The Monitor
%>, A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
I $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy % OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1924 Whole Number 459 Vol. IX—No. 43
WILL OBSERVE [OYS’ W K—APRIL 27 TO MAY 4
METHODISTS SODTH
SEEK RACIAL AMITY
AHD UHDERSTAHDIHG
Supreme Bodies Take Vigorous Stand
for Co-operation and Justice
Along Christian
Lines.
DOM* PROVE THEIR FAITH
Devote Hundreds of Thousands Annu
ally to Colored Schools, Churches
and Other Welfare
Work.
Atlanta, Ga., April 25.—The atti
tude of the Southern Methodist
Church on the question of race rela
tions having been called in question
in a recent newspaper report, mem
bers of that denomination in this city
point out that the Church’s attitude
is not properly to be judged by the
utterances of a relatively small group
(as was the case in the report refei
red to), but by the statements and
policies of the supreme bodies rep
resenting the whole denomination.
These, it is claimed, are uniformly
earnest, fair, and brotherly, calling
on the whole Church to study and
discharge its duty in this matter in
the light of Christian principles. For
example, in 1918 the General Confer
ence, the supreme legislative body of
the whole Church, adopted the follow
ing:
‘There must be real, sympathetic
co-operation between the leaders of
the two races. National, state and
neighborhood conferences should be
held, at which there should be frank
interchange of opinions concerning
traveling, housing, educational, moral
and religious conditions; followed by
an earnest effort to understand the
cause of bad feeling and open friction,
and the prompt and positive con
demnation of all acts of injustice by
whomsoever committed, whether white
or black. The thoughtful Christian
leaders of the two races must not per
mit the excesses of radicals and ex
tremists to prevent the development
of plans for larger sympathy and
closer co-operation between the white
people and the Negroes.”
In 1922, the same body took the
following action by unanimous vote:
“We recognize the seriousness of
the question of the relations between
the white and colored races, especial
ly in our land. It is our conviction
that the Church should openly declare
its responsibility and its duty serious
ly to set itself to the task of aiding
in the solution of these perplexing
problems by the application of Chris
tian principles.
"We believe it to be exceedingly
important that our pastors lay this
matter upon the consciences of our
people in order that our relations
with the colored people may be char
acterized by patience, justice, and
Christian love.
"We think that our Social Service
Commission should be authorized—
indeed, perhaps instructed—to co
operate with the Commission on In
terracial Co-operation in the South,
and we ask all Methodist people to
assist as they have the opportunity in
the formation of local groups which
shall endeavor to establish better rela
tions between the races.” The Con
ference further advised the various
boards of the Church to incorporate
the study of race relations in their
general and local programs.
Equally significant is the attitude
of the Woman’s Missionary Council,
which heads the organized woman’s
work of the whole Church, as set
forth in the following resolutions
adopted in 1920:
Omaha Team Home Tuesday
Secretary Hans Rets, of the Omaha
Western League Ball Club, assisted
by nick Grotte, president of the Trl
State League, and other enterprising
sportsmen, have spent a very busy
week preparing for the home-coming
of the Omaha IluffaloeB, for their first
game on the home lot Tueeday after
noon at 3:30.
The afternoon promises to be a gala
day for fan and fanettea who will
crowd Into the Vinton street home of
the Buffaloes.
Wichita, many time league leaders
will be the visitors and they are to be
met by an angry herd of Buffaloes
who are out to avenge the defeats
they met at the hands of the Bald
headed Izzies this week.
It has been rumored about that
Mayor Jim will declare a half holiday
Tuesday so that all employed fane
will have an opportunity of looking
this season’s team over. There are
many new faces on the club and de
spite the record they have made so
far this season, Omaha has reason to
believe that we have a real organiza
tion of ball players.
Many fans have squawked about
the showing of the team but they want
to remember that on Wednesday
morning the New York Yankees oc
cupied the same place in American
League standing as did the locals in
the Western.
The team is going to go good, we
believe, and one of the greatest en
couragements they can receive is by
your attendance; attend the game on
Tuesday and as often thereafter as
possible.
Batteries have not been announced
for the opener but it is possible that
Tiny Harry Lee or Big Bill Bailey will
fling them over to Red Wilder, behind
the pan.
Box reservations can be made at
the regular down town stations at
this time.
“RESOLVED: 1. That as Chris
tians and workers in God’s kingdom
we accept his challenge to show forth
his power to settle racial differences,
thereby setting before the whole
world an example of the power of
Christianity to meet interracial crises
everywhere.
