneers of Pythianism in Arkansas
j and founder of this great sanitarium,
•KOSPECTIVE NEW OLD FOLKS’ UOMtf
The Negro Women’s Christian Home
Association have set their hearts upon
the purchase of this beautiful and
commodious place on North Twenty
I
fifth street for the Old Folks’ Home.
The price is $8,000. They have an
option for thirty days in which time
they must raise $3,000. To secure a
property of this kind for the only
charity conducted by our people in this
city, the colored citizens should glad
ly contribute the whole amount. lie!
everybody give!
and who had moved his suite of of
fices into the building was not in his
office. He had attended St. Mary's
in the morning, but the rector had
overlooked speaking to him about hav
ing me shown through. The good for
tune which has followed me all the
days of my life, however, was with
me, for as I looked through the glass
of the main door, I saw a man at the
end of the hall, whom I judged to be
the custodian or watchman. I beck
oned to him. He came forward, Fr.
Whitlock knew him and told him our
desire.
“Seeing that it is you,” he said,
“I’ll gladly show you and your friend
through, altho, as you know, it is not
yet finished. He can get some idea,
at least, of what it will be."
He courteously ^showed us all
through this magnificent structure,
which we were permitted to examine
at leisure. I shall defer a description
of it until a later article. Suffice it
to say now that I was amazed at its
exquisite beauty, grandeur and com
pleteness. I hope I can secure cuts of
it for a subsequent issue.
Vespers were said at St. Mary’s at
4 o’clock and I again preached. As
the temperature of the building was
reasonably comfortable at this time,
my sermon was a little longer than
that of the morning. Some were kind
enough to say it was too short. Better,
however, that than to have it too long.
This ended the services for the day
at St. Mary’s, all of which I had
heartily enjoyed.
We had just made an engagement
to attend Evensong in St. Luke’s Epis
copal church, when I was called to the
telephone. “This is ChaVles Stewart,
and I’d love to see you; I’m speaking
at Roanake Baptist church tonight,
and as your services are over, come
on out and shake an old friend’s hand.”
“Who’s Charles Stewart?”
Well, if you don’t know him, you
ought to. In stature he is almost a
cube, being five feet, tall, five feet
wide and five feet thick, orf him it
might be truthfully written, “the
height thereof and the breadth thereof
and the width thereof are equal.” He
(Continued on Page 4) .
NEBRASKA STATE
FEDERATION HAS
ANHDAL SESSIOH
Eighteenth Annual Meeting of Club
Women Keeps Organization Busy
During Successful Two-Day
Session
PREtEAT A VARIED PROGRAM
Literary and Musical Numbers Given j
Liberal Space. Elections
Show But Few
Changes
The Eighteenth Annual meeting of
the Nebraska State Federation of Col
ored Women’s Clubs closed a success
ful and interesting two-day session at
Zion Bajitist church Wednesday night.
Twenty-six delegates representing
twelve clubs put in two busy days
with a varied program. A good num
ber of visitors were also present,
mainly at the night sessions.
The sessions opened Tuesday morn
ing at 10 o”clock with Mrs. Lulu
Rountree, State President, presiding.
There were three sessions daily, at
10 a. m., and 2:00 and 8:00 p. m. The
morning and afternoon sessions were
devoted chiefly to the dispatch of rou
tine business. Tuesday afternoon the
president, Mrs. Lulu Rountree, gave
her annual address, which was largely
a review of the national meeting. A
violin solo by Master Laurence Bur
nett, a reading by ^frs. Lola Howard
of Lincoln and a piano solo by Mrs.
Viola Wright were other features of
the session.
Tuesday night’s session included a
vocal solo by Mrs. Grace Stanley of
Lincoln; a welcome address by Mrs.
Rhieva Harr old; response by Mrs.
Fannie Young, of Uncoln; an instru
mental solo by Mrs. Genevieve Gas
ton; a paper by Mrs. F. L McIntosh;
solo by Mrs. Minnie Herndon, Council
Bluffs; a paper by Miss Geneva Fritz,
and a piano number by "Mrs. Helen
Fields.
