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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1924)
“.The Monitor A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor -- -N — ' ' - ' ' .- ' -- $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy > °%e OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1924 Whole Number 456 Vol. IX—No. 40 * —— »'i ——— i ■ i — ... ..... NBUC OFFICIAL FRANKLY ANSWERS FLORENCE FANATIC Misguided Creature Who Was Indicted As Mob Leader And Suspected Of Another Crime Seeks To Foment Strife MITES OFFENSIVE LETTERS Harry Counsman, One Of Many To Receive These Impertinent Communications, Promptly Sends Reply Unfortunately every community has a few ignorant and foolish people who are a menace to the community in which they live. Whoever strives to stir up strife against any class of citizens is an enemy against the com monwealth and should be treated ac cordingly. Omaha has at least one of these abnormal creatures who has been trying to spread his poison for several years and for whom the doors of the penitentiary have dangerously yawned more than once. He was in dicted by the Grand Jury as a mob leader and escaped by a hung jury. The Monitor has hitherto ignored this contemptible creature as being beneath our notice and perhaps that were the better policy to pursue, even now were it not for the fact that he is becoming bolder year by year and the high-minded citizenry of Omaha should be advised of his presence—of which very few are aware—and of his methods which no sensible person will approve. It is for this reason that we give publicity to the follow ing letter which is only one of many which he has sent to Court House of ficials, and another which is the re ply of one of these officials who has replied. The letters speak for them selves. Individuals of the character of the writer of the first letter are a menace to any well-regulated or civil ized community. The Creature’s Letter (Florence) Omaha, Nebr., March 1st, 1924 County Assessor: I understand you are trying to turn our COURT HOUSE into an Uncle Toms cabin, by employing niggers in every Dept. I ask in what capacity does tha nigger work in your Dept., and does it conflict with WHITE SU PREMACY? In my publication NETHAWAY’S CAUCASIAN the BLACK PERIL which will appear in the near future this data will be pub lished, so have the nerve to say a word for yourself, while you still have the niggers vote if you are for them, I am for their disfranchisement to head off such acts for nigger votes, and this publication will come out flat footed for WHITE SUPREMACY. Yours for the Caucasian Race, (Signed) C. L. NETHAWAY Stamped Envelope Enclosed. Counsman’s Reply Omaha, Nebr., March 31, 1924 Mr. C. L. Nethaway, 8013 N. 30th St., City. Dear Sir: In your letter dated March 1st, 1924, you challenge me to show my nerve and answer for myself what I think of data contained in your said letter of above date. To start with, Mr. Nethaway, the Bible says “God created man in his image” and I cannot conceive how a person can hold such a bitter hatred toward another, regardless of his color, as you have expressed yourself toward the Negro Race. As for myself, I am willing to tell you even if you desire to publish it, that 1 do employ a member of the Negro race in my office, an educated, refined and competent young man who has the same general recognition and salary as the other employees, also at times of the year I have occasion to employ another of that race for a limited time. Sir, for just what your purpose is in writing this letter to me, I do not know, but anyway you are going to get an honest answer, and it is this: I do not think or believe that the Negro is looking for, or even dreams of what you call Black Su premacy. He knows such a thing m not possible, ,but what he wants and needs most is to be let alone and given the chance to work out his own salva tion and I believe it to be the Christ ian duty of you and me, and all of us to lend him a helping hand at any time we can assist him to that end. In conclusion will add, that the Negro employed in my department does not in any way conflict with what you term “White Supremacy. Respectfully yours, (Signed) H. G. Counsman. DO HONOR TO HARRY BURLEIGH'S SERVICE (By the Associated Negro Press.) New York, N. Y., April 4.