“2. That we set ourselves definitely
to the task by the creation of a Com
mission on Race Relationships, which
shall study the whole question of
race relationships, the needs of Negro
women and children, and the meth
ods of co-operation by which better
relations may be brought about.”
In 1921 the Council provided that
in every local group an interracial
committee should be organized, to
seek a sympathetic basis of co-opera
tion with leaders among Negro women
of the community, to study the con
ditions and needs of colored people in
the matters of housing, sanitation,
schools, churches, etc., and to make a
study also of “Negro achievements in
literature, poetry, music, art and other
lines of endeavor, that there may be
sympathetic appreciation of the Ne
gro’s contribution to American life
in these lines."
It is pointed out that the Southern
Methodist Church has for years been
contributing to Negro education, and
of late quite generously, $750,000 of
Centenary money having been set
apart as an additional fund for this
purpose. It maintains a number of
social service renters for colored peo
ple, appropriates thousand of dollars
annually to supplement the salaries
of underpaid preachers in the C. M. E.
Church, and conducts two summer
schools for colored pastors.
It is believed that this record of
sympathetic interest and co-operation
should be allowed to speak for the
Church on this question, rather than
the probably well meant, but ill-con
sidered statements of any small and
sectional group.
SOME ANCIENT STONE
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Nashville, Tenn., April 25.—R. M.
Johnson of Morristown has written
a letter to the state geologist, inform
ing tile latter that he, Johnson, is In
possession of the identical stone with
which the boy, David, slew the giant
Goliath. Johnson claims (he stone
has been in possession of his family
from biblical days and hos been pass
ed down. He has no children and
wants to turn it over to some respon
sible agency which may ascertain Its
value and preserve It.
SAVES AGED MAN
KROM DROWNING
(By The Associated Negro Press)
New Orleans, I^a., April 25.—Mig
uel Rico, white, aged 79 years, while
standing on the dock at the foot, of
Dutnaine street, was seized with an
apopletic fit and fell Into the river.
Iviwrence James, Jumped at the risk
of his life and brought the uncon
scious man to shore.
COMMUNITY CENTER
ACQUIRED NEW BUILDING
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Hampton, Va., April 25.—The deed
to a Community center building tn
this city was presented to leaders of
the organization here this week after
the citizens of the town had raised
$5000 for its purpose. The deed was
presented by T. S. Settle, a represen
tative of Community Service, Incor
porated, and accepted by the Rev. E.
H. Hamilton, chairman of the local
executive board. Charles Kaufman
represented teh city government at
the presentation and Dr. James E.
Oregg, Hampton Institute.
BEATS DAILIES OX STREETS
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Kansas City, Mo., April 25.—White
dailies with extras telling the results
of the recent election here were 17
minutes behind the Kansas City Call,
local Negro weekly. The Cal] was
out with an extra, carrying the pic
tures of successful candidates, and re
turns, which whites and Negroes were
buying until the dailies could get go
ing.
FLIRTING CRACKER JAILED
New York, April 25.—John Elliott,
white, of Georgia, was sentenced to
five days in the work house for flirt
ing with Miss Estelle Richardson on
the subway. A white woman helped
Miss Richardson, hold Elliott for the
cops.
FINDS $300,000; GETS $150
Philadelphia, April 25.—William
M. Queen, 1707 Kater street, was
given $150 reward last week for find
ing $300,000 in checks belonging to
the Atlantic Refining Company.
PERRY HOWARD STAYS
Washington, D. C., April 25.—New
ly appointed Attorney General Stone
does not contemplate moving Perry
Howard, only race assistant on his
staff named by Daugherty.
ON BOARD OF EDUCATION
Kinlock, Mo., April 25.—Rev. Wal
ter L. Johnson, pastor of First Bap
tist church, was elected on the repub
lican ticket as a member of the
Board of Education.
RADIO FANS AGAINST
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Ossining, N. Y., April 25.—Capital
punishment had another black mark
Ihecked against it when, after a de
bate over the radio on the subject be
tween Warden I^ewis E. Lawes and
Senator William L. Love, radio fans
voted 568 to 501 against it.
