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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1924)
r The monitor NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1924 Whole Number 492 Vol. X—No. 24 V “SNOUTRAGE” SAYS SOUTHERN SOLON I SO SCANDALIZED Because Colored Policeman Was Sent to Curb Confederate Daughters’ Row Over Election of Officers OFFICER PERFECT GENTLEMAN But Congressman Casque Demands an Apology of Washington Chief of Police for Sending Negro Officer. (By Crispus Attucks News Service) Washington, D. C., Dec. 12.—"I think, to say the least, it is an out rape for a Nepro policeman to he sent hy the city povernment of Wash inpton to preserve order amonp a proup of southern ladies, especially when there are so many white po licemen in the District of Columbia. Will you please tell me who was re sponsible for this and why it was done ? Asa southern man and mem ber of Conpress on the District Com mittee, I resent this action of the po lice department and respectfully de mand an explanation. I also think I you should appear before that body and explain this action or apolopize for it.” Thus wrote Conpressman Casque of South Carolina to Major Sullivan on account of sendinp Patrolman Braxton (colored) to the United Dauphters of the Confederacy Home, 1322 Vermont avenue, N. W., when a call was sent in to the Second Pre cinct station house for police pro tection durinp a stormy session over the election of the officers for the ensuinp year. It seems as thouph Stonewall Jack son and Robert I,ee could not apree and Thomas Jefferson became a little alarmed at the trend of affairs when someone called Captain Peck on the phone for an officer. Braxton, a lonp and faithful trusted arm of the law, was sent as is characteristic of the Metropolitan police department, re pardless of color, especially under the leadership of Major Sullivan. Before he had a chance to fully re alize what it was all about, Braxton found himself face to face with the stem portraits of Stonewall Jackson, Thomas Jefferson and Robert K. Lee, as well as in the midst of the Dauph ters tf the Confederate pentlemen, who had in years pone by, held the iron hand of ownership, probably over his ancestors Here he was sent to restore peace in a convention of southern white women. “A Perfect Gentleman,” says Mrs. Odenheimer So tactful and diplomatic was Of ficer Braxton, that when inquiry was made as to the possible objection of a colored officer being sent, that Mrs. Frank 0. Odei’heimer, one of the del ■ egates, 1 rankly admitted that “the officer behaved like a perfect gentle man and T respected his uniform.” Others (.poke of how diplomatic he rwas in leaving immediately when he found that his appearance had re stated older, saying, “He would re main on the side walk for a time in case he was needed.” So thoroughly had he done his job that Rome of the delegates piotested and asked that he remain inside, which he refused to do, hut did wa't on the outside. Commenting on the letter from Congressman Casque, Major Sullivan said, “The matter was a regular rou tine affair under Captain Peck.” Captain Peck is in charge of the Second Precinct to which Braxton is attached. When informed of Con gressman Casque’s demand of an apology, the captain said, “They called for an officer. I sent them one and I have no apologies to make.” Braxton is hailed as an excellent officer by many of the white people or. his heat, which he has been on for some time and inquiry brought out the fact that he is highly respected and liked at the precinct by his fellow officers. WHITE ACTRESS DRAWS COLOR LINE IN PARIS Paris, France, December 12.—Doris Lloyd, white, American actress who had contracted to appear at the fa mous Moulin Benge cabaret in this city, entered a protest when it was learned that she would be billed In the same show with black performers, also from America. Needless to say, the protest availed her naught. The black workers sailed for France under the direction of the l/>onard Harper booking office which is han dled by “Billy” Pierce. The dancer of the troupe Is Emma Maitland, for merly with “Follow Me”. Other girls In the show are Laura Wamble, Aure lia Wheelln, Frances Smith, Martha Gilchrist, Sybil Turk, Dovey Boykin and Marie Warren. F. L. Barnett spent Sunday in Lin coln. ^ y JAPANESE EXCLUSION BRINGS DEMAND FOR BLACK AMERICANS California’s Agricultural Industries Suffering from Scarcity of Farm Labor. (By George Perry) Los Angeles, Calif, Dec. 12.—(Pa cific Coast News Bureau).