‘."."n,,-,.: The Monitor
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$2.00 a , \ —5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1924 Whole Number 486 Vrf. X—No. 18
_ - ■ - . . _ - -———————^———————
^ _ _——™ . ' »*s a il fifl MKMKwWa*< a *»u - *•
MAKINv TOOD AT THE TUSKEGEE
V. a. VETERAN HOSPITAL NO. 91
Coolidge Faith in Negro Personnal Justified as Black Staff Cap
ably Administers Government’s Finest Hospital
Standing, so to speak, in the shad
ow of the Confederate Capitol, where
Jefferson Davis held forth as Pres
ident of the "Rebel States” and in
democratic Alabama, Is the greatest
achievement of this republican admin
istration, the United States Veteran
Hospital No. 91.
...This institution popularly known as
the Tuskegee Hospital because it is
located adjacent to the famous Tus
kegee Normal and Industrial Insti
tute, was erected at a cost of a trifle
more than $2,500,000 appropriated by
the republican administration in order
that Negro veterans of the Great
World War, suffering from lack of
attention in the hospitals of the
southland, might have a place of their
own, where they could be treated and
might recuperate from the wounds
and other disabilities resulting from
the ravages of the war, in which they
went forward to fight for the liberty
and democracy of the world.
While nearly everyone remembers
the vicious fight waged "By southern
bourbons for white control of the hos
pital, a circumstance which made it a
storm center in the daily and colored
press for months; few who have not
seen it have had any conception of
the magnificance and scope of this
wonderful plant. It is second to none
of its kind in America. With twenty
seven permanent buildings situated
on a beautiful tract of 464 acres ad
joining the campus of Tuskegee In
stitute, it provides accommodations
for 600 patients, representing a larger
bed capacity than any of the nine
teen hospitals erected by the govern
ment except those located in New
York City and Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
which has a bed capacity of 612.
Every possible modern facility is pro
vided for the care and cure of our
disabled Negro veterans.
In the hospital today are 561 ex
service men receiving treatment for
ailments of various kinds. Of this
number more than 300 are suffering
from tuberculosis in some form, hav
ing succumbed to the too frequent in
halation of poisonous gases or to the
prevalent unhealthful conditions un
der which they were forced to live
upon their return to the United
States. Approximately 200 are vic
tims of mental disorders brought on
by shell shock and similar rigors ex
perienced in the front line trenches.
Because of the prevalance of con
sumption, the institution was origin
ally designed as a tuberculosis hospi
tal. The plans were outlined by lead
ing tuberculosis specialists of the
country. The patients are housed in
buildings erected according to plans
peculiarly and particularly /adapted
to aidf in the the treatment of the
great white plague so that the vic
tims are provided with the main and
most effective weapons against the
disease—fresh air and strong sun
shine. These combating elements
furnished by nature are supplemented
by the other members of the famous
anti - tuberculoslsl quartette—skillful
treatment at the hands of physicians
especially trained to treat the ail
ment and nourishing food prepared
under the direct supervision of expert
dieticians.
In another sector of the main
building and in another group of
buildings are those who are suffering
from mental diseases. These in like
manner are under the care of neuro
logists and psychiatrists who outline
the treatment designed to effect a
cure and complete restoration of the
mental faculties.
Becomes a General Hospital
Recently the hospital has been hon
ored by being designated as one of
the sixteen general hospitals of the
service, the change coming as a di
rect result of the efficient record
made by the Negro staff in attendance.
This enlargement in the field of ser
vice has brought to it patients suffer
ing from almost every known form of
disease and caused the accession of
additional specialists and physicians
versed in the various general fields.
Many Eligible Veterans Ignorant of
Hospitals Availability
It is predicted by authorities that
Hospital No. 91 will either have to
be enlarged or additional hospitals
built as soon as Negro ex-service
men, many of whom are suffering in
the south and other sections of the
country, learn that under the provi
sions of the Reed Johnson bill re
cently passed by Congress cumber
some red tape is cut away and offers
hospital service free to very veteran
without requiring proof that illness
necessarily originated during the war.