WANTS IMMIGRATION
LAWS UNRESTRICTED
(By The Associated Negro Press)
New York, N. Y., April 25.—In a
letter sent to its patrons and other
interested persons, the National City
Bank of this city suggests advantages
that might accrue to America from
unrestricted inmigration and the pos
sible disadvantages to the very people
restriction is designed to help by the
employment of such methods. Re
stricted immigration thus far has
brought about the emigration of Ne
groes from the South and the Nation
al City Bank writes: “.this is
producing serious effects in short cot
ton crops and very high prices for cot
ton goods. Now, with boll weevil to
A STORY OF THE MARTYRS OF 1822
A Story of Anti-Bellum Days, Dealing With Slave Insurrection at Charleston
He was blank but comely. Nature
gave him a royal body, nobly planned
and proportioned, and noted for its
great strength. There was that in his
countenance, which bespoke a mind
within to match the body, a mind of
uncommon native Intelligence, force
of wlil, and capacity to dominate
others. His manners were at once
abrupt and crafty, his temper was im
perious, his passions and impulses
were those of a primitive ruler, and
his heart was the heart of a lion. He
was often referred to as an old man,
but he was not an old man, when he
died on the gallows at Charlestown,
S. C., July 2, 1822. (No, he was by
no means an old man, whether Judged
by length of years or strength of body,
for he was on that memorable July
day, seventy-eight years ago not more
than fifty-six years old, although the
hair on his head and face was then
probably white. This circumstance
and the preeminence accorded him by
his race neighbors, might account for
the references to him, as to that of an
old man).
All things considered, he was truly
an extraordinary man. It is impos
sible to say where he was born, or
who were bis parents. He was, alas!
oh far as my knowledge of hia’ per
sonal history goes, a man without a
past. He might have been born of
slave parentage in the West Indies, or
of royal ones In Africa, where, in that
case, he was kidnapped and sold sub
sequently into slavery In America. I
had almost said that he was a man
without a name. He is certainly a
man without ancestral name. For the
name to which he answered up to the
age of fourteen, had been lost for
ever. After that time he has been
known as Denmark Vesey. Denmark
is a corruption of Telemaque, the
praenomen bestowed upon him at that
age by a new master, and Vesey was
the cognomen of that master who was
captain of an American vessel en
gaged In the African slave trade be
tween the Islands of St. Thomas and
Santo Domingo. It Is on board of
Captain Vesey’s slave vessel that we
catch the earliest glimpse of our hero.
Deeply interesting moment te that,
which revealed thus to us the Negro
lad, deeply interesting and tragical for
one and the same cause.
This first appearance of him upon
the stage of history occurred in the
year which ended virtually the war
for American Independence 1781, dur
ing the passage between St. Thomas
and Cap Fracals, of Captain Vesey's
slave bark with a cargo of 390 slaves.
The lad, Telemaque, was a part of that
sad cargo, undistinguished at the out
set of the voyage from the rest of the
human freight. Of the 389 others, we
11/ Francis .1. (Jrlmke
FART I
(By The Associated Negro Press)
THE HERO’S EARLY CAREER
know absolutely nothing. Not an in
cident, nor a token, not even a name
has floated to us across the inter
vening years, from all that multitud
inous misery, from such an unspeak
able tragedy, except that the ship
reached its destination, and the slaves
were sold. Like boats that pass at
sea, that slave vessel loomed for f>
lurid instant on the horizon, and was
gone forever—all but Denmark Vesey.
How it happened that he did not van
ish with the rest of Ills ill-fated fel
lows, will be set down in this paper,
which has essayed to describe the
slave plot which he planned, with
which his name is identified, and by
which it ought to be, for all time, hal
lowed in the memory of every man,
woman and child of Negro descent in
America.
On that voyage Captain Vesey was
strongly attracted by the “beauty, In
telligence and alertness” of one of the
slaves on board. So were the ship’s
officers. This particular object of in
terest, on the part of the slave traders
was a black boy of fourteen summers.
He was quickly made a sort of ship’s
pet und plaything, receiving new gar
ments from his admirers, and the high
sounding name, as I have already
mentioned, of Telemaque, which in
slave lingo was subsequently meta
morphosed into Denmark. The lad
found himself in sudden favor, and
lifted above Ills companions in bond
age by the brief and Idle regard of
that ship’s company. Brief and idle,
indeed, was the interest which he had
aroused in the breasts of those men,
(as the sequel showed.) But while
It lasted it seemed doubtless very
genuine to the boy, ag such evidences
of human regard must have afforded
him, In his forlorn state, the keenest
pleasure. Bitter, therefore, must
have been h1s disappointment and
grief to find, at the end, that he had,
in reality, no hold whatever upon the
regard of the slave traders. True he
had been separated by Captain and
officers from the other slaves during
the voyage, but this ephemeral dis
tinction was speedily lost for upon
the arrival of the vessel at Cape Fran
cais, (for) he was (then) sold as a
part of the human freight. Ah! he
had not been to those men so much
as even a pet cat or dog, as they had
done with him. He had served theii
purpose, had killed for them the dull
days of a dull sail between ports, and
he a boy with warm blood in his
heart, and hot yearnings for love in
his soul.