—A sig nal honor to Harry T. Burleigh, for 30 years baritorflj&Soloist at the fash ionable St. George church, white, will be paid this coming Sunday when an entire program, made up of Bur leigh’s own music will be sung. Some fifty songs have been written by Mr. Burleigh, besides two festival an thems and four compositions for the violin. He received much prominence a few years ago when he was called upon to sing at the funeral of the late J. Pierpont Morgan. He has also sung for the cultured of this and other lands. In 1917 Mr. Burleigh was awarded the Spingam medal. He was bom in 1866, grew up through hardships, and made the position of soloist at St. George after having been deck hand, stenographer, jani tor, and so forth. Sixty applicants applied for the vacancy in the choir at St. George at the time he did. He was the only Negro, but he won. KLAVER COUNTS ON HOST OF FRIENDS TO MAKE HIM WINNER Tuesday is primary day. Lest we forget, we must remember to vote for S. E. Klaver, republican candi date for county assessor. Readers of The Monitor have no doubt learned by1 this time just who S. E. Klaver is. They have had time to investigate him. The Monitor does not have to check his record. Mr. Klaver iH known to almost every colored voter in greater Omaha. They know his reputation and char acter is unblemished and when Klaver gives his word on anything it is as good as gold certificates, as one would say. That Klaver will receive the nom ination is no question now. Even his strongest opponent will have to ad mit that he has a long hill to climb before nine next Tuesday night to defeat Klaver. “I want to say right here that I wish I could reach everyone of my friends to cast their vote for Klav er,” said Dan Deadlines, Omaha’s best bandmaster and president of Klaver Colored Club. "I know that Klaver stands for the same things our peo ple stand for. He should get our vote. I will do everything within my power to get the vote out.” This seems to be the sentiment not only among the colored people, but in every section of the city. “Klaver for county assessor is our slogan on primary day,” said John Adams, attorney. We must let our people know who are our friends. S. E. Klaver has always been our friend and I do hope that the colored people will do their share, carry out that privilege given us and vote not only for Klaver but other good men.” mmwMwm Klaver is a North Sider, owns property, pays taxes and was raised and educated in Omaha. Klaver knows what it means to pay high taxes. He has been doing it for years. Klaver is not running helter-skelter shouting “lower taxes, reduce taxes." Klaver is not on the house tops mak ing extravagant or “wildcat” prom ises. But Klaver does pledge his sol emn word that he will do his utmost to get a further reduction in taxes. That’s his platform, that’s why you should be for him, and vote for him. Klaver has been a deputy county assessor, for the last four years and during that time has made thousands of friends. Both John Smith and I. Bailey, officers of the Klaver Col ored Club have been working in the interest of Mr. Klaver. When you go to the polls, be sure and watch that ballot, look for the name, “S. E. Klaver, county assessor” and vote for him. Remit for your paper now. What is the Matter With Christianity Today? There is Something Wrong About It? What is it? (An address delivered by the Rev. Francis J. Grimke, D. D., pastor of the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, Washington, D. C., at the Seventh Annual Convocation of the School of Religion of Howard Uni versity, Washington, D. C. It waB this address which so offended cer tain Southern Senators that they withheld the appropriation for How ard University. (By the Associated Negro Press.) Part II And the reason why such distinc tions exist and why they continue to exist is because the church has per sistently refused to render to Jesus the obedience which isr His due. He speaks—speaks in His beautiful spirit, in His noble character and life, in the great principles and ideals set forth by Him; but the church will not hear, or rather, hears but will not obey. The evil within it overpowers the good. It listens, as Eve did, to the tempter instead of to the voice of God. Only within this present month, just about two weeks ago, a thing oc curred in this city which will help to throw some light upon the character of our present-day Christianity. A professor in this university, the dean of one of the colleges, a gentleman, a scholar, a man worthy of the high est respect, a man fit to live in the choicest section of any city in the country, was waited upon by 500 of his white neighbors, men, and women, and told to get out of his own house, purchased with his own hard earnings. And why? Not because he was a criminal, a thief, a penitentiary con vict, a bootlegger; not because his moral character was such as to ren der his presence in the neighborhood undesirable—he is, in every respect, the peer, if not the superior of every man and woman in that crowd who waited on him—but he was ordered out simply because he happened to be identified with the colored race. The color of his skin was his only offense. And strange to say, but it is not strange, the meeting where the resolu tions were passed decreeing his ex pulsion was held in the United Breth ren Church, a Christian organization. And we are further told, after form in