Nebraska Newspapers

    -p”" The Monitor
| \ NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
% * • , THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
-- f» .... __......
*2’fl< | iir—~,( a C°Py . _OMAHA. NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1B2K Whole Number !§48 VoI-XI-No. 28
__•_
DELEGATION WAITS
ON SENATOR BUTLER
WITH DEFINITE AIM
Demand That National Republican
Chairman Esc Ilia Influence
to Abolish Segregation
in Federal Service
SENATOR RECEIVES \ SHOCK
Amazed When Advised That Proviso
Contained in President's Message
Regarded as Hostile to
Negro Race
Boston, Mass. A sensational turn
was given to an audience with Sen.
VV. M. Butler in his Boston offices
by a delegation representing the Na
tional Equal Rights League and the
Greater Boston Ministerial Alliance
which again was asking the Nation
al Republican Chairman to stop feder
al segregation, when Attorney Edgar
P. Benjamin told Sen. Butler that
the proviso in the President's re
cent 'message about not interfering
with the usages of enlightened society
meant no interference with Southern
rare proscription.
Mr. Benjamin, eminent lawyer and
local bank president, is the donor of
the 25 dollars in gold first prise ot
fered by the league for the best
race slogan under 16 words received
before Fob. 1st at its headquarters,
9 Cornhili, based on 1926 as the 160th
anniversary year of the Declaration of
Independence which promised equali
ty, life and liberty. Hon. Wm. H.
Lewis, ex-assistant U. S. Attorney
General donates a ten dollar gold
piece Or the second best fighting
slogan. Mr. Benjamin was support
ed by Rev. D. S. Klugh, chairman
of the delegation, Rev. W. Swain,
vice-president of the league and
spokesman for the Ministerial Alli
ance, Attorney Albert G. Wolff, local
league secretary, Mrs. Hester Jef
frey. Col. E. B. Barco of the K. P.,
Rev. C. C. Somerville, Rev. J. W.
Hill, Lawrence Banks and Rev. It.
S. Pitman. Secretary Trotter was at
home sick.
Sen. Butler insisted the President’s
message was misuunderstood. He had
hi secretary bring in a copy of the
message, lie said the .false inter
pretation would bo counteracted.
Chairman Klugh, Rev. Mr. Swain,
Col. Barco and iMr. Benjamin de
clared the race had lost its patience
wailing for the President to abolish
segregation. They hail road and pre
sented a detailed specification of
where segregation existed prepared
by the league's national recording
secretary, James L. Neill of Wash
ington, Chairman Butler reiterated
his opposition to segregation and so
impressed the delegation that they
will riot be surprised if something
is done.
COLORED VETS SEEK I’OSTS
Washington—Traffic in far-off Li
beria, according fo the African
World, is producing vehicular aim
pedestrian problems among the na
tives, requiring the appointment of
a traffic director and native police.
The situation has arisen througn lu
cent landing at Monrovia of hun
dreds of automobiles and trucks for
use on the Firestone rubber planta
tions. Hard surface roads are being
constructed to connect twenty centers
of operation, one from Marshall to
Monrovia already being completed.
From an • timated Liberian popula
tion of 2,000,000, Harvey Firestone,
Jr., has anticipated an ample sup
ply of labor. Direction of enlarged
constabulary and police forces is be
ing sought by former colored of
ficers of the Ninety-second and Nine
ty-third divisions of the American
expeditionary forces.
COLUMBIAN HISTORIC AL BRIEFS
In 1870 it was held in Strauder vs.
West Virginia, that a colored citizen
(male) had the right to serve on
juries.
Prenumerera pa Monitor!
CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY GETS
COSTLY TANNER PAINTING
Orangeburg, S. C.—(A. N. P.)
Claflin University has secured a
par. ting Ijj the famous American
artist, Henry O. Tanner, who hank:
among the great artists, not only
of America, hut of the world. A
picture by Mr. Tanner was purchas
ed by the French Government and
was hung in Louvre Museum. It re
pp* ,*nts the raising of Lazarus. An
ether painting by Mr, Tanner, ‘‘Dan
iel in the Lions’ Den.” may be found
in the Philadelphia Art Gallery. Tne
Chicago Art Institute has his “I’oter
and John at the Torrjb of Christ.”