But the slave youth, so beautiful
and attractive, was not to live his life
in the island of St. Domingo, or to
terminate just then his relations with
the ship and her officers, however
much Captain Vesey had intended to
do so. For F'ate, by an unexpected
circumstance threw, for better and tor
worse, master and slave together
again, after they had apparently part
ed forever in the slave mart of the
Cape. This is how Fate played the
unexpected in the boy’s life. Accord
ing to a local law for the regulation
of the slave trade in that place, the
seller of a slave of unsound health
might be compelled by the buyer to
take him back, upon the production
of a certificate to the effect from the
royal physician of the port. The pur
chaser of Telemaque availed himself
of this law to redeliver him to Captain
Vesey on his return voyage to St.
Domingo. For the loyal physilian of
the town had meanwhile certified that
the lad was subject to epileptic fits.
The act of sale was thereupon can
celled, and the old relations of master
and slave between Captain Vesey and
Telemaque, were resumed. Thus, with
out design, perhaps, however passion
ately he might have desired It, the
boy found himself again on board of
his old master’s slave vessel, where
he hud been petted and elevated in
favor high above his fellow-slaves. I
say perhaps advisedly, for I confess
that it is by no means clear to me
whether those epileptic fits were real
or whether they were in truth feigned,
and therefore the initial ruse de
guerre of that bright young intelli
gence in its long battle with slavery.
However, I do not mean to consume
space with speculations on this head.
Suffice to say that Telemaque’s con
dition was improved by the event. Nor
had Captain Vesey any cause to quar
rel with the fate which returned to
him the beautiful Negro youth. For
It is recorded that for twenty years
thereafter he proved a faithful servant
to the old slave trader, who, retiring
In due course of time from his black
business, took up his abode in
Charlestown, S. C., where Denmark
went to live with him. There in his
new home, dame fortune again re
membered her protege, turning hei
formidable wheel* a second time in
his favor. It was then that Denmart
grown to manhood, drew the granc
, prize of freedom. He was about thir
, ty-four years old when this immensi
boon came to him.
(Continued next week)
contend with, more intensive culti
vation is required to produce the cot
ton crop and this means more labor.
As cotton goods are the common
clothing of the people, this restriction
of the cotton crop affects all classes
of people, but those most seriously
affected are the wage workers who
are thought to be benefited by the ex
clusion of European labor. As usu
ally is the case with legislation ex
pected to benefit a class, there are un
favorable results for that class in
roundabout and unforseen ways.”
AFRICA HAS THE
LARGEST ORANGE ORCHARD
IN THE WORLD
(By The Associated Negro Press)
The largest single orange orchard
in the world is located in South Afri
ca and the industry of orange culti
vation has reached such proportions
that it is predicted by an American
expert whose services are being util
ized in the development of the indus
try that South Africa will have 7,000,
000 boxes of oranges available for ex
port in 1930.
Probably no phase of South African
agriculture, and perhaps no single
phase of South African economic life,
has as bright prospects as has fruit
cultivation. It has been said that
there is no place in South Africa
where some fruit will not grow and
thrive. Apples, apricots, avocado
pears, bananas, cherries, gooseberries,
figs, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pine
apples, plums, quinces, melons, olives,
orajiges and peaches have gown in the
Union on a commercial scale.
HOW ARD UNI. PRESIDENJT
SAYS NEGROES NEED 2,000
PREACHERS EACH TEAR
(Lincoln News Service)
Washington, April 25. — "Religious
Needs of the American Negro” were
recently pointed out by Dr. J. Stanley
Durkee, President of Howart Univer
sity. when he addressed the Church
men’s Club. He said it is estimated
that 2,000 trained Negro preachers are
needed annually to provide for the
race’s religious needs. “Only 65 are
graduated now from educational in
stitutions, and of this number the ma
jority are from Howard University,’1
said Dr. Durkee. It was stated tnat
the University hopes to raise $500,000
for religious educational purposes
which, “ if gotten on foot,” said an
alumnus, "would be safely guarded
from any such calamities as befell th<
appropriation for Howard’s Medical
School.”
NIGHT STUDENTS HAVE
PERFECT RECORD!*
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Rock Hill, N. C., April 25.—Thirtj
members of the four colored nighl
schois of this city having graduation
classes were presented with perfecl
attendance buttons on the night ol
their graduation.