—For the first time in the history of the south west, the black American has become a factor in the future development of its wonderful agricultural possibilit ies. Exclusion of the Japanese-Chi nese-Hindu farm labor through the enforcement of the anti-alien land law; and the increase of cotton pro duction in California, are the factors responsible for the present scarcity of exnerienced farm labor. With a total acreage of 445.000 acres, with a predicted yield of 256, 932 bales, the 1924 cotton crop will yield approximately $40,000,000 to the farmers of Southern California Lower California and the Salt River Valley in Arizona. Through ar rangement the aliens will be permit ted to harvest the 1924 crop yield; but thousands have left and have at this early date caused such a serious shortage of efficient farm help that distress calls are heard in many sec tions. Tn the Yuma Valley district below Needles with cotton averaging a hale an acre, 3,000 cotton pickers are needed. In the San Joaquin Val ley district north of the Negro town of Allensworth, with 4,000 cotton pickers employed at $1.50 per 100 more are needed. In fact so serious is the outlook for 1925 that definite steps have re cently been taken by several commun ities and concerns to colonize certain sections, particularly In the heavy cotton districts, with experienced Ne gro farmers from the South. One concern is opening 2,000 acres for Ne gro colonization in the Palo Verde Valley, a promising locality near the Colorado river, with a cotton pro duction of 13,500 bales valued at $2, 295,000. Another concern has a pro ject near Victorville, while others are planning similar methods of insuring the California cotton industry of a plentiful future supply of efficient farm labor. In order to supervise the coloniza tion of the Negro in the various pro jects, the California Colored Realty and Development Assn, Inc., a Negro real estate men’s organization was recently formed in I*os Angeles for the purpose of co-operating with the land owners, farm organizations and realty boards in a systematic cam paign of activity, publicity and super vision with the object of interesting ami locating reliable, efficient and industrious Negro farmers in the South in the approved colonization projects underway in Southern Calif ornia. \Sk ClIRI&MAS PARDON FOR HOUSTON MARTYRS Boston, Mass., Dec. 12.—President Coolldge is petitioned to set free the remaining thirty-one prisoners im plicated in the Houston affray as an act of Christian clemency for the Christmas season or for New Year’s In an appeal sent from here today by the National Equal Rights League. The league urges the race every where to write to the President and to Secretary of War, John W. WeekB, for Christmas pardons for these sol diers who have already paid so heavy penalty for what they are charged with having done under great pro vocation. LEAGUE ASKS DYER BILL Boston, Mass., Dec. 12.—The Na tional Equal Rights League receutly wired Senator Chas. Curtis of Kansas, republican Senate leader, to put the Dyer Anti-Lynching bill well up on the calendar. The league sent re quests of like tenor to Senator Wads worth of New York, chairman of the Republican Steering Committee, and to Senator Butler, the successor to the seat of the late Senator I»dge, chairman of the Republican National Committee and also a member of the Steering Committee. The league has been a potent and active factor for the Dyer bill from the beginning and Is still “on the iob". GEORGE LEE ORCHESTRA ARRIVES TOO LATE The famous George Lee’s Novelty Singing orchestra which was to have played at Dreamland Hall Wednes day night, owning to an accident were unable to reach the city in time to fill their engagement. Mr. Jewell received a message from them at Falls City advising him that they ex pected to arrive by 10 p. m. They were unable to reach Omaha until long past midnight. The large crowd of dancers who had assembled at Dreamland Hall were disappointed. The management refunded their mon ey. The orchestra will return to fill an engagement at a later date. KU FLUX KLAN OFFERS REWARD FOR NEGRO BEATERS Masked Men Who Mistreat Negro Prisoners Claimed Not Members of Klan Organization Long Beach, Calif., Dec. 12.—(Pa cific Coast News Bureau).—In an ef fort to clear their skirts of the charges of being responsible for the mistreatment of three Negro prison ers of the Long Beach jail, the local Klan organization is offering a re ward of $250 for the arrest within sixty days ar.d cor", iction of “two hooded and white garbed men” as serted to have been responsible for the n'.islreatment. Kidnapped from Jail The victims, Henry Hayes, 17; Sam Haynes, 18, and Geo. Rice, 18, who are being held in the local jail await ing for trial on burglary charges, stated that one night last week they were removed from the jail by two police offices who at a lonely spot on the < utshirts of th ecity, turned them over to white robed figures who flog ged them and strung them up by the wrists in order to make them confess burglaries of which they were ac cused. N. A. A. C. P. Attorney Investigates Thru their attorney, E. Burton Ce ruti, of the local N. A. A. C. P., and one of the greatest criminal lawyers in the west, District Attorney Asa Keyes has asked for a county grand jury investigation. The names of the officers have been withheld by the district attorney pending action by the grand jury. TRANSLATE NEGRO’S SONG INTO MANY LANGUAGES (The Associated Negro Press) Evanston, 111., Dec. 