line, the 500 men and women as they marched to the residence of this colored gentleman sang: Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before.” Imagine, if you can, the cross of Jesus going on before in pursuit of any such infamous undertaking as that. When this outrage on this highly respectabble and law-abiding citizen was reported in the papers the next morning, did the entire Christian com munity, in the name of Jesus Christ and of common decency, rise up and solemnly denounce the outrage? No! No! Not a word of disapproval, or of condemnation was heard; nor has any been heard since. The fact that such a demonstration could take place in a so-called Christ ian community, and could take place without being condemned and the fact that those who fomented the agita tion were permitted to meet and lay their plans in a Christian church, show clearly the kind of Christianity that we are up against; how far, far removed it is from the spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ. So that if I am asjced, what is the matter with the Christianity of to day? My answer is, its lack of the spirit of Jesus Christ; its lack of obed ience to the revealed will of God; its failure to recognize, except in part only, the kingship of Jesus Christ. A Christianity that is deficient, as pres ent day Christianity is, in the spirit of obedience to Christ is a Christian ity under which all kinds of evil may be expected to exist. Race prejudice and every other evil that is cursing the world to-day would speedily dis appear if the men and women pro fessing to ' be Christians, some forty millions in this country alone, would honestly, without equivocation, with out reservation, make up their minds to obey Jesus Christ, to be true to Christian ideals and principles. As long as we have a Christianity that is content with saying, “Lord, Lord,” but do not the things which Jesus en joins, conditions will continue as they are, the world will go on its way to the devil, and the church with it. The only hope for the world, as I see it, is in a better type of Christ ianity. And there will be no better type of Christianity until the spirit which says: “Not my will, but Thine be done.” “Speak, ,Lord, for Thy servant heareth,” takes possession of it, We can not serve God and mammon; we can not serve God and the devil; we can not be true to God and to our prejudices. And that is the lesson which the church is so slow to learn. John Wesley said: “If I had 300 men who feared noth ing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus and Him cruci fied, I would set the world on fire.” What could not the 40,000,000 of professing Christians in this country do in correcting evils that are every where about us, if they were what they profess to be; if they were loyal to the King in whose service they are supposed to be enlisted? The world will never be what it ought to be un til there is brought to bear upon it a Christianity that sincerely, honestly aims, and as sincerely and honestly strives to bring every thought and every imagination into captivity to Jesus Christ as Lord. It must be a Christianity that knows nothing among men but Jesus Christ as pro phet, as priest, as King. If His king ship doesn’t enter into it; if He is not really the power that is ruling in it, it will be powerless to save a lost world; it) will be no better than the present brand of Christianity. w » » adam McMullen Republican Candidate for nomination for Governor PROTEST BIRMINGHAM STREET CAR SERVICE (By the Associated Negro Press.) Birmingham, Ala., April 4.—The Colored Interdenominational Minis ters’ Alliance of Greater Birmingham has registered a protest with the city commission against what it described as treatment “almost inhuman and beyond endurance” on local street cars. The protest was referred to the commissioner of public utilities. ___• , NEW YORK IS THE CLEANEST BIG CITY (By the Associated Negro Press.) New York City, N. Y., April 4.— According to the report of a Com mittee of fourteen, New York is the cleanest city in the world so far as open vice is concerned. Evidence ol the increase of secret commercialized vice is found, the committee reports, in the record" of the women’s courts. A plan is now on foot to attack this through a drive directed at its pro moters. OPPOSED TO RACIAL GROUPS (By the Associated Negro Press.) New York, N. Y., April 4. —The Daughters of the American Revolu tion have passed a resolution vigor ously condemning the move to place the Herkimer homestead under the control of the Steuben Society and the Daughters of the American Rev olution, claiming that the Steuben So ciety is more interested in preserving German ideals in America than those of the Revolution, and decrying any effort to perpetuate in America the ideals of any racial group that does not find its best hope in American ism. The Blue