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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1926)
e®! The Monitor m 8 _ ? NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS w THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. 12.00 a Year—5c £ py_OMAHA, NEBRASKA. APRIL 10, 1926._Whole Number 557._Vol. XI.—No. 39 NEGROES WITHOUT PASSES JAILED WHITEi RAPIST OF COLORED CHILD IS DECLARED IHSANE Charles Merchant, Scion of Wealthy Parents, Charged With Heinous Crime, Committed To Asylum. KENTUCKY JUSTICE TWOFOLD Apparently Has One Standard For White Criminals And Another For Hlack Charged With Like Crimes. Lexington, Ky.— (By The Associat ed Negro Press). Kentucky pulled an entirely new stunt here Thursday when without precedence in the an nals of jurisprudence, the trial of Charles Merchant, a white man, •harged with raping an eleven-year •Id colored girl, was halted and a lunacy probe held which “proved the rapist to be of unsound mind" and or dered committed to the Eastern State ■ospitul for the Insane. The eyes of the entire state and perhaps of the nation were focused •n this trial and it was the eonscen sus of opinion that not only was Mer •hant on trial hut “Kentucky Justice” was on trial. The action of the •ourt, however, proved that there was one kind of justice for white arid another for Negroes. The interest in the trial was due largely to the recent trial and convic tion of Ed Harris, a Negro who was •Larged with assauting a white wo mun and murdering a white man. So intense was the feeing against Harris that It was necessary to place a cor don of troops armed with machine guns, tanks, and tear gas bombs to prevent him from being lynched. With troops parading the streets and walking post around the courthouse, Hams was tried and convicted in ex actly sixteen minutes ami a few days Inter was executed. The insanity plea n cant nothing. The scene at the trial of Merchant, . who is the son of a wealthy contrac tor and builder, was entirely differ ent. No troops were in sight. Every thing was quiet and the court was permitted to make its deliberations without fear of interruption. Though the feeling was tense on account of the heinous crime that had been com mitted, the members of the race to which the outraged girl belonged, felt that justice would be meted out to her assailant. This belief was short-lived as in the midst of the trial the prosecuti ig attorney called for a lunacy inquest which was granted and four psychi atrists testified that the white rapist was of unsound mind and the judge, R. C. Stoll, ordered Merchant to con finement in the State Sanitarium for the insane. The judge, of course, made it plain that an insane man was not subject to punishment but that Merchant would be watched closely ami if his sanity returned he would be held ac countable for the crime which he had committed. So determined was the family of the man to liberate him or save his neck, that the whole family was dragged through the mire to prove that a streak of Insaniy ran through the family. The decision of the court was a keen disappointment to Negro citi sens and the scattering of whites who desired to see justice win over preju dice. 6976 IN HIGH SCHOOL. Raleigh, N. C.,—With 249,952 pu pils in the elementary schools, only 6,976 were enrolled in the colored high schools of the State. Statistics found 826 colored child ren over 21 years of age still in pub lic schools. One hundred fourteen of them are still taking work in the sev enth grade. HAMPTON AND TUSKEGEE GET ANOTHER MILLION NEW YORK, (ANP) — Probating •f the will of the late Mrs. Anna M. Richardson H arkness who died last Monday at the age of 88, discloses legacies of $750,000 and $590,000 for Hampton and Tuskegee, respectively. ELKS HOLD TWENTIETH MEMORIAL SERVICES AT BAPTIST CHURCH Last Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, headed by Desdunes’ famous band which was divided into two divisions, Iroquois Lodge No. 52, of Omaha, Count Wilkinson, Exalted Ruler; Cherokee Temple No. 223 of Omaha; and Cornhusker Lodge, No. 679, of Lincoln, I. B. P. O. E. W., to the number of about 400 marched from their ball, at Twenty-second and Cuming street, to Mt. Moriah Baptist church, Twenty-fourth ami Ohio treet, where memorial exercises were held and the annual sermon was 1 preached by the Rev. George W. Day, pastor of the church. An interesting program, commemorative of departed member , consisting of music and the reading of “Thanatopsis’’ preceded the sermon. The antlered herd made a very fine appearance in their long parade to and from the hall. Ladies •de in autos. Two troops of Boy Scouts, 33 and 87, sponsored by the Elks, were also in the parade. Coro i ’ ker I>wige sent 60 men from Lin coln. DENIES COLOR BAR WILL BE SET UP AT HARVARD CONCORD, Mass.