White ex-soldiers are availing them
selves largely of this opportunity, in
fact proportionately white soldiers
hospitalized have a ratio over black
of 10 to 1. Approximately two mil
mion white soldiers participated in
the war. Four hundred, fifty thoua
^ and on roughly 20 per cent as many
black men were called to the ranks.
24,246 white are receiving hospital
service. About 800 Negroes are in
government hospitals, a ratio of about
m per cent for the colored as against
10 per cent for the whites. It is
probable that many black ex-service
men who could have this expert hos
pital service free of charge are si
lently suffering in ignorance of the
haven their government offers.
The Crack Personnel
Aside from the grandeur of the
buildings, the excellence of their ap
pointments, and the spic and span
appearance of the expansive grounds,
the thing which swells the visitor’s
heart with pride is the staff. The
hospital is manned from top to bot
tom by a colored personnel. Negro
specialists, physicians, surgeons and
nurses, trained in the best schools and
hospitals in the country, all of whom
have demonstrated their fitness by
passing a rigid civil service examina
tion together with more than 200
civilian employes are under the com
mand of Lt. Col. Joseph H. Ward.
There are at present seventeen phy
sicians.
Assisting Col. Ward, whose title
is Medical Officer in Charge, in the
executive departments of the insti
tution are Major Frederick A. Stokes,
who occupies the important position
of Executive Medical Officer, and
Walter S. Burke, Business Executive.
Chief Nurse Esther J. Bullock of Chi
cago, with her aide Miss A. J. Gears
of Rhode Island, heads the staff of
46 nurses and numerous orderlies and
attendants. Commendatory comment
on the efficiency of the nursing staff
is heard on every side. John H. Cal
houn, who gained fame as the first
colored clerical employee to report
for duty at the hospital while it was
still under white control, and whose
appearance was the signal for a klan
rally, has risen to the position of chief
clerk. Joseph M. Dugus, a Tuskegee
man, is registrar. T. H. Rooney, for
merly of the Veteran’s Bureau in
Washington, is property custodian.
Miss A. B. Dixon, as dietician, has
complete charge of kitchens, dining
rooms and the scientific preparation
of all food, a task of considerable
magnitude. She is assisted by Misses
White and Williams.
On the medical side Dr. J. D .Nel
son is chief of the extensive T. B.
service. Dr. Charles R. Humbert
heads the Pathological and X-ray ser
vice. He is assisted by J. B. Gar
rett and Miss Nellie B. Robinson, both
of Boston. Dr. George W. Moore is
chief of the Neuro Pyschlatric de
partment, Dr. John T. Anderson is
Surgical Specialist. Dr. H. F. Davis
is chief of Occupational and Physic
Therapy, Electro Therapy, etc., Frank
E. Gerran is pharmacist. A. B. Yates
is superintendent of grounds. Prof.
Thomas C. Lykes has charge of tne
hospital school, Richard W. Thomp
kins is contact officer and Mrs. Sadie
M. Peterson, formerly attached to the
Harlem Library in New York, has
developed a reading room and library
which is a point of interest to the
patients and staff alike.
The entire staff of physicians is as
follows: Lt. Col. J. H. Ward, In
dianapolis; Maj. Frederick A. Stokes,
Indianapolis; Dr. George W. Moore,
Nashville; Dr. W. F. Howard, Chi
cago and Mississippi; Dr. S. O. John
son, Boston; Dr. H. F. Davis, Boston
and Virginia; Dr. Drue King, Augus
ta, Ga.; Dr. Alfred D. Simington, Mo
bile, Ala.; Dr. T. T. Tilden, Texas;
Dr. O. R. Sheffield, Washington, D.
C.; Dr.. John T. Anderson of Kansas
City General Hospital; Dr. George T.
Branch, of North Carolina; Dr. W. S.
Taylor, of Pennsylvania; Dr. B. G.
McKenzie, Washington, D. C.; Dr.
Chas. R. Humbert, Kansas City, Mo.;
Dr. Prince P. Barker, New York; Dr.
