The Monitor
aa NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
s the REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor __
i $2.90 a Year—5c a Copy j$ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1925 , Whole Number 535 Vol. XI—No. 15
fr __ Q __ • ___————
BIG BATTLE AGAINST SEGREGATION LOOMS
[ Omaha Pastor to Celebrate 34th Anniversary of His Ordination
ANTI-RESIDENTIAL
SEGREGATION FIGHT
IH SEVENTEEN CITIES
National Advancement Association
Reports Action Against Evil
Along Lengthening Line
of Defense
DENVER THE LATEST ADDITION
Metropolis of Centennial State Finds
Colored Citizens Prepared to
Fight for Legal
Rights
New York.—Acute segregation situ
ations in seventeen cities throughout
the United States, ranging from New
York to Los Angeles, are reported by
the National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People, which
ha« just received a report adding
the city of Denver, Colo,, to those
previously listed.
George W. Gross, president of the
• Denver Branch of the N. A. A. C. P.,
reports that “the grm monster of
segregation has raised its head in
Denver as in other cities just now and
it looks as though we are to have a
fight here.”
The Denver situation arises out of
a joint meeting recently by three “im
provement” associations, whose mem
bers and friends are being urged to
sign agreements not to sell property
to Negroes. Petitions have been pre
pared and are being circulated for
every block in those districts and
numbers of property owners are re
ported to have signed. Proposals were
also discussed at the white property
owners' meeting, to establish a sep
arate school for Negro students and
to amend the state law to provide for
segregation.
The cities besides Denver now in
volved in segregation fights arer
DETROIT: 11 Negroes charged with
first degree murder for defending Dr.
O. H. Sweet’s home from a riotous
mob, are being defended by the N. A.
A. C. P.
STATEN ISLAND (New York
City): Samuel A. Browne, colored let
ter carrier, has repeatedly been
threatened with death if he does not
sell his house. Backed by the N. A.
A. C. P., Mr. Browne, is suing a
white neighbor who has been indicted
for participation in disorders.
WASHINGTON, D. C.: Case of
segregation .by property owners’
agreement is pending in U. S. Su
preme Court, carried to that court
by the N. A. A. C. P.
NEW ORLEANS: N. A. A. C. P.
is fighting local segregation ordin
ance passed in contravention of Su
preme Court’s decision in Louisville
segregation case of 1917.
NORFOLK, VA., has passed or
dinance similar to that of New Or
leans.
ST. LOUIS: Attempt to enjoin col
ored physician from buying and oc
cupying property subject to white
property owners’ agreement. Out
come of this case depends upon Su
preme Court’s decision on case now
up in Washington.
ROANOKE, VA.: Home bombed, and
S. C. Medley sued for not consummat
ing purchase of a house in which his
white neighbors would not have per
mitted him to live.
BALTIMORE: Court upheld race
zoning law, segregating races.
PITTSBURG: Colored people ar
rested for firing on prowlers after
receiving K. K. K. threats.
LOS ANGELES: Case involving at
tempt to dispossess colored people
from ownership of land which it had
been previously agreed was not to be
sold to Negroes.
ST. LOUIS: Attempt to prevent At
torney William T. Francis from oc
cupying home he had purchased. Fiery
cross was burned in front of house.
Local N. A. A. C. P. furnished watch
man.
. FALLS CHURCH, VA.: Attempt by
' court action (injunction) to prevent
a colored man erecting a house on
lot purchased by him some time pre
\ viously.
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Homes of
Negroes bombed; threats made against
Negroes living in so-called white dis
tricts. Local N. A. A. C. P. fur
nished watchman to guard homes from
l mob attack.
CLEVELAND: Attempt being made
to prevent colored doctor from oc
cupying property he has purchased.
OAKLAND, CAL.: Attempts made
to force Negro dentist to remove from
WEALTHY WHITE WOMAN
WANTS WHITE YOUTH
TO READ PICKEN’S BOOK
Will Present Copies of “Bursting
Bonds”, the Autobigraphy of
Negro Scholar, to Libraries
and Individuals
CERTAIN OF ITS HELPFULNESS
New York—(By the Associated Ne
gro Press.)—Mrs. C. K. Bartlett,
prominent and wealthy woman of
North Carolina, writes from Asheville
that she will present copies of “Burst
ing Bonds”, the autobiography of Wil
liam Pickens, to white school libraries
and to white individuals whom “racial
conditions” might otherwise prevent
from getting it. In a letter she writes
as follows:
“I have just read ‘Bursting Bonds’
and if I can succeed in placing it in
hands that would not otherwise have
found it, I shall be, to say the least,
better satisfied with a life’s accom
plishments.