Triangle Girls met Wed nesday, March 26, at the Y. W. C. A. All members were present, as there was a heart to heart talk between them and their advisor. Many inter esting points of life were brought out by Miss Lucas. Mildred Turner, President. Dorcas Jones, Secretary. Theresa Liverpool, Reporter THE SAINT PAUL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 26th and Seward Strs. Russel Taylor, Pastor In gratitude to God our Church year which closed March 31, was from a spiritual standpoint the best in the brief history of the Church. There have been more additions than ever before, and those who came have been exceptionally regular in their at tendance and participation in the wor ship of the Church. Financially we have not done so well largely because the work was deliberately crippled, but God will over-come those obstacles for those who are faithful. At a congregational meeting,Thurs day night by unanimous vote Mr. H. J. Pinkett was removed from the Trustee Board and Mr. R. T. Carr was elected in his stead. Services, Sunday A. M.—“All Things Work'Together for Good to Them that Love God.” Evening— ,“A Wide Open Invitation.” Christian Endeavor Topic—“How Jesus Loved and Served.” John 11:3-5; Mark 10:43-45. Monthly Consecration Meeting— Led by pastor. ERNEST HOGAN STARTED JAZZ (By the Associated Negro Press.) New York, N. Y., April 4.—In a dressing room interview given out by Fred Stone, singer and dancer now starring in "Stepping Stones,” Er nest Hogan, Negro minstrel and song writer of several decades ago, is given credit for being the creator of modem jazz. Stone traces rag time back to a song “The Pasmala,” written by Hogan, the name of the song being a corruption of t|ie French words meaning a mixed step. The white actor claims that ragtime music gave birth to a new school of dancers, the eccentrics. He first heard it played by a Negro in New Orleans and asserts that it had its premiere in New York in a big way through Ben Harney, a white man who took to the new music easily. THREATENED AS WITNESS IN WHITE MURDER CASE (By the Associated Negro Press.) Nashville, Tenn., April 4.—A note reading “Leave town at once, before April 10 of this year” has been re ceived by Mrs. Myrtle Webster who is expected to be the star witness In the case of Frank Christman, white, charged with the murder of Fred Ar nett. The letter was signed “X.” HOPE OF PROGRESS IN YOUNG AMERICA (By the Associated Negro Press.) Akron, O., April 4.—Faculty mem bers of the West high school declared to William Pickens, field secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, aft er an address at the school that he “got more applause than any man that ever spoke from the school plat form.” There are several thousand white students in the school. Negro students number thirty. Mr. Pickens told the whites that they did not know their colored mates as well as the latter knew them and that that was one of the chief reasons the colored students were more decent in their attitude toward the whites than the whites toward them; that the histories given white students left out facts about colored students’ ancestors, and that the white students should not copy the prejudices of their mothers and fathers, but should form their own ideas and be broader. Basing his belief on the attitude of these and other students he has ad dressed throughout the country, Mr. Pickens expressed the opinion that “there is hope in Young America.” HOPKINS FOR COMMISSIONER One of the present city commission ers who has commended himself to the voters of Omaha by his efficiency and fairness in office is John Hop kins, at present head of the fire and building departments. Mr. Hopkins has maintained the wonderful standard of efficiency in his department which has made it pos sible for Omaha to boast of one of the finest fire departments in the en tire country. A particular quality which has ap pealed to everyone wha has come in contact with Mr. Hopkins has been his never failing courtesy. Individ uals and delegations which have called upon him have remarked that at all times he is courteous and fair, and en deavors to give to the public the kind of service which they expect from their representatives in the city hall. The voters of Omaha who desire ef ficient, courteous service at the city hall, and the fair consideration of all of their problems, without distinction as to class, creed or color, will do well to retain John Hopkins as city com missioner. GOLDSTEIN-CHAPMAN CO. ADDS NEW DEPARTMENT “The Boys’ Shop” opened several weeks ago and is the talk of Omaha for their wonderful display and con venience to shop at prices people like to pay. Mr. M. B. Rubin, formerly with the Bailey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, for fourteen years has charge and really knows the needs of the boy and can outfit him so as to “suit” him