W. E. Shallowhom, Texas. Dr. T. B.
Davis of Florence, S. C., is chief of
the dental service while associated
with him is Dr. B. D. Boyd of Wash
ington, D. C. *
Operated Like Big Business
One of the interesting bureaus is
that of Business Executive, a posi
tion held by Walter S. Burke, a na
tive of Virginia, but who has for some
years resided in Washington, D. C.
His department in the language of the
general order establishing it entrusts
to him the procurement, storage and
issue of all commodities. He is the
chief purchasing agent and in charge
of all personnel except the medical;
disburses all money, is cost account
ant, has charge of the laundry, ga
rage and is superintendent of build
ings and grounds. It costs approx
imately $760,000 a year to run the
hospital. Among some of the items
are $400,000 salaries, subsistence
$200,000, maintenance $127,000, re
pairs, etc., $13,000. In these activ
ities he is directly responsible to Col.
Ward. Mr. Burke, who is a graduate
of Howard and Case School of Fi
nance of the University of Pennsyl
vania, brings to the task, training
and ability of a high order which to
gether with a gift for detail and a
large amount of enthusiasm, is en
abling him to measure up to his many
responsibilities.
Col. Ward Outstanding Character
To take over an institution of this
size and scope, representing millions
in values, supervising the expendi
ture of $700,000 a year, developing ai
staff and personnel who not only
could effectively and efficiently carry
on the work but who could function
together harmoniously for the gen
eral good of the organization, is ad
mittedly a man’s job. No such ad
ministrative experience had ever been
had by any member of the group.
There was grave and honest doubt in
the minds of many government offi
cials as to the ability of a colored
man with the limited experience
which they necessarily had had, to
conduct such a project. No other
government hospital called for the
many sided leadership which the Tus
kegee hospital did. Not only must
its commandant be professionally ca
pable, but also he must bring to the
duty business ability and the quali
ties of an ambassador. With hostile
whites bitterly viewing the change,
with critical Negroes carefully eye
ing the situation the position had a
complicated aspect which called for a
rare degree of tact and common sense.
The success of Col. Ward in the
conduct of this mammoth institution
is not only a great object lesson in
the race’s capacity for executive res
ponsibility but more, it is a tribute
as Col. Ward modestly explains “to
the loyalty and fine spirit of co-op
eration which the men and women on
the staff and in the personnel have
given. There could have been no
finer demonstration of devotion to
duty and loyalty to a cause. My as
sociates have worked as though they
realized that not only they personal
ly, but the entire group was on trial
and whatever success we have had
was due to that spirit.”
President Coolidge himself, who
has closely followed the fortunes of
the hospital, regards it "as the fin
est recognition yet given of the pro
fessional merit of the Negro race.”
A Training Institution
The institution while primarily a
hospital is more than this—it is a
vocational training school. Those pa
tients whose mental and physical con
ditions permit, are under the tutelage
of highly trained vocational teachers
and spend muen time learning to do
some one thing well by which they
can make a living upon being dis
charged from the hospital. Those
whose disabilities will prevent them
from following their former means of
securing a livlihood are taught to
make baskets; sweaters, beautiful
beaded bags, to make chair bottoms
and other branches of the handicrafts
by which they can make a living in a
manner which will not further impair
their weakened condition. Agricul
ture has been found to be beneficial
in occupying the minds of some and
they tend gardens and raise chickens.
In conjunction with the vocational
work is instruction in academic sub
jects, ranging from the ‘three Rs” to
a more complicated variety. The lit
erary and vocational training are
closely co-ordinated and carried out
in a manner somewhat similar to the
method inaogurated by the late
Booker T. Washington and which is
now in vogue at Tuskegee. Thus
when men are discharged as physical
ly fit to mingle with society, they are
also better fit mentally in many in
stances to take their places in the
great social family. Many who en
tered the hospital unable to read and
write will be discharged simultan
eously from the hospital and the
ranks of tlje illiterate and will be
able to sign their names instead of
“making their mark”, to read and un
derstand what has been read in an
intelligent manner and thus be better
prepared to assume the duties and
rights of American citizenship.