“The duty of every human is to see
as much of the world as possible—and
here we are arrived at the root of the
trouble with the white American
provincialism so provincial that he
fails to ‘see’ his nearest and best
neighbor, the Negro American. You
are generous in your apologies for
him—‘existing social conditions’—but
the fact remains that with wonderful
heroism, you overcame the handicap
these conditions imposed on you and
have done inestimable service toward
rescuing him from the clutches of this
stultifying provincialism, the handicap
placed on him by the monster, ‘social
conditions’. I haven’t a doubt that to
some of your Yale classmates, the big
gest and best thing derived from the
years at this great university, was
their acquaintance with you, Mr. Pick
ens, and whenever I can put your book
into the hands of white boys, it will
be in the hope of doing something for
Negro young people and the certainty
of doing MUCH for white ones.”
NEWSPAPER IN INDIA
COMMENDS N. A . A. C. P.
A newspaper published in India,
“The Hindu”, on July 4th last, in the
course of an article on the relations
of America and India, comments as
follows on the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored Peo
ple:
“The Association for the Advance
ment of the Colored People offers a
fine illustration of what can be done
by steady, intelligent and persistent
agitation to educate people and to
uphold the rights of an oppressed sec
tion of the population. Since they be
gan their work in 1889 (should be
1909) lynchings have decreased from
176 to 16 in the year. Many whites
have been brought to trial and pun
ished. They have created a sentiment
in the North against the exploitation
of the colored people, which is in
fluencing the better minds bf the
South and they have brought to bear
all the influence available on the re
dressal of injustices. They have help
ed to give the Negro a new spirit of
self-respect-”
MILITARY BURIAL >
FOR SLAIN EX-SOLDIER
Denison, la.—Joe Cary, the Negro
who was killed in a stabbing affray
at Arion last week, was given a mili
tary funeral by the Denison Legion
post. He had papers showing he had
served in the late war and was honor
ably discharged. His mother at Jean
erette, La., was heard from and could
not send funds to have the body sent
to her. The funeral was held in the
chapel of the undertaking parlors of
the coroner, John Schnoor. The cas
ket was draped with the flag and
flowers. Three members of the W. R.
C. sang the hymns and the sermon
was given by the Presbyterian pastor,
Rev. Hamlin.
The Legion boys were out in uni
form, and at the grave the customary
salute for the dead was given. Cary
was a strong looking intelligent young
man, and had eveidently done good
service for his country as a soldier, i
new home in so-called white district.
Threatening letters signed K. K. K.
sent and windows broken.
BROOKLYN, N. Y.: Mr. and Mrs.
Alfred D. Vaughn threatened with
death if they moved into house they
had purchased. N. A. A. C. P. ob
tained police protection.
WILL OBSERVE ANNI
VERSARY OF ORDINATION
Sunday is the thirty-fourth anni
versary of the Rev. John Albert Wil
!
liams’ ordination to the priesthood.
There will be a celebration of the
Holy communion at the Church of St.
Philip the Deacon, at 7:30 a. m.;
choral eucharist with sermon at 11
and evening prayer with sermon at 8.
Father Williams was ordained Sun
day, St. Luke’s Day, October 18, 1891,
in St. Matthias Church, Tenth and
Worthington Place, by the Rt. Rev.
George Worthington, S. T. D., Bishop
of Nebraska. At the same time the
Rev. Irving P. Johnson, now Bishop
of Colorado, and the Rev. Paul Mat
thews, now Bishop of New Jersey,
were ordained to the priesthood.
Father Williams’ entire ministry has
been spent here.
Rev. John Albert Williams, B. D.
Pastor Church of St. Philip the Deacon, who was ordained to
the priesthood here Sunday, October 18, 1891.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CONFERENCE IN SESSION
AT GROVE CHURCH
Bishop Frederick T. Keeney Presid
ing—Many Delegates, Ministerial
and Lay, Are in At
tendance
The Twenty-fourth Session of the
Lincoln Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church is being
held here this week in Grove M. E.
Church, Twenty-second and Seward
streets, the Rev. J. H. Ellis, pastor.
Bishop Frederick T. Keeney, D. D.,
LL. D., of Omaha, is presiding. There
is a good attendance of delegates
present.
