The Monitor —
. | NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
^ | THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor ___
12.94 a Year—5c a Cop § OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1925 Whole Number 524 Vol. XI—No. 2
NEMO MANNED HOSPITAL BANKED GH
; ._ ,
All Loyal Baseball Fans Should Support Omaha Pennant Winners
WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR IS
, AN OMAHA VISITOR
Spoke in This City in the First Con
gregational Church 44 Years Ago
Upon Invitation of Dr.
Duryea
P _
Dr. W. A. Sinclair of Washington,
D. C., one of the first graduates of
Howard University and author of
“The Aftermath of Slavery”, is an
K Omaha visitor and guest of Attorney
W H. J. Pinkett. Dr. Sinclair, who is
the executive secretary of the general
alumni association, is touring the
country, visiting the Howard alumni
for the purpose of uniting them in a
concerted action for the removal of
President Durkee, whose administra
tion, it is claimed, is detrimental to
Howard. The summary removal
without hearing or cause, of such men
as Kelly Miller, a scholar of the first
rank and a man of blameless life;
Prof. Cook and Prof. Locke, men of
outstanding scholarship, is cited as
evidence of President Durkee’s alleged
high-handed methods which are de
trimental to Howard. Other griev
ances are also cited.
A meeting of the local Howard
alumni was held in Dr. Singleton’s of
fice Thursday night and the sentiment
of the meeting was unanimous that
the removal of President Durkee is
absolutely imperative for the well
being of Howard.
Dr. Sinclair visited Omaha forty
four years ago upon the invitation of
his friend, the late Dr. Duyea, pastor
of the Congregational church then
located at Nineteenth and Davenport
streets, and delivered an address from
his pulpit.
“Omaha of today,” said Dr. Sinclair,
“presents a striking contrast to the
Omaha of that day. Its growth and
transformation seem almost magical.”
ical.”
NEGRO MARRIED WOMEN
SWELL WORKERS’ RANKS
(Columbian Press Bureau.)
Washington, D. C., July 17.—In a
survey recently made by the Women’s
, Bureau of the U. S. Departfent of
Labor, it was found that of the two
million married women at work in
gainful occupations Negro women
comprise one-third, a much larger pro
portion than the percentage of the
Negro racial group in the total popu
lation of the country. It was further
found that in agricultural occupations
the female Negro workers actually
outnumber native-born white women,
taking the lead in all occupations
common to agricultural life. When it
is considered that these women, three
fifths of whom are between 25 and 44
years of age, are engaged in their
leisure time in caring for homes and
children, it is a remarkable fact that
their inclusion in work forces is from
one-third to three-fifths of the total
number of married women at work
in general and selected occupations,
as the case may be.
PROMINENT BAPTIST PREACHER
WILL SPEAK HERE SUNDAY
The Rev. J. Francis Robinson,
D. D., of Cambridge, Mass., field sec
retary of the National Baptist con
vention, noted preacher, lecturer and
pamphleteer of international fame,
has been in the city for several days,
as the guest of the Rev. E. H. Mc
Donald. He preached twice last Sun
day at Pleasant Green and Pilgrim
Baptist churches. At the urgent re
quest of the Rev. William Franklin
Dr. Robinson has consented to remain
in the city over next Sunday and will
preach at Pilgrim Baptist church. His
morning theme will be, “Come, Tarry,
Go!”
CHINCHES DEMAND
THE ABOLISHMENT
OF SEOREQATION
■ ■— ■- ■ •
Federal Council of Churches in Amer
ica Begin Crusade for Applied
Brotherhood in Race
Relations
HAS CO-OPERATIVE PROGRAM
Calls for Fearless Facing of Facts,
Justice in Courts and Industry
And Removal of Unjust
Discrimination
New York, July 17.-*-The launching
and successful operation of interracial
committees, the holding up of eco
nomic justice and the removal of dis
crimination in all walks of life is
the plan offered in “the crusade of
the churches for applied brotherhood
in race relations” by the Federal
Council of Churches in America. Cir
culation of leaflets and news matter
i dealing with the improvements nec
essary in this platform is being made
by the race relations commission of
the council, which held its fifth qua
drennial meeting in Atlanta some
time ago.