The Metropolitan Art Museum of
Ne York City, which is the great
est of all art museums, has rccent
I; placed upon its walls a picture
by Mr. Tanner, “Sodom and Gomor
rah," representing Lot and his two
d ughior. escaping from the fire and
brimstone of the Lord, showing the
figures of Lot and his slaughters in
the foreground with their faces set
away from the destruction behind
them. In the background lie depicts
eething, convoluted mass of
smoke.
The picture which Claflin has se
< up* I is a marine view, representing
the rising of a storm. It is something
on the order of the picture which
nas recently been secured by im*
Metropolitan Art Museum of New
York City. In one, this expression
of terrific elemental power is ex
pressed in water, and in the other
through fire. The Claflin picture is
a masterpiece by one of the world's,
greatest masters. It is worth at least
000.
It was possible for them to secure
this picture through the assistance
of Bishop yartzell, who was the
friend and patron of Mr. Tanner in
the i arly years of his struggle. Bi
shop Hartzell had the picture in his
possession, and because of his pre
vious relations to this work he desir
ed to have one of Mr. Tanner’s pic
tures at Claflin.
This is not the only valuable paint
ing owned by Claflin. A portrait of
Roliert Gould Shaw, painted by the
great Negro artist, Bannister, who
livid many years ago, hangs in the
Iw-Mutifill Lee library, besides anoth
er painting by Mrs, L. M. Dunton,
who is an artist of more than oritt
miry ability. Great credit is due Mrs.
Dunttm for the iiuality of the con
tribution which she made to Claflin
University. Being herself a woman
of high culture and extraordinary
attainment . she contributed liberally
not only to the academic, religious and
moral life of the school, hut to the
aesthetic and cultural life as welt. |
And now there is at Claflin this nuc
leus of art treasure.
V VOICE FROM THE SOI Til
Washington—Commenting upon the
political problems of the Negro, Edi- j
tor J. H. Watson, in a recent issue;
of the Supreme Circle News, puo-j
lished in Albany, Georgia, says: j
“Politically, the Negro is not even
holding his own; he has been slip-!
ping backward for the past decade;
and it is because he does not inter
est himself sufficiently to qualify;
and participate in matters political.
He has no political program, and is
never found a unit on any proposi
tion. Yet he swears the Republicans
have betrayed him and the Demo
crats would destroy him, and RESTS
HIS CASE THERE."
| $20,000 IOR ORPHAN’S HOME
.Winston-Salem, N. C.—(A. N. P.)
As the result of a gift of $20,000
ifrom an unknown donor, the Memor
j ial Industrial School, an institution
for the care of orphans, is soon to
be moved to a new and more suitable
site. The new location, which was
purchased with the money provided
in the gift, comprises 386 acres lo
cated on a new highway north of
the city. The school will Ire situated
on a commanding ridge, with a splen
did view of the surrounding mount
ains. The name of the institution’s
Is-ncfactor was withheld at his own
request. ,
Large Audience Hears Talk
By Colored Chicago Judge!
» s' C3 O
Tl .SKECEE FUND WINS
EASTMAN’S $2,000,000
New York Clarence 11. Kelsey, Chair
man of llie executive committee of the
Hampton Ttiskegee Endowment Fund cam
paign, announced last week that the 9.V
000.000 required to lie raised or pledged
hy December 31st in order to meet the
conditions under which George Eastman
offered to add $2,000,000 more, has heen
obtained. The reasons given hy Mr. East
man for his gilt have appealed to the
public and it has responded in the sum of
more than 10,000 subscriptions, running
from gifts of $1 each from some of the
colored graduates, to siijufi riptions of
¥250.000 each from five different individ
uals, lopped off hy a $1.000,0(H) gilt lrom
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., matching the
-1,0in 1.000 pledge with which the General
Education Board inaugurated the cam
paign. llie endowment fund campaign was
undertaken hy these schools in order that
their fields of usefulness might he ex
tendcd,and their principals, Drs. Gregg
and Moton, given more time for neces
-ary administrative work. The south was
organized with headquarters in Atlanta.
