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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1924)
s§/= The Monitor X , , „ i A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1924 Whole Number 465 VoL IX—No. 49 » WILL COOLIDGE ANSWER? REQUEST OFFICIAL ADVICE TOUCHIHG ATTITUDE OH KLAH National Advancement Association Writes President Formal Letter Requesting Frank Answer IMPORTANT ISSUE INVOLVED Emphatic Repudiation of Principles For Which Hooded Order Stands Demanded of Republican Party New York, June 6.—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, have made public a letter to President Coolidge asking him in behalf of colored voters, and especially in view of the Indiana sit uation, for a clear and definite state ment of the Republican Party’s atti tude toward the Ku Klux Klan. The letter, which is signed by James Wel don Johnson, Secretary of the Ad vancement Association, is as follows: ' "Honorable Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: “Colored voters throughout the United States, but especially in the! North, are waiting for an unequivo-1 cal statement from you as head of the | Republican party on the Ku Klux j Klan. Until the present moment it | has remained for leaders of the Demo-1 csatic Party to disavow domination by , and affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan and to denounce its principles and pro-, cedures. "The National Association for the j Advancement of Colored People, with ion,000 members, white and colored, feels it voices not merely the feeling j if colored Americans but of Americans of whatever creed or race who believe in the militant tolerance for which America stands in asking the Re publican Party through you, its head, to make some definite pronouncement with regard to the Republican Party’s attitude toward the Klan. "The National Association for the I A tvancement of Colored People is moved to make this request of you especially in view of the situation in Indiana where the Republican Norn-1 inee for Governor was given and pub licly accepted the endorsement and I the votes of £he Klan forces and j where, furthermore, Senator James W’atson from the State, an acknow ledged administration leader, not only offered his support to the Klan can didate but did so without by any word or phrase depreciating the na ture of that candidate’s backing. “We respectfully submit that the issue transcends a mere few votes in the coming election; although on the basis of the Klan issue, we are in formed, colored people, breaking their historical allegiance to the Republican Party, are prepared to vote against Klnn candidates by whatever party nominated. It is not, however, from the point of view of vote-getting that a repudiation of the Klan should come from the Republican Party. That re pudiation should be made clear and decisive on the basis of the KIan's hypocrisy and the violence, disorder and the race and religious hatred known to be an inevitable product of the organization and activity of that body.” SANCTION MORE FUN Springfield, Mass., June 6.— (By The Associated Negro Press)—By a five to one vote the conference of the Methodist Episcopal church which just closed here, lifted the ban on dancing and other amusements that has been in effect since the church was founded. Opponents of the move to lift the ban characterized it as a retreat in the fight against the social evils of the day. Those who voted to lift the ban did so in the belief that the church could render greater service in appealing to the conscience of its members than in trying to compel by rules and regulations the membership from indulgence in certain forms of amusement. NEW BAPTIST CHURCH ORGANIZED TUBS NIGHT A number of local Baptists held an enthusiastic meeting Tuesday night at Bethel A- M. E. church, the use of which was generously tendered by the Rev. Fred Divers, and organized 8t. John's Baptist church with a full ros ter of officers. The Rev. E. H. Mc Donald, D. D., was unanimously elect ed pastor. Negotiations are under way for a permanent place of wor ship. PLAYGROUND $ IRE OFFERED 50 CITIES Harmon Foundation of Now York WIN Donato Fund for Bach Up to $2,000. New York.