Wednesday morning was devoted tc
routine business and reports of clubs
a reading by Mrs. Bessie Ogelsby, and
a thoughtful paper by Mrs. M. H. Wil
kinson on "The Present Day Wovnan
and Her Opportunities,” which elicit
ed a helpful discussion.
Wednesday afternoon’s program in
cluded addresses by Miss Edna Strat
ton, secretary North Side Branch Y
W. C. A.; Mrs. M. L. Lord on (“Amer
ican Citizenship;’’ Mrs. W. A. Wilcoi
(Continued on Pag* Two)
LYNCHING MANIA IS
. CONTRIBUTORY TO
NEGRO MIGRATION
Leading Boston Journal Analyzes Con
ditions Responsible for the
Heavy Movement
Northward.
ECONOMIC PRESSURE VITAL
Migration May Prove Dominant Fac
tor in Supression of Lawless
ness of Which the Race Is
Chief Victim.
Washington, D .C. June 29.—
Boston’s leading newspaper thinks the
present Negro migration movement
may put an end to lynching and peon
age—crimes against civilization.
“Will the pressure of economic need
do more in putting an end to lynch
ing in the southern states than has
been accomplished by appeals based
on moral and legal grounds ? With the
shortage of manual labor there has
come renewed migration of Negroes
to the manufacturing regions of the
north. The departure of so many of
the colored population is causing con
cern among southern planters and bus
iness men. They are confronted with!
the prospect of greatly curtailing their
operations because of shortage of
labor. The signing by Governor Pin
chot of a bill making participation in
a lynching party in Pennsylvania first
degree murder, coming at this time is
an element in the situation not to be
an influence that will increase the
migration and so add to the labor
shortage in southern states.
“Leaders of the Negroes are advis
ing them to take advantage of their
i present opportunity tp find employ
ment in pans of the country where,
I they are told, they will escape the
I peculiar dangers to which they are
I subjected in the southern states. This
attitude of the leaders of the race is
frankly stated in a recent correspond
ence.
“Ur. Emmett J. Scott, secretary
-Treasurer of the Howard University,
having appealed to Judge Elbert H.
Gary to employ colored Americans in
the works of the United States Steel
Corporation, an official of one of the
southern lumber producing companies
protested, presumably on the ground
that the Negroes were needed in the
south.
“Replying to this protest, Dr. Scott
said, ‘I very definitely feel that it is
the duty of colored people wherever
opportunity offers to leave those sec
tions where lynching and peonage are
practired upon them with impunity.’
He added that he knew that black men
were likely to meet with difficulties
in some of the northern regions, but
that these difficulties were incon
sequential when compared with the
privilege of a free and untrammeled
citizenship, along with better hous
ing, better educational opportunities
for the children, better wages and bet
ter treatment.
“Such incidents may go far to put
an end to the hangings, the shootings
and the burnings of which colored peo
ple have been the most numerous if
not the only victims. It is lawlessness
of a kind rarr.part in the south, but
it must be confessed, not unknown in
the north. The present migration of
the Negroes may hasten the day when
there will be more general recogni
tion Of the fact that lynching and
peonage do not pay, whether the vic
tims be white or black. Perhaps that
will make it easier to convince no
small number of people that such
practices are also a crime against
civilization.”—(Editorial in The Bos
ton Transcript, May 23, 1923.)
FOREIGN STUDENTS
VISIT AT HAMPTON
(By Wm. Anthony Aery)
Hampton, Va., June 29.—A party of
36 students (18 men and 18 women),
who are enrolled in the International
Institute at Teachers College, Colum
bia University, and who are inspect
ing American schools with a view to
understanding the comparative merits
of school administration and instruc
tion, .recently visited Hampton In
stitute for two days under the leader
ship of Dr. 1. L. Kandel and Dr. L.
M. Wilson and made a careful ex
amination of Hampton’s aims, meth
ods and results.
The following 14 regions were l*P
reaented by this Teachers College
party: Belgium, Canada, China, Eng
land, Greece, Hawaiian Islands, India,
Japan, New Zealand, Philippine Is
'ands, Poland, South Africa, Sweden
and the United States.
%
1