Schlaifer-Shade Battle Tonight
It is the prediction of the boys
around the sporting hangouts of the
city that somebody whose name com
mences with “S” is going to get an
awful trimming this evening over at
the city fight palace on 15th and How
ard Streets.
Some are strong in the belief that
the “champion of Omaha,” Morrie
Schlaifer will knock Mr. Dave Shade
of California and New York City for
a gool, while others (and they seem
in the largest numbers) figure that
the speedy southpaw from both coasts
will coax the birdies to sing a good
night lullaby over the prone form of
Omaha’s fighting fool, who Is again
a welter-weight.
It was first announced by the Theo
dore Roosevelt Post of the American
Legion, who are sponsoring the show
that Morrie would appear as a middle
weight against Shade.
But not so, Cleopatrta, our local lad
reformed, went to work, and is again
a real welter-weight and Shade will
out-weigh him by several pounds.
The “Kid” has tasted defeat at Da
vie’s hands on two occasions and now
especially since Shade has challenged
the champion, Mickey Walker for a
battle, does Morrie want to clean his
slate. Should he win from Shade It
will either place he or Warnie Smith
in line for a titular battle, the goal of
every aspiring and perspiring pug.
Charlie Long, local colored welter,
will meet Al Van Ryan of SL Paul
in an 8-round preliminary and the
wires are hot after a real opponent
for Battling Munroe, but a lot of the
good light-heavies are sort of leary of
meeting Munroe, who makes it a rule
not to let his man stay over 4 rounds.
The Bige-Hudklns match has been
cancelled, the boxing commission re
fusing to lift the suspension on Hud
kins. If no suitable match can be
made for Bige, it is very possible that
Tiny Herman will be seen in action.
Nuf sed, the seats are still available
at $1, $2 and |8.
JAPANESE SPIRIT
IS MANIFESTED
DY DYING SAILORS
Flowery Kingdom Pays Tribute To
Those Who Perished m the
Sazebo Submarine
Disaster
NOTES LEFT BY TNE HEROES
Publicity Designed To Improve Na
tional Morale As Well
As That of
Navy
Tokio., April 25.—Bitterness over
American anti-Japanese immigration
legislation was forgotten today while
tribute was paid to forty-four victims
of the Sazebo submarine disaster who,
it has developed wrote notes pledging
immortal patriotism while awaiting
slow death from suffocation.
In connection with funeral ceremon
ies at Sazebo the navy department
made public to the nation, letters and
wills found in the navy submarine 43
which sank in 26 fathoms of water
off Sazebo harbor on March 19. Typi
cal of the phrases written by the
trapped and smothering men were
these:
“Long live the emperor."
“We die, but we guard the empire
after death.”
“In coming generations our spirits
will serve the emperor.”
One letter jotted at intervals dur
ing the death watch vividly described
the suffering as the end approached.
It was not until several days after the
crew had perished that rescuers were
able to raise the under sea craft.
Morning newspapers devoted col
umns to the funeral accounts and let
ters. The publicity was calculated
to improve the national morale as well
as that of the navy and to offset the
unpopularity of the submarine ser
vice, due to frequent fatal accidents.
Admiral Okada, vice minister of
the navy, in an interview with the
newspaper Ashi said the Sazebo trag
edy demonstrated the navy retains the
splendid loyalty which we had feared
somewhat undermned by dangerous
foreign ideas.
DETROIT MANUFAC
TURER WILLS $2,500 TO
COLORED COOK
(Lincoln News Service)
Hagerstown, Md., April 25. — The
will of John G. Armstrong, wealthy
Detroit manufacturer, whose body
was buried here last week, and who
left an estate valued at nearly $500,
000, provides that $30,000 be given to
the Washington County hospital of
this city, $100,000 to Princeton Uni
versity for endowment of eight schol
arships, $10,000 to the 1903 class of
Princeton, and $2,500 to Victoria
Keats, colored, who was cook for 20
years in the Armstrong family.
LEWIS POLITICAL CHIEF
Washington, D. C., April 25.—Wil
liam H. Lewis, former Boston assist
ant attorney general, fellow-alumnus
of President Coolidge at Amherst and
classmate of Attorney General Stone,
is regarded here as the new political
chief of the race.
NO MAMMY STATUE
Washington, D. C., April 25.—The
Daughters of the Confederacy bill re
questing Congress to give them per
mission to erect a Black Mammy
statue was killed for good and all by
a committee in the House recently.