Expression by the race relations
body as to the co-operative program
to be entered into takes on the follow
ing effect:
“1. Face the facts; let the churches
of America continue their study and
discussion groups and the use of their
pulpits and lecture platforms to bring
the facts of race and race relations
to the light of day. Let them help
the newspapers and magazines to give
larger space and attention to the
whole range of information.
; Should Continue Interracial Meetings
“2. Interracial conferences: The
past years have demonstrated the ef
fective utility of conferences between
thoughtful, conscientious leaders of
racial groups to discuss conditions
that confront them and to adopt plans
to deal with the situation. These con
ferences have been most effective
where surveys have been made by
competent persons beforehand to se
cure data as a basis for such confer
ences and program making. The an
nual observance of race relations Sun
day is commended as a step in this
direction.
' 3. Interracial conferences: Ex
perience has shown that small com
mittees of white ami colored men and
women have been indispensable for
effectively carrying out constructive
programs to improve conditions and
race relations, especially in local com
munities. Let the Christians and
churches in each community and of
the nation increasingly give atten
tion, service and support to such com
I mittees.
“4. Justice through law: The
churches have joined the campaign to
abolish lynching in our land. That
campaign has met with success as
| shown i.n the rapid reduction of the
j evil. Let the churches continue the
j crusade until America is a lynchless
I land. Let us go forward with a cam
paign for speedy and impartial trial
for those accused of crime and for
justice in the courts that shall guar
antee to every citizen, irrespective of
creed or color, full protection of our
laws.
“5. Economic justice: The Negro
as a producer has many handicaps in
agriculture, industry and commerce
because his white neighbors do not
regard him as a man to be dealt with
on the basis of capacity or worth.
The voice and hand of the churches
and of Christians generally should be
(Continued on Page 2)
SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND
NEARS $5,000,000 MARK
(Columbian Press Bureau.)
Washington, D. C., July 17.—Ninety
per cent of the five million dollar
Hampton-Tuskegee endowment fund
has been subscribed, the committee
announced this week, leaving only
$500,000 to be obtained in order that
the conditional gift of two million
dollars from George Eastman might
be assured. Under Mr. Eastman’s of
fer, the balance must be raised by
December 81. Clarence H. Kelsey,
chairman of the fund’s executive com
mittee, expressed confidence in the
successful outcome of the campaign. |
The largest gift thus far have been
$1,000,000 each from John D. Rocke-1
feller and the general education board. |
Washington, D. C., July 17.—Dur
ing the last ten years seven state that
passed new laws for the suppression
of lynching, according to a report pre
pared by Dr. Monroe N. Work, of
Tuskegee Institute which is to be
published shortly. Two other states,
Oklahoma and North Carolina, have!
strenghtened their laws against the
“great American crime”. In all, thir
teen states have special anti-lynching
laws. Bills for the suppresion of
lynching have been introduced in vir
tually all southern states. Four of
the states passing new anti-lynching
laws are northern or western. They
are Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania. Two, Kentucky and
West Virginia, may be classed as bor
der states. Other states with anti
lynching laws are Alabama, Indiana,
Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“FIRE IN THE FLINT” TO
BE PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND
Information has just reached Wal
ter White, author of “Fire in the
Flint” from his publishers, Alfred A.
Knopf and Mrs. Blanche W. Knopf,
who are now in Europe, that the Eng
lish rights to Mr. White’s novel have
been sold to the English publishers,
Messrs. Williams and Norgate. Type
is now being set and the novel will
be published in the fall.