—Racial discrim ination Is not aimed at by the new ruling at Harvard College which re dres a candidate for admission to uhmit a photograph of himself with ■ Ms application, according to Heory Pennypacker, chairman of the Com initee on Admission. "There is absolutely no foundation to this charge," Pennypacker de clared. Harvard is merely seeking to ; obtain the best men from every point of view. Neither scholarship nor ath letics should alone be the criterion ANTI-MISCEGENATION BILL IN AFRICA CAPE TOWN, S. A.—A bill has been introduced in Parliament prohib iting intermiscegenation between European males and native females under penalty of six years in prison and 15 lashes. The bills would pro vide imprisonment without lashes for the woman. Native female means ar.iy female, both of whose parents were or are natives. This act does not apply to colored people. KAFFIR INTEIJJGENCK NOT SO LOW — CAPETOWN, S. A.—There is not a great deal of difference between Europeans and native Kaffirs accord ing to intelligence tests made by N. | Reyham, white, professor of I’schy ! chology at Capetown University. According to Prof. Reyham, the commonly held view that the native topped developing earlier than the European is fallacious. The tests ap plied were reasoning tests and not the ordinary intelligence tests and many Kaffirs made an average score higher han that of the Europeans. I ALL RACKS TAKK PART IN LABOR SOCIAL Boston, Mass.—In a medley of labor oratory, jazz music, and old-time games, workers of al races and re ligions joined in the first social en tertainment of the American Negro Conference here last week. The Boston unit of the National Labor Conference was organized some time ago and was a unit growing out of the meeting of the National Negro Conference which held its session in Chicago, under the leadership of Lov ett Fort-Whiteman. The meeting which was supposed to carry out the purpose of the organization of all re ligious lines and inducing the work ers to unite in an efort to better their working and living conditions, was attended by practically all of the race groups in the city. DAYTONA, FLA.—Trustees of Daytona-Cookman Collegiate Insti tute in annual session recently changed the name to Bethune-Cook nrtn College, in honor of the presi dent and founder, Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune. EDITORIAL I Recently, and on separate occasions, we were talking with two prominent white citizens of Omaha. One is a successful business man, the other a public official. Both lire observant men. One is of Bohemian parentage, although bom and reared in this country. Why we mention this fact will subsequently ap pear. , , fttt In the course of our conversation the first gentleman said, with most apparent earnestness and sincerity, “We certainly ought to have some colored teachers in our public schools, as sev eral other cities have. Justice and fair play demand this. Your people are entitled to it. You are good citizens and taxpayers and contribute to the welfare of our city. You are holding up high ideals of character and education to your chidren and many, of your parents are making sacrifices to give their children ex cellent educations; and that you have young men and women who measure up to the standard required for teachers cannot be de- j nied. I don’t think Mr. Beveridge is prejudiced, but ! think he! lacks courage to make appointments of this character because he , thinks it would be impolitic to do so. IF YOU CAN GET THE COLORED PEOPLE TO UNITE AND STICK TOGETHER THEY CAN GET WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO. IT WILL THEN BE IMPOLITIC TO REFUSE YOU. THERE’S j WHERE YOUR CHIEF WEAKNESS AND TROUBLE LIES, AS I SEE IT.” The second gentleman said, “The colored people in this city have about three times as many votes as the Bohemians, and yet when it comes to a policy which vitally affects the colored people, they permit themselves to be split up into two or three fac tions, while the Bohemians vote solid and that’s why they get some place and the colored people get left. When the colored people learn to unite and strike together in matters where their interests are at stake, they’ll get somewhere; and it’s up to men like vou to GET YOUR PEOPLE TO SEE THIS. IT’S A MIGHTY BIG AND DISCOURAGING JOB, BUT A JOB THAT’S GOT TO BE DONE.” These two men, one unactuated by any ulterior or selfish motive, as he is not a candidate for any office, neither does he expect to be; the other, perhaps actuatd by motives, more or less selfish and personal, being a candidate for political office, accur ately and scientifically diagnosed our local racial malady which is hurrying us to economic, industrial, civic and political death. Listen, then, again to these voices twain which proclaim the same message: “When the colored people learn to unite and strike together in matters where their- interests are at stake, they’ll get some where.” “If you cun pret the colored people to unite and stick togethei they can