President Coolidge Dedicates Hospital
The dedication of the institution
was held February 12, 1923. The ex
ercises were held in the chapel of the
Tuskegee Institute. Col. Edward
Clifford, under secretary of the treas
ury, presided.
President Calvin Coolidge, then
vice-president of the United States,
was the principal speaker. He re
ferred to the appropriateness of the
erection of the hospital, praised the
loyalty of the Negro in America and
the courage and valor of the Negro
soldiers in the great World War, and
declared:
“For the service of the Negro race
at home and abroad during the war,
they have the everlasting gratitude
of America. They have justified
Abraham Lincoln.”
In speaking of the need of Amer
ica, the President declared that:
"It is well for all of us who must
live together as Americans, what
ever our race or creed may be, con
stantly to remember the words of Lin
coln: ‘We are not enemies but friends!
We must not be enemies!’ Those wno
create any kind of hatred are not
ministering to the public welfare.
We have come out of a war with a
(Continued on Page Eight.)
■-1 i—1-J-.J. J-.J~-ll.iJ-- --L-1 ill' —-LJi-*- -Ul i1 '
REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS
Candidate for the School Board
I desire to thank the many friends
of both races who have given me as
surance of thetr support in my can
didacy for the Board of Education.
As I am voted for all over the city
it is necessary that all who favor my
candidacy vote, in the event of my
election I shall endeavor to render
the best service to the city in which
I am deeply interested. It I am not
elected there will be no sore spots
and I'll go smilingly on my way. But
I want all to know how heartily I
appreciate their support and goodwill.
GALLOWAY MAKING GOOD
AT IOWA UNIVERSITY
Ledrue C. Galloway of Omaha wh'o
was the outstanding athletic star a*.
Central High, is bow 4 sophomore at
Iowa University and is malting good
in scholarship and athletics there. He
is now playing tackle on the 'Varsity
eleven. In the great game last Satur- .
day with Minnesota Galloway distin
guished himself throughout the game.
One spectacular tackle by the brilliant
gridster brought 43,000 cheering foot
ball spectators to their feet.
Dr. W. W. Peebles of Omaha who
drove over to Iowa City to witness the
game, said, “It was the sensation of
my life to witness that immense
throng of 43,000, rise spontaneously to
their feet and to lustily cheer our bril
liant black boy from Omaha. Gallo
way is making good In every way and
is one of the most popular men on the
campus.
VAUGHN DELIVERS
GREAT ADDRESS AT
REPUBLICAN RALLY
Eloquent St Louis Attorney Discusses
Campaign Issues and Convinces
Many Voters Who Were
Wavering
The audience which assembled In
Dreamland Hall at the Republican
Rally held under the auspices of the
Cblored Coolidge and Dawes Club
last Thursday night was given an in
tellectual treat in the able and con
vincing address delivered by the
Hon. George L. Vaughn of St Louis,
Mo., sent by the National Republican
committee. Mr. Vaugn presented
solid facts and logic which exposed
the fallacies and dangers of La Follet
Ism, the impossibility of supporting
Davis and gave cogent reasons why in
this crisis it is the duty of the race
to support Calvin Coolidge. At the
expiration of his address he was given
an ovation. It was pronounced by
several who have been following the
campaign that it was the best politi
cal speech delivered here during the
campaign.
Dr. L. E. Britt, president of the
Coolidge and Dawes club, presided.
Brief remarks were made by John
W. Long, vice-president of the club;
Mrs. J. Alice Stewart; Dillard Craw
ford and at the close of Mr. Vaughn’s
address, several local candidates were
presented. Mrs. Estella McCaw gave
piano numbers and Mrs. M. Sellars
lead in singing "America”. Rev. John
Albert Williams introduced Mr.
Vaughn. Several prominent persons
occupied the stage.