"Fire in the Flint” has had a con
siderable sale in the United States
and has created very widespread dis
cussion. As a realistic picture of the
life under difficulties of Negroes in
America it will, according to Mr. and
Mrs. Knopf, be read with great inter
est in Europe.
A GLIMPSE AT THE TQSKEGEE VETERANS’ HOSPITAL
Tuskegee, Alabama, July 17.—(By
the Associated Negro Press.)—The
United States Veterans’ Hospital at
Tuskegee offers the colored people
of the country an interesting and
' worthwhile opportunity to do several
things, first in the caring for our dis
abled ex-service men to demonstrate j
the qualifications and attainments of
the Negro professional man; and
again in the conduct of this mam
i moth institution, the best which the
government has yet built, the chance
to prove the ability of the race to I
conduct in an executive capacity a'
big institution. The eyes of the coun- '
try are upon those in authority ap- [
praisingly and the reactions resulting
and the opinions formed are likely to
influence many interests affecting the
entire group.
President Coolidge Expresses Interest
"The officials at the Veterans’ Bu
reau inform me that they are grati
fied at the progress being made and
the manner in which Tuskegee Hos
pital is being handled.” It was Pres
ident Calvin Coolidge speaking in his
office at the White House recently
and the writer as he listened realized
as is so often the case where we are
concerned, the more than just the con
duct of an institution was involved.
A whole people were being placed on
trial as a result of focus which the
public eye had placed upon this ex
periment.
Therefore it was intensely interest
ing on this the first anniversay of the
complete control by a colored per
sonell, to observe the results of their
regime. It's a marvelous plant, this
I haven which Uncle Sam has erected
where his darker nephews whose
health, limbs and minds were shatter
ed in his behalf, might find surcease
from pain and illness with hands to
tenderly care for them and skilled
minds to direct their return to nor
malcy, free from indifference and
prejudice. The story of why the hos-1
pital was built, the provision of land
by Tuskegee Institute, the interest of
President Harding and President
Coolidge and Secretary of the Treas
ury Andrew Mellon; the strenuous op
position of certain elements of the
South, the Ku Klux Klan parade, the
brunt borne by Dr. It. R. Moton need
not be told here. Everyone knows
it by heart. But, few who have not
; visited the hospital can visualize its
size, its scope, or its unusual possibil
ities.
Serves Entire Country
Stretching away like a modern lit
tle city, spic and span on a reserva
tion of .'JIG acres, the twenty-five
brick buildings ranging from the im
posing double winged main infirmary
with 500 rooms to the small admin
istration building, the whole presents
an attractive ensemble laid out by
Measuring the Accomplishment of a
Colored Personal at a
Great Government
Institution
■ < »«
landscape artists all in accordance
with a definite program which while
it presents a complete' Unit, also com
prehends the extension (and growth of
the hospital. This is a: need which is
already felt because the dormitories
are crowded to their full capacity of
600 beds and a waiting list of some
proportions is on file. While original
ly the hospital was planned for the
surrounding area of southern states
where inadequate hospitalization had
been provided for colored soldiers,
transfers have been requested and
granted from every section of the
country. Originally intended for the
I
<§) A.N.P. «™»
JOSEPH H. WARD
treatment of consumption ami diseases
of the mind with buildings planned in
accordance with the most modem
ideas in treating these dreadful dis
eases, its scope has been increased
until it included every form of illness
and specialists in various ailments
have been secured who head the vari
ous departments. It is now classed
as a general hospital.
Commandant’s Job No Cinch
The place is run on a departmental
and military basis, each head being
responsible for his department, the
whole co-ordinated under an executive,
Col. J. H. Ward, whose authority is
complemented by his immediate as
sistants, Major F. E. Stokes, executive
officer, and Walter S. Burker, busi
ness executive. The employees num
ber nearly 400 and approximately
$75,000 a month is spent in upkeep.
Of the 600 patients who are there for
the treatment of nearly every con
ceivable malady, the majority are
either tubercular or pseuchiatric pa
tients who because of shell shock and
other rigors of war became affected
mentally.