get what they are entitled to.” This shows that observant people of the dominant group rec ognize one of our outstanding causes of weakness, and recognizing it, exploit and commercialize it, to our disadvantage. \V hat others see about us why cannot we also see about ourselves? Knowing the fatal disease that affects us, why do we delay in using the only i remedy which will check the malady and place us on the road to health ? The remedy is racial loyalty, racial unity, racial unani- j inity and co-operation in all matters where vital and peculiar in-1 terests of our own people are at stake and whole-hearted co-opera tion and helpfulness in civic and community interests. For God s . sake, men and women of Omaha, let us apply the remedy, before it is too late, for we are losing ground, and unless we take the medi cine prescribed, a liberal dose of determined, united purpose ano action, the time of our dissolution as potential factors in American citizenship, with all its rights, privileges, opportunities and re sponsibilities, draws near. SIKI’S SLAYER INDICTED. NEW YORK (Ry A. I*.)—Martin Maroney, 18-year-old laborer, has been indicted for first degree murder in connection with the shooting last December of I^ouis Pahl, Sengalese boxer, known as "Battling Siki." FLOWERS WILL FIGHT CANS AT WILKES-BARRE. APRIL 16 WILKES-BARRE, PA. — Tiger Flowers, middleweight champion of the world, Monday was signed by the Armory Athletic Club for a ten-round decision fght here with Joey Gang on April 16. This will be Flowers’ first battle since winning the title from Harry Greb. NEW GROCERY STORE DOING GOOD BUSINESS The Golden Rule Grocery is the name of a new, well-stocked busi ness enterprise which opened Satur day at 2120 North Twenty-fourth street It is a co-operative enterprise which owes its origin to A. Hender son, who called a few friends together and interested them in the plan. The officers of the company are: A. Hen derson, president; J. S. Harris, vice pesident; J. W. Dacus, secretary and W. A. Brayboy, treasurer. T. S. Lam bert, second vice president, is man ager. The Golden Rule handles gro ceries and meats. The store is as neat and clean as a new pin, and the stock choice and fresh. The prices are the same as those charged by other stores for the same class of goods. I The store is a credit to its promoters and deserves to succeed. “BOOKER T. WASHINGTON” SOLD UNDER HAMMER FOR SUM OF $25,000 New York.—Another chapter in the history of one of the outstanding Ne gro movements that has taken p'ace in this country in the last decade was closed here last week, when the pride of the United Negro Improvement As ociation, of which Marcus Garvey, re nowned leader, iR the organizer and head—the Steamship Hooker T Wash- | ington, was sold at auction. The liner was sold to cover debts contracted by the Black Cross Navigation company. The ship, which cost $100,000, and on which nearly $50,000 was spent for improvements and repairs, was sold to Winthrop Waithe for $25,000. Waithe, an insurance agent, held a $10,000 mortgage on the ship. It was stated that only a short time before the auctioning of the liner, its owners refused $60,000 for it. MINSTER'S HOUSE IS VISITED BY BURGLARS While the Rev. George W. Day, pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist church, anti his family were attending service last Sunday night his residence, 2417 Corby street, was visited by burglars who took a bottle of perfume and a check for two dollars. KILL COLOR BAR BILL. CAPETOWN, S. A.—The segrega tion or color bar bill rejected by the Senate in the last session wag re-in troduced last week and again rejoct ed, 22 to 12. The bill would bar natives from cer tain districts and would prevent them from doing certain kinds of work. OMAHA WESTERN LEAGUERS WIN SEASON’S OPENER FROM GREGORY’S WITCHES Omaha, With Very Promising Lineup, Gets Away Very Nicely in Open ing Game at Wichita, 7 to 6. Omaha baseball fans are very elat ed over the fact that Barney’s West ern leaguers took the opening engage ment of the season from Wichita on Wednesday of this week on the latter’s home grounds. On paper and from spring exhibi tion games it appears that Omaha will be a contending factor in the pennant chase this season. Mr. Burch guarantees that he will finish well ahead of where the team did last year. \ The game Wednesday was a “pip;” | the Burches winning out in the tenth frame with a final count of 7 to 6. “Snake” Henry, new first baseman, hit a homer, double and single and O’Neill and Hallahan both snagged a | trio of hits. Great plans are already being laid for opening day at Omaha on Tues day, the 27th of this month, and once more Wichita will be the opponents. Mayor “Jim” will be on hand to toss the first ball, and has or will declare a half holiday so that all loyal fans may travel out to the Vinton street lot, to get a good look at Barney’s team. Very few of