LEROY RYBERG FOR STATE
Senator from 4th district
Young Versatile Democrat Makes Plea
for Colored Vote
L* Roy Ryberg, democratic candi
date for State Senate from the Fourth
District, makes an open and earnest
plea for the colored vote in his dis
trict. He recognizes that at least
thirty-five per cent of the voters in
the Fourth senatorial district are col
ored, and he feels that his success
depends on their support.
LeBoy By berg
Ryberg is a young and forceful man
with a pleasing personality. He is
convincing in his speech and sincere
in his intentions. He has been very
active in his efforts to bring about
legislation which removed discrimina
tion of any sort against colored peo
ple. He was one of the two men who
worked earnestly with the Governor
to have the separate race boxing law
once on the Nebraska statutes remov
ed and the boxing commissioner re
moved. He is openly against the Ku
Klux Klan, having denounced them
as a menace to society. Ryberg Is a
trustworthy young man and promises
to give 100 per cent representation to
our people in the event he is elected
November fourth.
ANTI-LYNCHING CAMPAIGN
CAUSES A DECLINE IN EVIL
National Advancement Association Has Rendered Country Great
Service in Work Against Mob Violence
Philadelphia, October 31.—James
Weldon Johnson, secretary of the Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, in an address
delivered recently before the Confer
ence on Inter-racial Justice, in Social
Service building, asserted that in the
past there had been sporadic efforts
to abolish lynching but the “first or
ganized, systematic, persistent and fi
nanced effort" to end lynching in
America, made during the last eight
years by the N. A. A. C. P. was main
ly responsible for the sharp decline in
the number of lynchings during the
last five years. In support of this
statement, Mr. Johnson said that the
average number of lynchings per year
for thirty years prior to 1919 was 107,
and that the recent figures were: 1919,
83; 1920, 65; 1921, 64; 1922, 64; 1922,
61; 1923, 28; 1924 (thus far), 9.
In the campaign against lynching,
said Mr. Johnson, more than $60,000
had been raised and expended by the
National Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People. First, inves
tigators, often at risk of their lives,
had obtained th© facts concerning
lynchings, and the statistics were stu
died and collated, being published in
the first and only comprehensive and
authentic work on the subject: “Thir
ty Years of Lynching".
Furthermore, more than 2,500 mass
meetings have been held and address
ed, millions of pieces of literature dis
tributed, and facts and figures pub
lished not only in America but
throughout the civilized world. This
campaign, according to Mr. Johnson,
“cut at the main root of the lynching
evil, the lie that the Negro was by
nature a rapist and that lynching was
meted out solely as punishment for
that crime.”
This anti-lynching campaign pre
pared the way for the introduction of
the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill in Con
gress where it was passed by the
House of Representatives by a vote of
230 to 119, and although the bill was
stopped by filibuster in the Senate,
the floor of Congress "proved a forum
in which to have the question of
lynching discussed, a forum which
had the ears of the whole country and
so the effect upon the national con
science was tremendous.” Many of
the facts and figures used in debate
on the floor of Congress were sup
plied to Representatives by the N. A.
A. C. P.
"When the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
was being discussed in Congress,"
said Mr. Johnson, "and Southern
members arose in all their ignorance
of the facts to reiterate the old state
ment that Negroes were lynched for
rape and for the protection of white
womanhood, the authentic cases of 83
women lynched, with the names, dates
and localities given, stopped their
mouths. Their chief argument being
taken away they had little left to
say.”
Mr. Johnson stated that “The Antl
Lvnching Bill is still in Congress as
House Bill number one, and it is still
a threat, I firmly believe that those
who bold dear the institutions of our
country and who feel this shame and
disgrace among the nations of the
world, should not rest until a law
making lynching a crime punishable
by the federal government is enacted
by Congress.”