Muny well-known southerners took active
part in making the campaign a success
and countless new friends were made for
the cause. The alumni of the schools rais
ed more than $200,000. The hope of the
race lies in the wide extension of the in
fluence and efficiency of these two srhools
and the multiplication of their graduates
until they reach all the colored people of
the South and show the way to the prop
er type of schooling for colored youth
everywhere and the white youth as well.
Mr. Rockefeller said, in making his great
gift, “It is not only for our own land—
it is for all lands that these represent
ative American schools of hand and
brain ifinl charaactet art b'azlcg the
trail.”
ST. PHILLIP’S CHURCH
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
Reports Head From Various Organi
zations Shows Congregation is
in Prosperous and Growing
Condition
The annual parish or congrega
tional meeting of the Church of St.
Philip the Deacon was held in the
Guilil Rooms Thursday night . Re
ports were received from the var
ious organizations, which included
the Church School, Women’s Auxi
liary, Girls’ Friendly Society, junior
an l Henior branches, the Kagles’ Club
and the church treasurer. The reports
all showed a successful year and a
steady growth. The receipts totaled
approximately $2,700, all raised by
voluntary offerings and pledges, with
the exception of $150 from sales of
useful and fancy articles and Christ
mas cards. A budget of $2,500 was
adopted for 1026 and it was unani
mously voted to organize and incor
porate as a parish, the meeting for
this official action being appointed
for Monday evening, January 25.
The election of wardens and vestry
men was deferred until that time.
Delegates and alternates to the an
i nual diocesan council which convenes
l in Trinity Cathedral, Wednesday and
Thursday of next week, were elected.
I They are 13ergt. Isaac Hailey and
William G. Haynes, delegates; B. B.
Cowan and Dr. Herl>ert Wiggins, al
ternates.
The Women’s Auxiliary held its an
nual meeting Thursday afternoon at
the residence of Mrs. J. F. Smith,
2027 Manderson street, and elected
the following officers: Mrs. John A.
Williams, president; Mrs. Isaac Bai
ley, vice-president; Mrs. J. F. Smith,
secretary; Mrs. Clarence H. Single
ton, treasurer; Mrs. Jasper F. Brown,
treasurer united thank offering; Mrs.
C. II. Hicks, custodian of supply box.
All pledges and obligations were re
ported paid with a substantial bal
ance in the treasury, from which it
was voted to add $50 to the sinking
fund.
Mr. and Mrs. George Watson en
tertained at dinner at their home,
2716 North Twenty-eighth avenue,
last Thursday, complimentary to Mrs.
Thomas Riggs, of Chicago, formerly
of Omaha; and Mrs. Ben Grayson of
Battle Creek, Mich., guest of Mrs.
T. P. Mahammitt. Covers were laid
for seven.
MICHIGAN SUPREME
COURT HANDS DOWN
IMPORTANT DECREE
Court Holds That Insertion of Clauses
Forbidding Sale of Property
to Any But Caucasians
is Invalid
—
DECISION FAR REACHING ONE
—
Bears Directly Upon Wide-Spread
Effort to Restrict Negroes in
Ownership and Occupancy
of Property
Lansing, Mich.—The Michigan Su
preme Court has handed down an
important and far-reaching decision
that will be viewed with interest by
Negroes throughout tlie country, it
being to the effect that restrictions
1 made against the sale of property to
Negroes op account of color were
invalid.
Tliis decision is particularly im
; portant in view of the widespread
activities on the part of whites to
exclude Negroes from so-called whitte
residential districts by inserting
clauses in contracts forbidding the
sale of the property to anyone not
of the Caucasian race. By this de
ree on the part of the Supreme
Court, all such contracts are void
in the State of Michigan.
