iss. The Monitor m
• NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
\ ' THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS* Editor.
$2.00 a Year—5 Cents a % v. ^ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1926 VoL XII.—No. 8 Whole Number 578
1 BP Wxm
WILSON CONFIDENT
OF RE-ELECTION TO
HERD SHIP OF ELKS
Antlered Herd Hah Had Unpr«,ce
dented Success Under Able Ad
ministration of Present Grand
Exalted Ruler.
POINTS WITH PRIDE TO RECORD
Washington, D. G.—In a statement
issued Monday by J. Finley Wilson,
the grand exalted ruler of the I. B. P.
O. E. W., who i.s a candidate to . uc
ceed himself, Mr. Wilson had the fol
lowing to say:
“Yes, I am a candidate to succeed
myself and my candidacy is based on
my record. Never since the Elks have
organized have they been in as pros
perous a condition as they are today.
When I was elected in 1922 we had
about 30,000 members and $39,186.58
in the treasury. Today we have more
than 100,000 members with more than
$100,000 in the treasury. In 1922 we.
hail 255 lodges as against 708 touay.
That the fraternity appreciate-1
this work is evidenced by the heart)’ ■
support that has been extended to i
me from all parts of the world.
Pledges of support have come to me
from sources that have heretofore
been opposed to me, and these pledge- !
have come without solicitation on my '
pait. My election will be on the first
ballot as the personal pledges of more
than 800 of the possible 1.000 dele- I
gates who will be at the convention
will indicate. As a matter of fact
at no previous grand lodge con.en
tion have I beeq in as fortunate a po
sition. There has not been any oit 1
terness or rancor in the present con
test, and unless some develops at j
Cleveland, it will be the most har- j
monious convention we have ever held j
In a few days the convention 'will j
have done Its work und immediately j
after election I shall gel busy build
ing up the order by the creation of j
new lodges and building up the old j
ones. I hope within the next year;
to establish an Elk shrine that will [
serve as a national headquarters; con
tinue the drive against ignorance
through our department of education, j
I favor the creation of the fidelity j
fund which will give the order money j
with which to help the lodges buy
their homes, and serve as a general
financial help to our growing order
As in the past, no place will be too ,
remote for me to go to build up Elk- j
dom.”
PAINTINGS OF NEGROES SHOWN
IN PARIS
Paris, ranee.—The Calorie Mantelot ;
of Paris has organized a “Negroes in I
Paris” exposition which seems likely
to becime an annual affair.
Paintings by Kvapil, Lobasque, Lou
treuil, Mam hour, and others have been
exhibited and to these will be added
some of the works of Pierre Sinard,
Madrassi, Germaine Casse and Ger
man Germaine Casse.
RAPISTS NOT NEGROES
Hollywood, Cal. — Two cowboys
working at one of the studios here
brutally assaulted Miss Olive Fern El
liot, a telephone operator. They are
Charles Westcott and John Zonigo.
Both escaped after the crime, but
Westcott was quickly captured, gave
bond, jumped it, and was rearrested
after leaving the state. He pleaded
guilty and confessed also to a similar
offense against another girl whose
assailant had heretofore been un
know. He was thought to have been
a light-oomplxioned Negro. His con
fession cleared all doubt as to that
crime and he received two years’ hard
t labor on the county chain gang for
the Fern case Zonigo was arrested
later, drawing seven months in the
county jail. After her recovery, Miss
Fern entered suit for $20,000 again
Westcott for the mistreatment, bodily
injury and humiliation. On August
* 7 Superior Judge Hazlett granted
$10,000 in judgement against them,
telling her that he was sorry he could
not order them hanged.
Bl FFALO COLORED “Y"
MADE BENEFICIARY
OF LARGE DONATION
Wealthy Miler Gives $100,000 for En
dowment Fund of Institution, Ac
complishing Important Work.
Buffulo, N. Y.—Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
B. Matthews of this city have just en
dowed the local branch (colored) of
the Young Men’s Christian Associa
tion with a fund of $100,000, the in
come from which, about $6,000 a year,
is to lie used in work among the col
ored popelation. The gift is said to
have been on condition that the asso
ciation enlarge its building plans in
anticipation of a 100 per cent increase
in the colored population of this city.
A year ago Mr. Matthews gave
$25,000 to the building fund.
The donor is president of the Niag
ara Milling company. Buffalo was
one of the principal cities to increase
its population as a result of the Ne
gro exodus from the south, the work
ers being attracted to the industries
here. For a long time very little of
social service nature was done for
, them.
DISTINGUISHED WOMEN
PAY BRIEF VISIT HERE
Miss Hallie Q. Brown, Ex-President of
National Federation, and Mrs.
Lampkin Stop Here.
l-ast Wednesday morning Miss Hal
lie Q. Brown of Wilberforec, 0., ux
president of the National Federation
of Colored Women and head of the
Colored Women’s Division of the Na
tional Republican committee; and Mrs.
Daisy E. Lumpkin, of Pittsburgh, Pa.,
secretary of the Education Fund of
the Federation, en route east from
Oakland, Cal., arrived in Omaha and
spent the day here as the guests of
the Rev. I>r. and Mrs. Charles H.