—Growing towns, small cities and suburban centers will bo given an opportunity to obtain play grounds free of cost through proposal of the Harmon Foundation of New York to give playgrounds this year to 00 communities of thla kind in the United States. Although the time for filing applica tions will expire July 1. and a large number of applications have been re ceived from communities throughout the country, Indiana towns have failed to take advantage of the offer, accord ing to officers of the foundation. Under the terms of the offer, towns, small cities and suburban sections of larger cities with 3,000 or more resi dents and which show a growth of at least HO per cent since 1900, are eligi ble In the tfnal consideration for se lection of the 50 sites for playgrounds. Applications will be Investigated and the 50 playgrounds given to the same number of upplying communities which are found to need them most. Other conditions are a $2,000 maxi mum for each playground site, but this amount may be added to by the com munity If it is desired to purchase a better site than that obtainable for that amount: $1,000 is the maximum price to he paid per acre; an ap praisal of the actual value of the land by two disinterested citizens who know lund values In the community must accompany each application; as surance that an option on the land proposed for purchase can be obtained for u sufficient period to consummate negotiations must accompany each ap plication; title of property must be ex amined and legal opinion provided; all applications must be made In writ ing on regular blanks provided by the division of playgrounds, Harmon foun dation, 140 Nassau street, New York, Hnd all playgrounds obtained through the foundation must be known perma nently ns ilarmon Held, and all appli cations must he Indorsed by the mayor or president of tile board of education. The Hurmnn foundation was organ ized last yeur through the desires of William K. Harmon, head of a real estate company of New York, to pro vide proper places of play for children because he had lacked these advan tages when a child. A number of playgrounds have already been given to small growing towns. iriMMriMMMMMMMMMMMMMMI'IMMrwirww Builds One-Man Dirigible an Amateur Can Operate •*«****##***#*#*****jt-»##«-* I Matt Corbett has Invented a one man dirigible, which even an amateur can safely operate. The pony balloon will probably be used to light the ter rible "gipsy moth," which has done such great damage throughout the country. The cost of operating the machine la small and the army air service thinks so much of It that It has It fully protected. The Inventor predicts that It will be to-tbe air what the Ford car Is to the land—In other words, a great boon. Lmi Than 1 Child in 4 Has Perfect Health Washington.—More than 76 per cant of American school children have physical defects, Dr. Herman J. Nor ton, director of health education of the Rochester (N. Y.) schools, told a conference of borne economics super visors at the Interior department He quoted a recent survey of the 22.000. 000 children and declared 16, 000,000 had bad teeth; 2,000,000 to 4.000. 000 fallen arches, defective spines or Joints; 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 malnutrition; 6,000.000 poor eyesight; 1.000. 000 more or less deaf; 1,000, 000 had had or did have tuberculosis; 86,000 had heart trouble, and 200,000 were mentally defective. I PROPERTY OWNED BY 1 GEORGIANS DECREASES Atlanta, Ga., June 6.—(By The As sociated Negro Press)—Property own ed by Negroes in Georgia decreased $3,042,141 from 1922 to 1923, accord ing to the annual report of Comp troller General William A. Wright. The total valuation of property re turned by Negroes was $48,233,541 last year, compared to $51,276,682 for the preceding year. 1 Georgia Negroes had almost nine times as much money invested in horses and mules as they did in au tomobiles, according to the report. They returned horses and mules val ued at $4,369,858, and automobiles valued at $585,569. The tax books showed that Negroes owned land valued at $16,567,057, city and town lots valued at $20,179,465, household and kitchen utensils valued at $4,260,314; and money and solvent debts amounting to $1,028,484. Migration of Negroes to the North is held to be largely responsible for this decrease, many landholders and property owners selling their holding to whites and taking their money with them, and other Negroes transferring their money to investment centers in the North while remaining here them j selves. GIRL KILLED IN RACE CLASH Pittsburgh, Pa., June 6.—(By The Associated Negro Press)—Three-year old Ida Kirtsman, was fatally wound ed in a clash between Negros and whites in the hill district of this city Monday night. Police quelled the dis turbanse. AWARDED HIGHEST BOY SCOUT HONOR Joseph Dorsey of Troop 23, Dr. Craig Morris Scout Master, Given' Badge of First Class Eagle Scout Joseph Dorsey, senior in Central High School, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Dorsey, 3643 Parker Street, and a member of Troop No. 23, Dr. Craig Morris, scoutmaster, has just been awarded the highest honor attainable by Boy Scouts. At the recent court of honor he was awarded the badge of First Class Eagle scout. He is the first colored scout in Omaha to re ceive this honor, which is a highly coveted one, and one of the few in the United States. Joseph is to be congratulated upon this honor and it is hoped that others of our local Boy Scouts will strive to merit) this cov eted distinction. INDIANS REFUSE I . S. MONEY Washington, D. C., June 6.