The formal session of the conference
was preceded by a reception Tuesday
night at which there was a program
of music and speeches, followed by re
freshments, served by the ladies in
the church parlors. Music was ren
dered by Prof. Waddles’ Concert La
dies badn.
The conference formally opened
Wednesday morning at 8:30 with Bish
op Keeney presiding. The opening
service was the Holy Communion. Or
ganization and memorial services fol
lowed. The welcome addresses were
delivered by the Rev. W. F. Botts and
the Rev. Clyde Clay Cissell, D. D.,
with a response by the Rev. N. J.
Jonhson. The afternoon session was
devoted to statistics and the Board of
Pension Relief. Rev. C. R. Ross pre
sided and the Rev. E. M. Jones was
the speaker. Wednesday night an ex
cellent address was delivered by Dr.
L. H. King, editor of the Southwest
ern Christian Recorder. He discussed
the dangers of Nationalism, Material
ism, Denominationalism and Pigmet
ism, and made an impressive appeal
for racial unity and team work.
Three sessions are held daily and a
full program covering various phases
of church work keeps the conference
busy. The conference will close Sun
day night with the reading of appoint
ments. Sunday morning at 11 Bishop
Keeney will be the preacher, in the
afternoon at 2:30 Rev. N. J. Johnson
will preach and ordinations will be
conducted.
ALLURING BEAUTIES WIN PRIZES I
A FEW OF THE STATE
AND NATIONAL
WINNERS!
1. Miss Oklahoma (Min Alma Berry). 2. Miss Columbia (Min Gladys Randolph).
3. Miss Graves, of Ohio. 4. Miss New York (Miss Edna Young). 5. Miss Golden Brown of
America (Miss Leggett). 6. Miss Iowa (Miss G. Lorena Mann). 7. Miss Wisconsin (Miss
Lina Gray). 8. Miss Ohio (Miss Mabel Peoples). 9. Miss California (Mrs. Armantha Ken
nedy.)
PIONEER CITIZEN IS
SUMMONED BY DEATH
Mrs. Ella Reed Dillard Passes Away
at Residence—Was Bom Here—
•Had Been in Poor Health
for Some Time
Ella Reed Dillard, wife of Luther
J. Dillard, died at the family resi
dence, 501 South Twenty-fourth ave
nue, 2:30 Friday morning. Although
she had been in poor health for about
five years, Mrs. Dillard was only con
fined to her bed since Monday. Mrs.
Dillard who was bom in Omaha in
1867 was the last member of the fam
ily of the late Jeremiah Reed, one of
Omaha’s earliest colored pioneers.
Prior to her invalidism Mrs. Dillard
was very active in social and philan
thropic affairs. She loved to enter
tain and her home was the scene of
many pleasant social affairs. Having
musical and dramatic ability she took
part in many successful entertain
ments of this character. The funeral
was held from the Episcopal Church
of St. Philip the Deacon, Monday
afternoon at 2:30, interment being in
the family plot in Prospect Hill ceme
tery. The pallbearers were Messrs. T.
P. Mahammit, Alphonso and Maynard
L. Wilson, G. D. Gordon, iosiah Brown
and T. Smith. Rev. John Albert Wil
liams officiated. Deceased is survived
by her husband and one son, Bertrand.
ENTERTAINS FOR
CALIFORNIA GUEST
Mrs. W. H. Robinson entertained
at a beautifully appointed luncheon
at her residence, 2124 Lake street,
Saturday in honor of her house guest,
Mrs. Marian P. Panky of Oakland,
Calif., and Mrs. Thomas H. Slater of
Atlanta, Ga. The guest were seated
at sight at small tables, which were
artistically decorated in colors sug
gestive of Hallowe’en. After luncheon
the afternoon was spent playing whist.
The first prize was won by Mrs. Jas.
G. Jewell; second, Mrs. Veraice Lee;
the booby by Mrs. A. G. Edwards.
The guest prizes were awarded to
Mrs. Panky and Mrs. Slater. Other
out of town guests were: Mrs. Owen
Jones of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. A. F.
Wells of Dallas, Tex.; Miss Iona
Stewart of Minneapolis, and Mrs.
Frankie Givens of Kansas City, Mo.,
and Mrs. B. E. Wilson of Wichita,
Kans.
GIVES *50 FOR N. A. A. C. P.