STATE GRAND LODGE
MOSAIC TEMPLARS
IN SESSION HERE
The State Grand Lodge of the Mo
saic Templar* of America convened in
its third annual session at Pilgrim
Batist Church Tuesday morning at
10:00 and was formally opened by
Grandmaster Rev. D. McQueen. Ri
tualistic ceremonies preceded routine
business which was rapidly dispatch
ed. Three sessions were held daily,
the closing session being held Thurs
day afternoon. Tuesday night there
was an open session with an excellent
program of music and addresses from
representatives of various organiza
tions with fitting responses. Wednes
day night the Rev. G. W. Day preach
ed the annual sermon. Dr. S. J. El
liott, of Little Rock, National Grand
master, has been in attendance and
inspiring the order by his eloquence
and wise counsel. The reports showed
the organization in excellent condi
tion and steadily growing. The Rev.
D. M. McQueen was re-elected Grand
master.
ALADDIN CRUISE
DIRECTOR IN JAMAICA
(By the Associated Negro Press)
Kingston, Jamaica, Oct. 24.—John
Louis Hill, author of “When Black
Meets White” and a native of Texas,
is in this city perfecting arrangements
for the visit to these shores and other
West Indies waters in January of 250
American Negroes and 250 whites
who will travel together on the same
boat in an effort to prove that intel
ligent persons of both races are es
work together. Mr. Hill says that
the tour is to be known as the Aladdin
Cruise.
SOUTH SIDE REPUBLICAN CLUB
The South Side Republican Club
had a good meeting Monday night The
program put over was worthwile, a
number of talks were made. Among
the Interesting speakers were Mr. M.F.
Singleton and his son, Dr. J. A. Sin
gleton; Mrs. Lovetta Bush, Lenora
Gray, S. E. Gross, J, W. Streeter, b'ut
Father John Albert Williams who is
a candidate for the school hoard, made
the address of the evening, in which
he quoted facts regarding our race
group’s struggles for representation
in the school world of the City of
Omaha.
The South Side Club will meet Mon
day at Allen Chapel, Twenty-fifth and
R streets. All who are interested in
the political affairs of the city have
an invitation to be present. There
will be some good speakers on hand.
Don’t forget the place of meeting—
Allen Chapel, Twenty-fifth and E
streets, South Side.
THOMAS O’CONNOR,
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR COUNTY ASSESSOR
Thomas O’Connor who is democratic
candidate for County Assessor, made
many warm friends among the color
ed people during his seven years’ ser
vice, 1896-1903, as county agent. There
were some hard times then and his
fair and courteous attention to many
who were in need wag appreciated.
Mr. O’Connor ha* served twelve years
as County Commissioner having been
elected three times by very large ma
jorities. As chairman of charities he
won a reputation for sympathy and
fair-mindedness. He has been a res
ident of Omaha for thirty-six years.
He believes the knowledge and ex
perience gained by him as former
County Commissioner will enable him
to perform the duties of County Asses
sor for which he is an aspirant in
an efficient, businesslike manner.
TROPICAL VALLEY
FOUND IN ALASKA
Subterranean Fires Keep
District Warm.
Seward, Aluska.—Another tropical
garden spot has been found In In
terior Aluska. Jack Lee and Henry
Russell, prospectors, stumbled Into a
broad valley where mammoth trees,
beautiful flowers and wild game
abound. This land Is southwest of
Mother Goose lake, In the Kejulik re
gion, and Is so different from tli#“ sur
rounding country, due to warmth from
subterruneun lires, that the men at
first believed they had been transport
ed to some tropical dime.
The district west of niamna lake la
composed chiefly of volcanoes, moun
tains, tundra, lakes and low-lying
hills. The country Is absolutely bar
ren of vegetation except moss and
short, scrubby alders, with now and
then a bunch of short grass.
Coming over a steep mountain pass,
at 1,700 feet altitude, the men saw
an unbroken forest beneath them.
Descending Into the valley they found
trees three feet In diameter and vege
tation far In excess of the surrounding
country. Thousands of wild floweri
carpeted the lush grass and every
kind of game was seen. The trees In
clude cottonwood, spruce and hemlock.
The discoverers were unable to find
any Indication that any other humaa
had trod the fastnesses.
A party of huntera will soon leave
for the spot to get photo* and de
scription of the second warm valley
reported this summer. The other lies
ebove the Arctic circle In the head
waters of the Porcupine river.