—(By the Associated Negro Press.)—For the first time in the history of govern ment guardianship over the American red men, a group of Indians of the Colville Indian Reservation in the state of Washington have refused i»er capita payments due them In the dis tribution of their tribal funds. Checks amounting to a total of $1,260 and ranging ffom $30 to $180 have been returned to the President of the Untied States with a refusal by the Indians to accept the money. The president later turned the checks over to the Secretary of the Interior who hag supervision of the Bureau of Indian affairs. ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH OF MADAM C. J. WALKER Indianapolis, June 6.—The Sunday just past marks the fifth year since the passing of the late Madam C. J. Walker, but Madam Walker is not forgotten. After all, however sad it is to realize that in the natural course of things we all must go, on the other hand it is heartening to know and feel that if we serve well and un selfishly we will not be forgotten. Madanf Walker will not only live in the charities that she gave and the good that she did, but will live in the heart of every coloreti boy and girl and in the grateful consciousness of a struggling race. Madam C. J. Walker stands out as the premier phil anthropist of her race, not because she was the first to give largely to the Y. M. C. A., but because her total philanthropic gifts are not even ap proached by any person of color. It must be remembered that in addition to her many other gifis, the large trust funds created, that she left $96, 000.00 in cash bequests to individu als, schools and colleges throughout the country. Yes, Madam C. J. Walk er will be remembered, loved and hon ored on down the ages. FLORIDA LYNCHERS MURDER TWO MEN Fort Myers, Fla., June 6.—(By The Associated Negro Press)—"Bubbers” Wilson and Wilton Williams, accused of acting uppish with some white wo men, were shot to death by a mob here Monday. Wilson was taken from a sheriff, and Williams pulled off a freight train. A STORY OF THE MARTYRS OF 1822 * - ’ A Story of Ante-Bellum Days, Dealing: With Slave Insurrection at Charleston If there were Immense difficulties I in the way of recruiting, there were even greater ones in the way of sup plying the recruits with proper arms, or with any arms at all for that mat ter. But vast as were the difficulties, the leaders fronted them with buoyant | and unquailing spirit, and rose, where I other men of lesB faith and courage would have given up in despair, to the level of seeming impossibilities, and to the top of a truly appalling situation. Where were they, indeed, to procure arms? There was a black smith among them, who was set to manufacturing plkeheada and bayo nets and to turning long kntves into daggers and dirks. Arms In the houses of the white folks they designed to borrow after the manner of the Jews from the Egyptians. But for their main supply they counted confidently upon the successful seizure, by means of preconcerted movements, of the principal places of deposit of arms within the limits of the city, of which there were several. The capture of these magazines and storehouses were quite within the range of probability, for every one of them was at the time in a comparatively unprotected state. Two large gun and powder stores, situated about three and a half miles beyond the lines, and containing near ly eight hundred muskets and bay onets, were, by arrangements with Negro employes connected with them, at the mercy of the insurgents when ever they were ready to move upon them. The large building in the city, where was deposited the greatest por tion of the arms of the state, was strangely neglected in the same re gard. Its main entrance, opening on the street, consisted of ordinary wooden doors, without the Interposi tion between them and the public of even a brick wall. In the general plan of attack, the capture of this building, which held tactically the key to the defense of Charleston, in the event of a slave up rising, was assigned to Peter Poyas, the ablest of Veaey’s lieutenants. Pe ter, probably disguised by means of false hair and whiskers, was at a given signal at midnight of the ap pointed day, to move suddenly with hie band upon this Important post. The difficulty of the undertaking lay in the vigilance of the sentinel doing duty before this building, and its suc