PUBLICITY IN FOREIGN PRESS
R. L. McDougald, of the Mechanics
and Farmers Bank in Durham, N. C.,
has given *60 to the National Associ
ation for the Advancement of Colored
People to be used in supporting the
publicity obtained in the newspapers
of foreign countries.
Of recent years N. A. A. C. P. re
ports on lynching and other phases of
race relations have been published
throughout Europe and South Amer
ica.
Dr. Amos B. Madison who was se
riously injured Monday night, Octo
ber 6, by an automobile at Twenty
fourth and Grant streets, has suffi
ciently recovered to be able to be re
moved to his home, 2206 North Twen
ty-seventh street, where he is con
valescing. He left the Swedish Mis
sion Hospital Saturday.
An interesting program was ren
dered Sunday afternoon at the reg
ular Sunday meeting of the Omaha
Chapter Universal Negro Improve
ment Association and African Com
munities League at the Interdenomi
national church, Twenty-sixth and
Franklin streets. The band rendered
selections. Members were enrolled.
Continuance of meeting was an
nounced. —Louis little.
PRIZES OFFERED FOR
BEST JOURHALISTIC
LITERARY PRODUCTS
Opportunity Magazine la Encouraging
Literary Craftsmanship in Race
Newspapers by Series
of Awards
RACE PRESS POWER GROWING
Editorials as a Rule Are Always In
teresting and Frequently
Brilliant and Com
pelling
New York—(By the Associated Ne
gro Press.)—Opportunity Magazine
which is announcing in its October is
su a series of awards for constructive
journalism to be given to the papers
who have the finest editorials, news
stories, and feature articles during a
period of time to be designated, plans
these awards “to bring to the atten
tion of the world at large those splen
did qualities of literary craftsmanship
which frequently go unnoticed in the
Negro Press.” Editor Charles John
son states that “the winning editori
als, news stories, and features will be
placed in a new prominence, and their
message as well as their skillful hand
ling pittled against the best that the
white press can offer”. The follow
ing editorial in October “Opportun
ity” explains the purpose behind the
awards:
“The Negro weekly press is today
one of the most important agencies
for the forming of opinion among Ne
groes. It expresses their desires and
grievances, their philosophies and '
their faiths. For this group it is the
fourth estate, no less powerful than
that institution to which Edmund
Burke addressed himself. It can in
spire, foster and create movements;
it can ruin them. The Federation of
Colored Women’s Clubs of New York,
under the sturdy and inspiring lead
ership of Mrs. Addie W. Hunton, has
shown a rare discernment in direct
ing its attention to the press, and
combining with the ideal of competent
craftsmanship that of inter-racial
peace and understanding.
There are perhaps more Negro writ
ers in this field than in any other, and
incentives to the highest standard of
production are not always present.
More attention needs to be paid to
the editorials of this press. Always
they are interesting, and, not infre
quently, they are brilliant and com
pelling. The prizes offered are in rec
ognition of the latent existence of
literary competence in a field where
improved technique can register In
definite social returns. They, also,
are the seeds of a living monument to
inter-racial good will for which we
all are working, and to which end the
press itself can, perhaps, contribute
most.”
N. A. A. C. P. NATIONAL
LEGAL CHAIRMAN FOR
DEFENSE OF SWEET
New York.—Arthur B. Spingarn,
vice-president of the National Asso
ciation for the Advancement of Col
ored People and chairman of its legal
committee, has gone to Detroit, ac
companied by Assistant Secretary
Walter White, to confer with the De
troit Branch of the N. A. A. C. P.,
and local counsel for the defense of
Dr. O. H. Sweet, Mrs. Sweet and nine
other defendants, held in charges of
murder for defending Dr. Sweet’s
home from a mob.
In the meantime Mrs. Sweet was re
leased from prison on $10,000 bail,
bail bond being furnished by local col
ored citizens, Mr. and Mrs. Jack W.
Johnson, and Dr. L. Thomas, through
the intermediary of the Detroit N. A.
A. C. P.
One of the most prominent lawyers
in the United States has signified hie
willingness to be associated with the
case. His name will be proposed to
local counsel and the N. A. A. C. P.
Branch in Detroit and will be made
public when arrangements have been
completed.
RACE GIRL POSES AS
MODEL FOR ARTIST
The first race girl in Omaha to pose
for Negro art exhibit in AqaOa
Court is Miss lone Lewis. She la a
graduate of the Famam school and
sophomore of Central High scbooL
Miss Lewis is the daughter of Mrs.
Effie McClure.