While this opinion is favorable to
the colored citizens of Michigan and
I the country, it is pointed out that
i the decision does not touch upon the
occupancy of premises on which re
strictions haive been placed, wmch
has been the bone of contention in
] the many cases throughout the coun
try.
i ne suit in question was brought
by Porter and Wyman, Muskegon real
estate dealers, against Wilbratt and
Auxilie Barrett, white, and Wilson
Robinson, a Negro who purchased the
property involved.. Porter and Wy
man had sold the lot to Louis Par
ent, white, who in turn sold it to
the Barretts. The contracts in both
cases specified that the property
should not be sold to Negroes upon
penalty of the lots and all improve
ments reverting to the real estate
concern. Upon the sale of the prop
erty to Robinson, Porter and Wy
man immediately brought suit in Cir
cuit Court and a verdict was given
in favor of the defendants. This de
cision was affirmed by (the State
Supreme Court on the appeal of the
plaintiffs.
Justice Fellows, in writing his opin
ion, says, “We must bear in mind
that we are not dealing with a re
straint on the use of the premises.
Such restraints, unless unreasonable,
have quite uniformly been upheld.
Before the sale of intoxicating liquor
was prohibited this court and prac
tically every court of last resort in
the Union upheld restraints of the
use of premises for its manufacture
or sale. Such restraint upon the
USE was uniformly upheld; but would
a restraint on SALE of premises to
one who was engaged in the sale
of intoxicating liquors elsewhere be
valid ? I think not.”
TRY YOUR LUCK
AND USE YOUR BRAIN
The National Equal Rights League
i is offering two prizes, one of $25
j and another of $10 for the best slogan
j expressing the race’s demand for
I equal rights in this sesqui-centennial
i year of the declaration of indepen1
; dence of the American nation. Here
j is a good chance for our readers,
j old and young, to use their brains and
try their luck. Think out a good slo
gan and send it to theNational Equal
Rights League, Boston, Mass.
Mrs. Julia Embry of Colorado
Springs, Colo., who has been the
house guest of Mrs. Augustus Hicks,
3012 Miami street, left Wednesday
for Kansas City and Chicago. Mrs.
Embry was the recipient of many
social attentions during her visit
here.
Mrs. Minnie Singleton of St. Louis,
Mo., is the guest of Mrs. Nellie Van
Zant, 1313 North Twenty-sixth street.
A good sized audience welcomed
Judea Albert B. George of Chicago!
who spoke last Friday night at St.
John's A. M. E. (hhrch hnder the
auspices of the Negro Business and j
Professional Men’s Club, Charles
Solomon, president.
Ur Aaron M. McMillan was intro
duced as master of ceremonies by
the president of the club, who in
turn announced the program which;
consisted of the singing of “Ameri
ca," by the audience; invocation by I
the Rev. J. H. Ellis, pastor of the
Grove M. E. church; a solo by Mrs.
Russell tReese; introduction of the
speaker by the Rev. C. A. Williams
pastor of St. John's; the address by
Judge George; a violin solo by Clar
ence Desdunes and the benediction
by tile Rev. W. F. Botts, pastor of
Zion Baptist church.
Judge George in his adddress tout
the lory of his election to a judge
hip in Chicago, which was accom
pli bed by the race standing unitedly
behind him and making certain de
mand' of the Republican party po
the effect that if they expected the
ran vote they must support theii
judicial candidate. This demand could
«n'y be made effective because the
me in Chicago was united under a
i; mg leadership. The party organi
zation played fair and consequently
hf was elected.
Passing from this the speaker gave
a imple, practical talk stressing the
importance of racial and inter-ra
cial cooperation, emphasizing the
fact that no community in America
can succeed without such coopera
lion. He plead for thorough prepar
ation upon the part of our people
so as to be ready when opportunity
comes.
Preceding the address there was
a_ banquet complimentary to Judge
George held in the dining room of
thi- church at which brief addresses
wer made by Charles Solomon, Dr.
L. H. Britt, Attorney D. H. Oliver,
Mi Kate Wilson anti Judge George.
Defense Fund Reaches Goal
New York,—Announcement was
made January 8 by James Weldon
Johnson, secretary of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People that the advanced
goal of $65,000 for a Defense Fund
to help secure legal rights of color
e l people had been reached and pass
ed, To noon of that day there had
been received at the National Office
of the Association a total of $37,
457.73 to which is added the original
contribution from the American
Fund for Public Service (the Garland
Fund) of $5,000 which brings the
cash actually received to $42,475,73.