cess depended upon Peter’s ability to surprise and slay this man before he could sound the alarm. Peter was con fident of his ability to kill the sen tinel and capture the building, and I think that he had good ground for his confidence. In conversation with an anxious follower, who feared leet the watchfulness of the guard might de feat the attempt, Peter remarked that he “would advance a little distance ahead, and if he could only get a grip at his throat he was a gone man, for his sword was very sharp; he had sharpened it, and made it so sharp it had cut his finger.” And if to cast 1 Ily Francis J. Grimke PART VI (By The Associated Negro Press) TIME SET FOR THE UPRISING the last lingering doubt out of his disciple in regard to his (Peter’s) ability to fix the Beutinel, he showed him the bloody cut on his finger. Other leaders, at the head of their respective bands, were at the same time, and from six different quarters, to attack the city, surprising and seiz ing all of its strategical points, and the buildings, where were deposited its arms and ammunition. A body of insurent horsemen was, meanwhile, to keep the streets clear, cutting down without mercy all white persons and suspected blacks, whom they might encounter, in order to prevent the whites from concentrating or spread ing the alarm through the doomed town. Such was Denmark’s Vesey’s masterly and merciless plan of cam paign In bare outline for the capture of Charleston, a plan, which, with such a sagacious head as was Vesey, was entirely feasible, and which would have, undoubtedly, succeeded but for the happening of the unexpected at a critical stage of Its execution. Against such an occurrence as was this one, no man in Vesey’s situation, however supreme might have been his ability as a leader, could have com pletely provided. The element of treachery could not by any device have been wholly eliminated from his chap Monitor—Three .. ter of accidents and chances. To do what he set out to do, with the means at his disposition, Vesey had of neces sity to take the tremendous risk of betrayal at the hand of some black traitor. It was, In reality, sad to re late, his greatest risk, and became the one insurmountable barrier in his final success. Sunday at midnight of July 14, 1822, was fixed upon originally as the time for beginning his attack upon the city. But about the last of May, owing to indications that the plot had been dis covered, he shortened the period of its ' preparation, and apppolnted instead midnight of Sunday, June 16th, of the same year. His reason for selecting the original date illustrates his care ful and astute attention to details in making his plans. He had noted that the white population of Charleston was subject, to a certain extent, to regular tidal movements; that at one season of the year this movement was at high tide, and that at another it was at low tide. It was no great dif ficulty, under the circumstances, for a man like Denmark Vesey to forecast with reasonable accuracy these recur rent movements, and natural enough that he should have planned his at tack with reference to them. And this was exactly what he did when he ap pointed July 14th as the original date for beginning the insurrection. At that time the city was less capable than at an earlier date to cope with a slave uprising, owing to the depar ture in large numbers from it, for summer resorts, of its wealthier and more martial classes. Again his selection of the first day of the week in both instances was equally the result of careful calcula tion on his part, as on that daiy large bodies of slaves from the adjacent plantations and islands were wont to visit the town without molestation, whereas on no other day could this have been done. Thus, without excit ing alarm, did Vesey plan to introduce his Trojan horse or country bands in to the city, where they were to be concealed until the hour for beginning the attack. But the attack, carefully planned as it was, did not take place. For the thing which Peter Poyas feared, and had vainly eirdieavored to (provide against, came to pass. One of those very “waiting men”, for whom Peter entertained such deep distrust, and against whom he had raised his voice in sharp warning, betrayed to his master the plot, the secret which had been communicated to him by an over zealous convert, whose discretion was shorter than his tongue. All this hap pened on the morning of the 10th day of May, and by sunset of that day the secret was in possession of the authorities of the city. Precautionary measures were quickly taken by them to guard against surprise, and to dis cover the full extent of the intended uprising. Luckily for the conspirators the in formation given by