To keep these 600 inmates progress
ing and contented is a task within
itself and as a spokesman for the
bureau remarked to the writer shortly
after the colored personnel was in
stalled, “Col. Ward has a task cut
out for him which few men who under
stand it would envy. Not only must
he direct the care of the multitude of
patients with their multifarious needs
but he must co-ordinate the efforts of
a large staff of physicians and ex
perts many of whom have not been
accustomed to central and organized
guidance. He must be responsible for
the conduct of a plant worth more
than $2,000,000. He must be not only
a physician, an army officer and a
business man, but an ambassador and
diplomat as well. There are the white
people of the community, state and
South to be dealt with and last but '
certainly not least the colored public i
must be taken into account.”
Just what has this Negro personnel
been able to accomplish? Firt, ex
cellent discipline has been maintained.
No easy task with 600 men who have
little to occupy their time and minds
accustomed to active lives, many of
whom were untrained. Next the
building and grounds have been kept
in excellent shape. Third, as Col.
Ward remarks, “I have gotten re- i
markable unison and co-operation 1
from the men and women who com
pose the working force. They have
proved to me that colored people can
work together.”
Recent Charges Investigated
Of course, there have been malcon
tents, some of whom were plain
cussers and others who were actuated
by the desire for personal advance
ment and gain. Some of these men
have precipitated trouble, inspiring
gossip, writing anonymous letters and
magnifying trivial happenings. While
in some instances undesirable pub
licity has been gained from these out
puts they have had but little effect
upon the management of the Veterans’
Bureau. The latter inspects regularly
and recently when a number of
charges of inefficiency and graft
were filed in Washington a searching
investigation was held. The staff and
Col. Ward were exonerated, the same
spokesman remarking, “There have
been mistakes made at the hospital,
of course. Mistakes are made in all
the government hospitals, but what
(Continued on P»ge Two)
p————PWP—P—P»a
DEMENTED MAH IS
SAVED FROM DEATH
IR SORTHERR CITY
National Advancement Association of
Houston, Texas, Prevents
Execution of Elmer
Williams
WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER
Williams Inmate of Nebraska Insane
Asylum When Crime Com
mitted in Texas
City
Houston, Tex., July 17.—Elmer Wil
liams, a colored man, has been saved
from death by the Houston branch of
the N. A. A. C. P., after he had made
full confession of the murder of a
white woman, when the branch
brought to Houston the superinten
dent of the Insane Asylum of Ne
braska who testified that on the night
the murder was committed, Williams
was confined in the Nebraska asylum.
Early in the spring a white woman
was killed in Houston. The woman
and her husband conducted a grocery
store. According to the husband’s
story, as he and his wife were closing
the store for the night, the Negro
entered to make a small purchase, of
fering a ten-dollar bill in payment.
As the grocer turned to make change,
the Negro drew a gun and demanded
his day’s receipts. The grocer claims
that he ducked under the counter and
that the Negro then fired at his wife,
killing her instantly.
A large number of Negroes were
arrested but all of them were able to
prove alibis. The grocer himself was
then arrested and charged with the
murder of his wife. Italian compatri
ots of the grocer immediately raised
a fund and offered a reward of $600
for the arrest and conviction of the
guilty person. Elmer Williams was
arrested in Ohio and made a full con
fession of the murder but upon his
examination trial, he was unable to
give coherent statements about the
murder. He offered, however, to
plead guilty if the state would give
him a life term but the district attor
ney, to the gratification of the colored
citizens, refused such a plea, declar
ing that the electric chair was the
only place for Williams.
The Houston branch of the N. A. A.
C. P. at this point entered the case
and brought Mr. Sidwell, superinten
dent of the Nebraska State Asylum
for Insane, to Houston and through
Mr. Sidwell proved that on the night
the woman was murdered Williams
was incarcerated in the Nebraska
Asylum for Insane under his care and
was not released until twelve days
after the murder. Williams was re
leased and the branch is taking the
necessary steps to have him commit
ted to the State Asylum for Insane.