and the mother too. Personal and indi vidual attention given at all times, regardless how small the purchase may be, is the service you get in the Boys Shop. “During the past several years I have visited Omaha and felt that Omaha was in need of an exclusive , Boys Shop where the little fellows and big fellows can have real attention”, said Mr. Rubin, “and in choosing Goldstein-Chapman’s as my location I believe that I can serve the people of Omaha very satisfactorilly.” Mr. Rubin spent several weeks in New York buying desirable merchan dise and has a most complete stock to choose from. The Boys Clothes department is lo 1 cated on the second floor formerly ! the Benson-Thome space whlcn af ford 100 per cent daylight. Home-life is the barometer of na , tional conditions — the straw that | shows the way the wind Is blowing. NEWS GATHERING AGENCY MAKING RAPID PROGRESS The Associated Negro Press Enters Its Sixth Year of Progressive Service For Racial Newspapers FIRST ORQJUHZJITIOR OF MIR Has Assembled Capable Staff Of Distinguished Writers Who Are Loyal To Cause Of Journalism (By the Associated Negro Press) Chicago, 111., March 28.—With the releases of the Associated Negro Press following March 21, the service entered the sixth year of progressive effort for the racial newspapers of the country. Starting with a group of ten newspapers on an exchange basis, the work has developed to where more than 120 newspapers are served on a nominal cash membership basis. This arrangement is far from perfection, but indicates a most sub stantial growth of racial Journalism. A number of daily newspapers, na tional organizations of both races and prominent individuals, receive A. N. P. releases In order to get world wide news of Colored peoples from the other viewpoint. The emblem of A. N. P. contains the watchwords of Pro gress, Loyalty, Truth. The standard of service maintained has adhered strictly to these watchwords, and by this measure a fine share of pnblic confidence has been developed. The Associated Negro Press bears the distinction of being the first or ganizatin of its kind endeavoring to furnish current and general news to the newspapers. The organization has carefully refrained from turning itself into a group of “self-boosters.” It has a staff of distinguished writers who are loyal to the cause of ad vanced Journalism, and who for the most part are compensated for their untiring efforts by the satisfaction of work well done. The executive offices of the organ ization are 3423 Indiana Avenue, Chi cago. These offices have a staff of seven people including Claude A. Bar nett, DireqRor; Nahum Daniel Bras cher, editor-in-chief, Percival L. Prat t's and Arthur W. Harris. Head quarters are maintained in New York and Washington, and other principal centers of the country. William Pick ens of New York, is a contributing editor, J. A. Jackson, of the Billboard, New York, is Eastern Representative; other prominent members of the staff are: E. Ten Eyck, who writes on so cial and recreational subjects; Daniel W. Chase, Philadelphia; Robert P. Edwards, who has made a brilliant reputation in the weekly historical “Whatnot" column; J. m. Batchman, St. Louis; Arthur G. Banks, Boston; J. W. Leigh, New Orleans; MaJ. A. H. Butler, Monrovia, Liberia and Joseph B. Bass, Los Angeles, Cal. The Associated Negro Press con templates a number of new features for the ensuing year. The loyalty of the membership newspapers and their willingness to co-operate in every ef fort to serve the best interests of the people, have been among the chief inspirational privilges of the organ ization, according to its founders. SOCIALISTS CONDEMN KLAN (By the Associated Negro Press) Chicago, II? March 28.—One of the active influences at work to offset the power of the Ku Klux Klan in the coming national political cam paign will be the Socialist party if a resolution passed by the executive committee of the party expresses the true temper of the rank and file of the organization. The executive com mittee came to the conclusion that the klan fosters racial and religious ha tred and that it is an upgrowth of the notorious Know Nothing and Ku Klux Klan| of reconstruction days, and further, ‘‘That, the workers have everything to lose and nothing to gain by sup porting an organization that has al ready proven a source of untold bit terness, racial, religions and fraction al strife among them." "Trade unions in many instances have become a hot bed of racial and religious heresay hunting,” the reso lution reads. "Workers who, because of the common ties of labor, should be united in the closest bond of bro therhood have become the most bit ter enemies and are suspicious of each other because of racial and religious differences. The economic master class and a few promoters and organ izers are the beneficiaries of such an organization as the klan.”