12—“America First and Forever,’ a patriatic song composed by Hermes Zimmerman, composer-tenor, has been translated into French, Spanish, Polish and Ger man, and is being used by the Amer icanization branch of the Women s Christian Temperance Union. Mr. Zimmerman was given a big ovation when he sang the song at the Orrington hotel before a large gathering of workers of the Union. He responded with four encores. Flowers were tendered his accom panist, Miss Le Jenne Jones. BISHOP CLEAVES COMING Bishop N. C. Cleaves, D. D., pre siding bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District of the Colored M. E. Church, will preach at the Cleaves Temple C. M. E. Church, corner 25th and Deca tur streets, Sunday, December 28th, morning and evening. All are cordi ally. invited. Rev. J. S. Blaine, Pastor. RETURN ABYSSINIAN CROWN (The Associated Negro Press) London, England, Dec. 12.—The crown of the Emperor Theodore of Abyssinia, which after being kept in a glass case at the Victoria and Al bert Museum, this city, since 1869, is now to b& returned to its former home in Africa. It has had an event, ful history. This crown was taken to Britain by Sir Robert, afterwards Lord Napier, of Magdala, after the capture of Magdala and the death of Theodore in the Abyssinian war of 1868. It is a ponderous piece of silver gilt filigree work, many sizes too large for any ordinary head. It is lavishly decorated with little squares and diamonds of red and blue glass, varied with diminutive paintings. A feature is the strange looking pipe which projects several inches through the center of the dome, apparently for ventilation. The king’s intention to present this crown to the Empress Judith was an nounced' when he granted a farewell audience to Prince Tafari, the heir apparent and regent of Abyssinia, whose recent visit to Britain created much interest. It is interesting to note that the only son of the Emperor Theodore was educated at Rugby. He died in 1879, at the age of nineteen, and was buried in St. George’s Chapel, Wind sor. PANAMA CANAL ZONE FREE OF FEVER Improved Sanitary Conditions Bene fit Uncle Sam’s Colored Employes. Colon, I. Z., Dec. 12.—(Pacific Coast News Bureau.)—The Panama Canal zone with its second largest representation of colored employees in the federal service, is now the healthiest place in Central America. Epidemics of yellow fever and ty phoid that have killed thousands will never return. Scores of army sanitation corp workers have destroyed the bidding places of the lowly mosquito by spreading oil over stagnant pools, and supervised the natives in keeping their homes and properties clean and modem. With a popula tion of 460,000 the Canal Zone ranks next to the postal service in number of colored federal employees, with its 8,187 Negro laborers whose aggre gate salaries amount to $4,867,608.23, according to the latest available fig ures Mn. J. H. Abernathy of Spring field, Mo., is visiting her husband at 2736 Caldwell street. NAVAL AVIATORS LOST ON MEXICAN LANDS OF NEGRO SYNDICATE Authorities Abandon Search Believ ing Flyers Lost at Sea or in Lower California, Mexico Ensenada, Baja., Dec. 12.—(Pacific Coast News Bureau.)—Search for Harry E. Mitchell and Blakely E. Mi nar, naval aviators from the naval air station at San Diego, Calif., who dis appeared after going aloft two weeks ago, has been abandoned, naval au thorities believing it would be useless to continue the hunt. Fifteen airplanes were sent on a reconnoissance 125 miles below the border and 40 miles out to sea. A de tachment of blue jackets were granted permission by Governor Ro driguez, governor of Lower Califor nia, to cross to Mexican soil, where Mexican rurales from Tia Juana and Ensenada joined in the hunt. Numerous reports were received at the air station that an airplane seem ingly in distress had been sighted near the border. A stiff wind was blowing at the time and it is believed the plane either crashed at sea or was lost in the moutain region of the vast tract lying northest of Ensenada and owned by the Lower California Mexican Land & Development Co., of Los Angeles, a Negro syndicate. Local aviation history reveals that eight men have been lost in the air lanes leading from San Diego to Lower California and Arizona. STUDENTS PALLBEARERS FOR MILLIONAIRE (The Associated Negro Press) Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 12.—Eight male students from the Florida Nor mal and Industrial Institute of St. Augustine were the active pall bearers at the funeral Wednesday of Dr. Andrew Anderson, white, million aire resident of St. Augustine and in timate friend of the late Henry L. Flagler, founder and builder of the Florida East Coast Railway. The honorary pallbearers were some of the most prominent citizens of America. Funeral services were held in Flag ler’s Memorial church which was filled to overflowing, almost half of the mourners being colored people. Dr. Anderson was beloved by both races throughout the state of Florida and in many parts of the south. The Florida Normal and Industrial Institute from which the colored pall bearers came is regarded as the “Tus kegee” of Florida. Dr. N. W. Col lier Is president. Be Courteous, Be Pleasant—Shop Early. Step Lively!! !