Trusty, who was Mrs. Lampkin’s pas
tor in Pittsburgh. In the evening
u reception was tendered them at the
parsonage.
This was Mrs. Lampkin's first visit
to Omaha and she was delighted with
the city. Miss Brown has visited here
frequently, her last visit being about
four years ago. She noted the rapid
progress of Omaha since her last
visit. She expressed herself as de
lighted with the fact that Nebraska
had nominated three race candidates
for- the state legislature. She said,
“Now let the people get behind them
and see that they are elected. I wish
I could be here to help you make a
good job of it. Let our women get
busy and the job will be well done.
You know I am keenly alert to the
necessity of our women taking an ac
tive and intelligent part in all pablic
affair#.”
Speaking of the National Federa
tion just held at Oakland, Cal., Miss
Brown said, ‘It was a wonderful con
vention, eminently successful from
every angle. The hospitality of the
people of California wa.- delightful.
The convention made a great impres
sion. A forward program stressing
education, the endowment of the
Douglas Home, and the providing of
national headquarters were s°me ot
the features stressed.”
The ladies left early Thursday morn
ing for their respective homes in the
east.
MEDICS TO HAVE FULL
WEEK. AUGUST 23-27
Philadelphia. Pa.—With the annual
meeting of the National Medical Associa
tion in the offing, the local physicians,
dentists and pharmacists are busily en
gaged putting the finishing touches on the
arrangements.
According to the national program, be
ginning early Monday morning, August
23, and continuing through Friday after
noon, the medics will have a full program,
comprising executive sessions, clinics and
l public meetings. Of special merest will
| he the clinics and the scientific discus
siona.
Ample clinical materal has been obtained
,11,1 many interesting cases will be pre
-ented and studied. In this phase of the
program, the local committee has received
the co-operation of the local hospitals
I
MX~X~X~X~X~X~X**X~X**X~X**X~XM?~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X»
Nebraska Civil Rights Bill
Chapter Thirteen of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska, Civil Rights
F.nacted in 1893
See. 1. Civil Rights of Persons, Ml persons within this state
shall be entitled to A full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations,
advantages, facilitA and privileges of inns, restaurants, public con
veyances, barber shops, theatres and other places of amusement; snb
f ject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and ap
J plicahle alike to every person.
| Sec. 2. Penalty for Violation of Preceding Section. Any person
X who shall violate the foregoing section by denying to any person, ex
.|. cept for reasons of law applicable to all persons, the full enjoyment of
Y any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges enum
X crated in the foregoing section, or by aiding nr inciting such denials,
•{• shall for each offense be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined
X In any sum not less than twenty-five dollars, nor more than one hun
•{• dred dollars, and pay the costs of the proseution.
:f ---
“The original art was held valid as to citizens; barber shops can
not discriminate against persons on account of color. Messenger vs.
Y State, 25 Nebr. page 677. N. W. 638.”
X “A restaurant keeper who refuses to serve a colored person with
•j* refreshments in a certain part of his restaurant for no other reason
X than that he is colored, is civilly liable, though he offers to serve him
X by setting a tahle in a more private part of the house. Ferguson vs.
Y flies, 82 Mich. 358; N. W. 718.”
%
xx~xx~xxxxx~x"xxxxxxxxx~:~x“x“x~x~x“x“x“x~x~x~x~x~x*>
EDITORIAL
NEBRASKA has a Civil Rights Bill, which is supposed to
protect the civil rights of all persons resident within the state.
It is quite comprehensive in its provisions, hut not so comprehen
j sive as it might he. Other provisions might be added which would
cover places of public service which pre not now specifically named
in the bill. This would prevent such places from escaping the
penalty of its violation by a technicality or loop-hole; for there
can be no denying'the fact as to what the intent of the law is and
that is to protect all residents of the state in all their civil rights
whether in public earners, places of nourishment and refresh
ment, hotels and inns, theatres or public places of amusement.
This is clearly the intent of the lew but places which are not
specifically named in the measure can readily claim exemption
and the plea will hold good in law.
Let us clearly understand then what falls plainlv and un
escapably within the provisions of this Civil Rights Bill.
The Statute reads as follows: “All persons within this state
shall be entitled to a full and equal enjoyment of the accommo
dations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants,
public conveyances, barber shops, theatres and other places of
amusehient; subject only to the conditions and limitations estab
lished by law and applicable alike to every person.”
This seems to us to be as plain and unequivocal as language
can make it.
“All persons within this state.” No exceptions are here
made l>ecause of race, creed or color. The word “person” means
any human being, as distinguished from an animal or any inani
mate object. Any human being, male or female, a resident of
this state, is therefore included in and protected by this designa
tory term.