IOWA MASONS MEET
IN COUNCIL BLUFFS
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Masons held successful sessions in
Council Bluffs the first part of this
week with Grandmaster A. G. Clark
presiding. Wednesday night there
was a public reception held in Bethel
A. M. E. church, the Rev. George W.
Slater, pastor, with an excellent pro
gram of music and addresses. Mayor
Harding gave a welcome address
which was responded to by D. N.
Crosswaith of Marshalltown. Other
addresses were also delivered. E. J.
Gilbert was master of ceremonies.
Mrs. Emma Durant of Bixby, Okla.,
is here visiting her sister, Mrs. Mat
tie Williams.
/VII U1U saying auvuv unacuau
is that the team in the lead on July
4th wins the gonfalon, and the boys
all shout “May the best team win."
Such might be the case in the West
ern League this season. If so, Den
ver has already won the “peanuts".
But fans want to remember this, that
Denver was in the van in front on
the 4th last year and Omaha stepped
out and copped the bunting. History
has at times repeated.
At the present time Omaha’s team
is in sixth place and on the last road
trip consistently lost games to worse
ball clubs than their own.
They are home now for a short
stay and now, if ever, they need the
support of all true sports and fans
of the city, and they in turn owe it
to the fans to pep up and step out
and give us all they have. We are
not pennant hogs, but Omaha has a
right to expect and have a first divi
sion ball club.
The Omaha team leads the league
in hitting and is near the middle in
fielding and very close to the bottom
in pitching. The pitching staff should
and will have to be reinforced if ever
a winning club is attained.
A lot of tough breaks have been
against the Rods but the writer
thinks the greatest thing against the
club is their lack of pep and ambition
in the game.
The team arrived home Wednesday
and is now playing a critical series
with the Denver leaders and great
games can be expected during the
week-end and fans should forget the
past and step out and boost the boys
along upwards and not further into
the cellar. Knocking will do them
no good. That team needs loyal sup
port and with it we think they will
step out and win ball games. Don't
kid yourself, Denver or no other club
wins a pennant this early in the sea
son.
Omahans should not sit back and
crab when they give neither moral nor
financial support to a team—and
Omaha needs both.
A double-header will be staged Sun
day and first tilt commences at 2
o’clock. Be in your seat and come
in a good humor prepared to give a
lift where it is needed.
NOT “WEDDED" AFTER ALL
John Adams, 26, colored, Omaha,
and Anna Williams, 23, colored, Oma
ha, have some unpleasant news await
ing them, wherever they are. John
and Anna journeyed to this city July
3 and procured a license to marry.
So far the record is straight, but
after procuring the license, they went
to Omaha again and were married by
Rev. J. B. Crum, on July 4.
Now the Iowa law provides that
the marriage must be performed in
the county where the license was is
sued. Not only were John and Anna
out of the county when they were
married, but they were also out of the
state.
When Rev. Crum made his marriage
return to the clerk’s office today,
“not married”, was written across the
face of the instrument.
The local clerk’s office has no in
formation as to the address of the
couple. They must be “married
again,” if the tie is to be binding, it
is explained.—Council Bluffs (Iowa)
Nonpareil, July 14.
CONNECTICUT CLERGYMAN
VISITING OMAHA RELATIVES
The Rev. John W. Freeman, rector
of St. Monica’s Episcopal church of
Hartford, Conn., accompanied by his
wife and infant son, John W. Jr., mo
tored here last week and are the
guests of Mrs. Freeman’s aunt, Mrs.
J. Grogan, 2910 Erskine street. They
expect to remain here until the latter
part of next week.
©A NP. PERSONNEL OF THE FAMOUS TU8KEOEE VETE WANS' HOSPITAL. SAtTlV