the traitor was vague and general. Nor was the city, able to elicit from the informant of this man, who had been promptly ar rested* and subjected to examination, any disclosures of a more specific or satisfactory character. He was, in truth, in possession of but few par ticulars of tbe plot, and was therefore unable to give any greater definite ness to the government’s stock of knowledge relative to the subject. Suspicion, however, lighted on Peter Poyas and Mingo Harth, the last one of Vesey’s minor leaders. They were thereupon apprehended, and their per sonal effects searched, but nothing was found to inculpate either, except an enigmatical letter not understood by the authorities at the time. This circumstance, coupled with the cool ness and consummate acting of the pair of suspected leaders, perplexed and deceived the authorities to such a degree that they ordered the dis charge of the prisoners. But the fright and anxiety of the city were not so readily got rid of. They held Charleston uneasy and apprehensive of danger, and so kept it suspcious and watchful. (To be continued next week.) WILL MOBILIZE PEACE STRENGTH September 12 Fixed u Day for Call to Arms. By JAMES P. HORNADAY Washington.—The plans for an army mobilization on the 12th of next Sep tember to demonstrate the peace strength of the country's military es tablishment are taking form. Secre tary of War Weeks has approved the mobilization plan as outlined by the general staff and so It seems certain that the program for this demonstra tion as originally planned will be car ried out. Orders relating to the details of the preparations for the mobilization will go out shortly to the corps area com manders and these commanders will communicate the details of the plan to regular army units within their Jur isdiction and to O. R. C. commanders, to stste adjutants general, etc. It Is not proposed that the preparations for this demonstration shall place any considerable amount of work on the various units that go to make up the peace strength of the military estab lishment. It Is explained that all the general staff here has In mind Is that every organized body of men or women that would heed an actual call to arms In caae of an emergency shall on the morning of September 12 come to at tention, Juat as they would In case there was, actual trouble. Under the revised plan as approved by the secre tary of war, hospital units. Red Cross units, boy scouts organizations, as well as all men who have attached themselvea to the reserve corps of the army will be expected to report for duty on the morning of September 12. Summer Maneuvers. The September mobilization Is not to take the place of the regular sum mer maneuvers. In the Fifth corps, area the regulars, the O. R. C. and the National Guard will follow this sum mer practically the same program they followed In the summer practice drills. In some of the corps areas the corps commanders are planning to have the various military units under them practice on mobilization In advance of the September 12 event. This Is a matter, It Is explained here, that la entirely In the hands of the corps com manders. General John J. Perahing has entered heartily Into the spirit that Is behind the September 12 demonstration. It may turn out, however, that this dem onstration will not mark his retire ment from the army, although he Is eligible to retire on that day. Secre tary Weeks has notified President Coolidge that he would like to have General Pershing remain at the head of the army a while longer. The gen eral will, however. It Is understood, retire as chief of staff on the day he becomes eligible for a place on the retirement Hat Within the next year there will be some sort of a teat of the Industrial mobilization plan that has been worked out. Here Is how the plan would pre sumably work out should there ever be another call to war: How It Would Work. Picture to youraelf noon, the diet day of open preparations. Telegrams are sent to the 14 district headquar ters In the United States where pro curement agents are located. From theae radiate telegrams to thousands of manufacturing lnduatrles who Im mediately place Into operation the preconceived plana they had for the production of war material. The bird qpge manufacturer turns to the mak ing of fuses. Everything goes on a war basis. Reserve officers previous ly selected take their posts In the production program fully acquainted with their duties and with what haa been planned and done to prepare the way. An automatic Inventory of the most needed erltidal raw mar tcrisis Is Immediately commenced. No plant In the country Is over loaded beyond tta capacity, none of them will find It impossible to ob tain raw materials or power to carry on their program and If our plana are laid deeply enough there will be few, If any, Industries which will have to lay down their work because their activities are so non-essential that they most be suspended and because they have been neglected In the plac ing of war orders. Equipped from the available war reserves the first two armies will, under the plan pre pared by the general staff, be able to enter the theater of operations; and by the time the third army has been organized and trained, Its equipment will be on hand. Bird’s Calls Tall Tima Hartford, Conn.