‘WHI SEGREGATIONISTS PUBLISHING NEWSPAPER Washington, D. C., Dec. 12.—The fight against residential segregation in America, now being carried before the U. S. Supreme Court by the Na tional Association for the Advance ment of Colored People, is gaining in intensity, according to a report sent to the N. A. A. C. P. national office by JameB A. Cobb, who is in general charge of the legal work. White property owners of Wash ington have not only organized, but are also publishing a newspaper in the interest of segregation. This newspaper, The North Capitol Citizen, in its issue of November 21, reports that the white property owners’ asso ciation has printed a supply of signs inscribed “For White Occupants” and is distributing these signs free to be placed in the windows of all houses offered for sale or rent. Mr. Cobb reports by letter: “Other suits are being filed. I am sending herewith a publication to you to show you how active these people are here. They have even filed a case here where there is no written covenant (to discriminate against colored peo pie) but where they claim there is an oral understanding among the property holders. You can see how pernicious and far-reaching this is.” In St. Paul, Minn., according to re ports received by the N. A. A. C. P., a bitter segregation fight has been in progress for two months, with W. T. Francis, a colored attorney, on the executive committee of the local N. A. A. C. P., declining to vacate a house he had purchased. The national of fice of the N. A. A. C. P. hag written Mr. Francis offering him assistance. GOVERNMENT OFFERS GREAT OPPPORTUNITIES TO COLORED PRINTERS — Ideal Working Conditions and Good Pay Should Prove Strong Inducement. Washington, D. C., Dec. 12.—(Spe cia to The Monitor by Walter J. Sin gleton).— Printers throughout the country as well as boys who plan to become apprentices for training in the printers’ trade, would do well to examine the advantages attending employment at the government print ing office at Washington. The pres ent head of this vast plant is Mr. George H. Carter, who has appointed five colored boys as apprentices, and under whose administration 12 col ored employes hold very lucrative po sitions. The general wage scale has increased more than 100% during the past twenty years, and under the present administration compositors have been advanced to $7.60 for a day of 8 hours, and typesetting ma chine operators to $8.40, with 15% ad ditional for night work and 50% for overtime, so that a full-fledged print er may receive* from $2500 to $3000 annually. Working conditions have improved in the government printing office in proportion to the increased rates of compensation. The present public printer has provided a cafeteria which meets a vital need of the employees by enabling them to secure a liberal variety of well cooked food at reason able prices. There is also a roof gar den where, during recess from labor, the workers may enjoy fresh air and exercise without exposure to the weather elements. Competitive examinations are held in all the large cities throughout the land, from time to time, for appoint ments to the government printing of fice. Inquiries and applications for permission to participate in these ex aminations should be addressed to the United States Civil Service Commis sion, Washington, D. C., or to a local branch office of the commission. Lewis H. Douglass, son of Fred erick Douglass, was the first colored appointee to the government printing office. Since that time, a half cen tury ago, the race has been continu ously represented, until today we find such excellent citizens as E. C. Cain, W. D. Clarkson, W. T. Menard, W. C. Robinson, E. H. Fisher, H. W. Davis, W. C. Peace, Bernardine Smith, G. W. Knox, A. B. Hughes, C. W. Williams and G. W. Shead, the two last named being typesetting-machine operators. The entire enrollment of colored numbers 888 persons. NATIONAL HONOR FOR NEGRO SECRETARY TO TREASURY Washington, D. C. Dec. 12.—(By Crispus Attucks News Service).— Secretary Andrew Mellon is to attend the 150th anniversary of the matricu lation in Columbia College of Alexan der Hamilton, who was a Negro and the first secretary of the Treasury. It is intended to observe each year the birthday of Hamilton and try to make the same a national holiday. It was Hamilton and Benjamin Frank lin who planned and financed Amer ica after the Revolutionary War, bringing this great country out of chaos into a healthy financial condi tion, which enabled her to take her place beside other world powers, dur ing her dark days, when few men be lieved it possible. Alexander Hamilton, one of the greatest of American statesman, was horn January 11, 1757, in the British West Indies. His father was a Scotch man and it is claimed that his mother, a native of the Islands, was of African descent. He was sent to Elisabeth town, N. J., in 1772 and matriculated at King’s College, now Columbia Uni versity, in 1773. HAYES GIVES BENEFIT RECITAL New York, Dec. 12.