The Garland Fund at its regular
meeting on Jan. 6 received Mr, John
son’s report and voted not only to
pay over to the Association the $15,
000 rt had originally agreed to pay
if the Association should raise thirty
thousand dollars hut and additiona’
sum of $6,552.79. To the total is to
he added an additional check for $1,
000 from Julius Hosenwald which he
agreed to give on the raising of the
second $24,000 by the Association.
The full accounting therefore is:
Total contributions received at Na
tional Office of the Association to
noon, January 8, $37,475.73; Original
contribution from the American Fund
for Public Service, $5,000.00; Addi
tional contribution from the American
Fund contingent on the raising of
$20,000, $15,000.00; further additional
contribution from the American Fund
$6,552.79; contribution from Mr.
Hosenwald contingent upon raising
the second $24,000. $1,000.00; Amount
raised by Detroit branch of the Na
tional Association for the Sweet case
disbursed locally, $6,137.64; Grand
total, $71,166.16.
“For the first time in the seven
teen years that the National Associa
lion has been in existence,” Mr. John
son said in making these figures pub
lic, “do we have anywhere nearly
adequate funds with which to render
f’kl in the many cases which co.i
tantly pour in upon us. With the
funds so generously contributed in
response to our appeal we will be
able to see (he second trial of the
Sweet case through, to pay the cost
of the segregation case in the United
States Supreme Court which is be
ing argued in Washington today, to
tarry through that same tribunal
the “white primary” case from Tex
as, anil to handle some other impor
tant but less spectacular cases now
upon us.
“And it is especially gratifying
that most of th.e contributions, save
in some notable instances of aid
from our loyal white friends, has
come from colored people themselves.
They by this response show to the
orld that they are cognizant of the
fact that things worth while (cost
money and that they are willing to
I pay the cost of the justice they seek.
To those of us here at the National
Office the attainment of our goal
means two things: it will enable us
to do important jobs that lie before
us which lack of funds have prevent
ed our doing in the past, and, second,
it serves as assurance that seventeen
years of scrupulous care and integ
rity in handling funds and of effi
ciency in doing the tasks which come
to us is appreciated by the public at
large. There ought to be an equal
sum raised each year for defense so
that the time may not be far ott
when no man or group will attack
the fundamental rights of the Ne
gro, feeling that it can be done with
impunity.
CHURCH MEMBER FOR
NINETY YEARS, DIES
Philadelphia, I*a.—(A. N. P.) The
funeral of Mrs. Mary Johnson, whose
death occurred on Sunday January
•'Ird, was held from the Union A.
M. E. church Thursday, the Rev. J.
A. llAwne, pastor, officiating. She
had been a member of Union church
for ninety years. She was bom in
New Jersey, of free parents, in 1817.
WRIOHT INVITES BANKERS
TO SES({ l! I -CENTENNIAL
Philadelphia, Pa.,—(A. N. P.) One
of the outstanding announcements in
connection with the approach of the
sesqui-centennial to be held in Phila
delphia this year is made by Presi
dent It. It. Wright, of the National
Bankers’ Association, who states that
an invitation will be extended to all
the Negro bankers of America to as
semble in this city durinf the year.
V. A. A. C. P. HOLDS ANNUAL
BUSINESS MEETING JAN. 4
Nevy York—The National Associa
tion for the Advancement of Color
ed People held its annual meeting
on Monday, January 4th, reelecting
its same board of directors, to which
i was added the name of John E. Naill,
prominent real estate operator of
Harlem.
The directors reelected were: Jane
Acdams anil Charles E. Bentley, of
Chicago; Senator Arthur Capper, of
Kansas; Robert R. Church, of Mem
phis; Charles E Russell, of Wash
ington; Maggie L. Walker, of Rich
mond; and from New York City the
following: Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop,
Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, editor of the
j Crisis; Florence Kelley, secretary of
the National Consumers’ League;
Mary White Ovington, and Herbert
1 Stockton.
Abonniert auf The Monitor