the old faces will be seen on the field this year as Burch let out the greater number of men on last year’s team, and Bailey and Har ries, pitchers on whom Burch had fig ured strongly, will be denied the team this year because of illness and in juries. Make your plans to attend many ■ games this season. Better baseball is promised you, and your support is ' very necessary. A loyally supported club plays great ball—so let’s have a great team. Fans and players must pull together BIG JOB IS AWARDED NEGRO CIVIL ENGINEER DES MOINES, la.,—A contract for a $288,000 job on the installation of a new $700,000 heating and power plant at the University of Iowa, has i I A. A. Alexander. been awarded Archie A. Alexander, colored civil engineer and graduate of Iowa College of Engineeing and Architecture. About two years ago, Mr. Alexan der completed a contract for the wid ening of the Sixth avenue bridge which spans the Des Moines river. Recently he handled the construction of a concrete tunnel costing $80,000 for the University of Iowa. Dung his twelve years in business Mr. Alexander has acquired engineer ing equipment worth over $60,000, and it is estimated that he has com pleted over a million dollars worth of work ranging from paving con tracts to building bridges. Mr. Alexander and his wife occupy one of the most beautiful mansions in this city. He is a member of the Roosevelt Club and one of the found ers of the Omega chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in this city. Mr. M. A. McGee and Massy Avant gave a surprise birthday party last Friday in honor of Miss Virginia Wynn. OLD SLAVERY CODE PUT IN OPERATION IN FLORIDA TOWN Ordinance Prohibits Negroes From Being on Streets After Night Fall Without Pass. Is Unjust. COLORED CITIZENS ASK RELIEF Have Submitted to This Iniquitous and High-Handed Provision for Years Without Lodging Protest. New York — Colored citizens of Daytona Beach, Florida, have sent to the National Asociation for the Ad j vancement of Coloerd People, a copy of a petition submitted to the mem bers of a petition submitted to the I members of the local city commission asking the lawmakers of Halifax County to relieve the colored people i of the necessity for carrying a pass or I facing arrest if they are out after dark. The petition sent to the N. A. A. C. P. recites: “For a number of years there has been a city ordinance i:i force across the river in what was previously known as Daytona Beach, prohibiting the free movement of colored citizens after nightfall. By the provision of this ordinance, no colored person from this side of the river can go across the bridge to Daytona Beach, and no one on the other side can come to this side without a pass issued by the bridge keeper. Further than this, col ored people employed in families and hotels on the other side have been arrsted and fined for being on the streets at night. The men and women working on the other side are wholly deprived of pleasure and recreation by this un-American and unheard-of regulation. Their churches, their lodges, their social outlets are all on this side. They cannot come to them without either the humiliation of get ting a pass or the fear of arrest if they fail to do so. The enforced de privation of recreation is affecting the temper and efficiency of a group of otherwise cheerful and efficient work ers.” The colored citizens ask relief from this condition ‘not as a favor but as our right as American citizens.” OPPOSE STATUE OF REBELS IN CAPITOL Washington, D. C—Local branch of the N. A. A. C. P. has filed a protest with the architect of the United States Capitol against the proposal to place a statue of Alexander H. Stevens, vice president of the confederacy, in Statu ary Hall. The statue of Robert E. Lee, rebel [ leader, was placed in the capitol sev 1 ( ral years ago. Referring to the Stat 1 uary Hall, N. H. Thtfmas, president j of the Association, said: “The many illustrious Negroes who [ ahve rendered distinguished service in I every noble endeavor in our country’s i history have no place there, and we feel that in glorifying our worse ene mies the nation discourages patriot ism and self-forgetful service. ELECTED TO COUNCIL. Washington, D. C.—Dr. George H. Richardson, Northeast Public Interest Association and George T. Benson «f the Georgetown Civic Association, were re-elected to the Citizens’ Advis ory Council by the Federation of Citi zens’ Association last week. The coun cil consists of nine members. Seven are white. NAMED ASSISTANT ATTORNEY. St. Louis, Mo.—George B. Jones, 25 years ago only a janitor in ths ' court house, was promoted last week to assistant circuit attorney at a sal ary of $3,600 a year. He studied law through correspondence. FLOWERS AT $1,750. New York—Tiger Flowers, middle weight champion of the world, was booked as an added attraction at the Chelsea theatre last week at a re ported salary of $1,7501