—Roland Hayes, internationally known tenor, gave a benefit recital here recently in Car negie Hall. The performance was given for Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., of which Mr. Hayes Is a gradu ate. His determination to help other young men and women of the race has become one of his most absorbing interests, and the benefit recital was only one of the big efforts he haB recently made in this direction. REVIVAL MEETINGS CLOSE The revival meetings at the Spring Hill Baptist church, 33rd and Emmet streets, closed last Friday night with five additions and two of the number candidates for baptism. Mrs. C. Wood, Clerk. Rev. M. H. Wilkinson, Pastor. Miss Ophelia Hall, who attends the Vocational School at Topeka, Kans., will arrive home December 19 to spend the holidays with her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Wm. Hall, 2816 Bur dette street. EXPENDING FOUR MILLIORS A YEAR FOR RACE SCHOOLS North Carolina Has Awakened to a High Sense of Its Duty In Providing for Education of Its Citizenry AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE In Eleven Years State Has Increased Appropriations for Education of Negroes by 1500 Per Cent. (By R. B. Eleazer) Raleigh, N. C., Dec. 12.—North Carolina is now appropriating for Negro education nearly four million dollars a year, a sum greater than the state expended for its entire edu cational program, white and colored, in any year prior to 1910. This was the startling statement made by Prof. N. C. Newbold, of the state depart ment of education, at the annual con ference on Negro education held in Raleigh a few days ago. During the past four years the state has expended $15,000,000 for the education of its colored citizens and is preparing to appropriate as much more for this purpose in the four years just ahead, according to Prof. Newbold, who heads the de partment of Negro education. Eleven years ago the total appropriated for this purpose was $225,000 a year. The increase, therefore, has been about 1500 per cent. Of the four year budget $2,200,000 went for higher ed ucation. Colored high schools have increased in number from thirteen in 1921 to thirty-four in 1924, and high school students from 1347 to 5341. The total number of colored teachers has increased in four years from 3779 to 5037. The salaries paid these teachers during the four years ag gregate about seven million dollars. The greatest need for the immedi ate future Mr. Newbold declared, is a standard four-year teacher’s col lege, which he thought would be pro vided by the next legislature. After that must come a four-year standard college of liberal arts. Both races, said Mr. Newbold, are coming to realize the need for colored doctors, lawyers, nurses and other professionally trained leaders. "North Carolina has faith in its Negro peo ple,” he continued, “it has spent mil lions for their education, and it be lieves that there should be one stand ard for teachers and not two. There is still much left to be done if we live up to the doctrine of equality of edu cational opportunity for all children of the state as provided for in the constitution.” Prof. Newbold called attention to the fact that less than one-half of one per cent of the coun try’s criminals come from the ranks of educated Negroes. The conference was attended by the state superintendent of education and by many other prominent educators of both races from North Carolina and other states. It was widely and favorably commented on by the press of the state. The Salisbury Press thus expressed the general feeling, “All right thinking people will be not only willing but anxious that the state undertake a bigger and a better program of help for the Negroes * * * it must not allow this good work to lag.” BUSINESS LEAGUE AIDS FARMERS (The Associated Negro Press) Elizabeth City, N. C., Dec. 12.—The local Negro Business League has been instrumental in securing the appoint ment of a county supervisor and a farm demonstration agent for Pas quotank county, in which Elizabeth City is located. In securing these appointments they had the active co-operation of the Board of Education and County Commissioners. According to Mr. N. E. Hart, secretary of the local league, an effort is being made now to se cure a standard high school for the colored children of Elizabeth City. Be Courteous, Be Pleasant—Shop Early. SUBSCRIBERS AND ADVERTISERS, ATTENTION, PLEASE! Robert A. Green, an ambi tious young man who is working His way through Creighton Uni versity, is collecting and solicit ing subscriptions and advertis ing for The Monitor. Patrons of The Monitor will be helping a worthy young man by paying their subscriptions promptly and giving their advertising to Mr. Green, who is working on corah mission. Please pay him prompt ly when he calls.