—Scientists who have Just returned from an exploration of uninhabited Islands off the coast of Chile declared they fo.ind a bird whose cry tells the time of day. This crea ture, the Jakar, Is like a giant guinea hen. With Its mates It screams at 0 p. m., again at midnight, and an hour before sunrise, its distant screams sounding like faint bugle notes. Miss Hattie Gaston of 2812 Charles street is visiting friends in Chicago. MARY VflfiRIHS MINS THE FIRST PRIZE II POPULAR IARY VOTE Richard Stanton Wins Second and Charlotte Hicks Third Prize. Contest Nets $200 for Association COMMITTEE MAKES REMIT Votes From Other Contestants Which Are To Be Turned in Will Not Change Standing of Winners Prizes were awarded last Sunday afternoon at the regular monthly meeting of the Omaha Branch held at the North Side “Y” in the Popular Baby Contest which has been con ducted by the N. A. A. C. P., under a committee of women, of which Mrs. John Albert Williams was chairman. An interesting program consisting of music, the reading of important communications and an excellent ad dress by Mrs. Senora Mae Wilkin son on “The Relation of the N. A. A. C. P. to the Community” preceded the awarding of the prizes. Mrs. Fred erick Divers on behalf of the com mittee announced the result of the contest which was as follows: Eleven babies had been entered of which seven reported, ho reportsf up to that time having been received from four. This was the result show ing the number of votes received and money turned in: Mary Heddy Wiggins.1798—$89.90 Richard Stanton.1657— 77.85 Charlotte A. Hicks. 800— 40.00 Edwina Divers. 200— 10.00 Nonice Williams. 89— 4.45 Edna B. Taylor. 40— z.UO Lulu Bullock. 20— 1.00 Total .4505 $225.20 A prize of $10 in gold was, given Mary Heddy Wiggins; $5 in gold to Charles Richard Stanton and $2.50 to Charlotte Hicks. As the expenses of the contest will be in the vicinity of $30.00, which includes the prizes and printing, and additional returns are expected from some of the four babies from which reports had not been re ceived, the amount netted for the work of the Association will be a little over $200. The committee will submit a supplementary report as soon as additional returns are in. ROSEN WALD GIVES ST. LOUIS “Y” $25,000 St. Louis, Mo., June 6.—(By the Associated Negro Press.)—Announce ment has been made by H. K. Craft, executive secretary of the Pine street branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association here, that Julius Rosen wald, famous Chicago philanthropist and father of the system of Rosen wald schools in the South, has ap proved a gift of $25,000 toward a sec ond Y. M. C. A. building for St. Louis colored men. KLAN IN POLITICS EVE BY WHERE Washington, D. C., June 6.—(By the Associated Negro Press.)—“Don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t politics. Every man, every cent, every resource it has is swung to politics, not in Texas alone, but everywhere.” Thus ended the testimony of Ed ward Young Clarke, former imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and cen ter of numerous flavorable court con troversies, before the senate commit tee which is investigating the election of Earle Mayfield, Texas solon. The charge has been made that the Klan elected Mayfield and that Its manner of doing so was illegal. Clarke claimed that the Ku Klux Klan worked in every manner pos sible to Influence elections in any state where it might have an Interest. Money, he claimed, was sent from na tional headquarters into states where it was desired to put over a program. v WINS PHI BETA KAPPA " Tuskegee Institute, Ala., June 6.— (By the Associated Negro Press.)— Alphonse Heningburg, honor gradu ate of Tuskegee Institute, 1920, has been elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa scholarship fraternity by the chapter at Grinnel College, Grin nell, la. During his brilliant college career at this old and conservative middle western college of America, Mr. Heningburg has held with credit and success the Julius Rosenwald scholarship. Gordon Fletcher, a medical student of the University of Illinois, is an Omaha visitor this week.