“All persons within the state shall be entitled to a full and
equal enjoyment-please notice the expression ‘full and equal’—
of the accommodations” the furnishing of such things as may be
needful or convenient for comfort or well being; “facilities”, ad
vantages; “and privileges of inns”, houses of lodging and enter
tainment for travelers, hence hotels; “restaurants”, which means
cafes and eating places; ,‘public conveyances”, sufficiently clear
and specific; “barber shops, theatres and other places of amuse
ments”. All of which is very plain. These accommodations, ad
vantages and privileges are subject to cerfain “conditions and
limitations”. These conditions and limitations, however, have
nothing to do with race, creed or color. These conditions and lim
itations are ONLY such as are “ESTABLISHED BY LAW AND
APPLICABLE ALIKE TO EVERY PERSON”.
Any conditions or limitations, therefore, imposed upon any
class of citizens of Nebraska, other than those “established by
law and applicable alike to every person” are plain violations of
this Statute and expose the violator or violators of this law to its
penalties. ,
The penalty for violation of this law is thus plainly and
specifically expressed: “Any person who shall violate the fore
going section, (quoted above) by denying to any person, EXCEPT
TOR REASONS OF LAW APPLICABLE TO ALL PERSONS,
the full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages,
facilities or privileges enumerated in the foregoing section, or by
aiding or inciting such denials, shall for each offense lie deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined in any sum, not! less than
twenty-five dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars, and pay
the costs of the prosecution.”
From the growing frequency and impunity with which almost
every provision of this Statute, with the exception of that of
public conveyances, is being violated in the case of reputable col
ored citizens of this city and state, it is time to ask if this is a
mere meaningless “scrap of paper”? This can only be answered
by filing information against and insisting, without compromise
or settlement, upon the vigorous prosecution of those who violate
its provisions.
Be sure of your case before you file. Be circumspect, sane
and gentlemanly. Do not seek trouble or insult, but every time
you run into one of the places contemplated within this Statute
and are refused equal accommodations, and such places are con
stantly increasing so that one never knows when he is going to
run into refusal and discrimination, invoke the law. Know your
rights and privileges as a citizen and see that they are protected;
i because, if you do not, the day is not far distant, when those we
have will be further restricted or withdrawn. This growing vio
lation of Nebraska’s Civil Rights Bill has got to be hit and hit
hard and the place to hit it is in the Courts.
y
NEGRO PRESS ASSOCIATION
MAKES THEIR STATEMENT
NATIONAL NEGRO PRESS ASSO
CIATION MAKES STATEMENT
Philndelphia, Pa.—We, the members
of the National Negro Press associa
tion, in annual convention assembled,
desire to call the attention of the
American people to the following
message:
1. While quite a few years have
lapsed since the gigantic world war
in which the Negro played such a
conspicuous part, in the belief that
its culmination would mean the ac
tual freedom of its submerged tenth,
few of the ideals for which America
stands and for which we fought, oled
and died, have become realities. Negro
soldiers are still denied full and free
entrp into the reserve camps estab
lished for the military training of our
youth on account of their color.
This unfair discrimination we con
demn because it is not only unjust
and un-American, but it fosters dis
crimination in the one voluntary
brancjj of the war department in
which there should be none. Status
of all soldiers should be the same
without regard to color. We protest
against the designation of our soldiers
by the war department for detached
service in communities notoriously
prejudiced against such soldiers and
the uniform.
2. We condemn the tendency
throughout the country to segregate
us as to residence and schools. Which
practice is contrary to the letter and
spirit of the law of the land.
3. We believe in the equality of
opporunity in labor. Unless the white
unions of the country will welcome
the American Negro on terms of abso
lute equality to their ranks and af
firm the unity of all workers in the
common goal—industria democracy—•
we shall view with suspicion their
attempt to organize Negro labor.
4. In view of the fact that the
freedom of the press is one of the
most sacred guarantees of the Ameri
can people, we condemn the growing
tendency in certain communities to
i muzzle the Negro press. We cite spe
cifically the case in Kentucky, where
two of our editors are to be brought to
trial for setting forth a fair and just
opinion concerning a local occurrence.
5. Segregation and discrimination
sanctioned by federal authority is one
of the most menacing and prejudicial
things against which we have to con
tend. Department discrimination at
Washington we regard as a danger
ous example.
6. We view with deep concern the
increasing discrimination against Ne
groes on common carrirs. The most
aggravating case of recent occurrence
is that of a Negro woman who pur
chased a ticket in New York to a point
in Florida, who was arrested by a local
officer, thrown in jail and fined $600
for riding in a Pullman car in the
state of Florida.
7. We note with interest the asser
tion of a healthy public opinion to
condemn mob and lynch law. And we
commend those agencies which are
operating in an organized way to
create public sentiment against vio
lence.
8. We note with interest that the
restrictive immigration laws have
worked to the benefit of American
labor in which largely the Negro has
been benefitted. It has led to a more
equal distribution of the Negro citi
zenship and thus benefitted all con
cerned.
9. We condemn the unaqual appor
tionment of school funds in states
where separate schools are main
tained.
10. We insist upon the enforcement
pf all the provisions of the Constitu
tion of the United States, including
the privileges and immunities guaran
i teed the Negro citizens under the ,
I Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments. We insist that the en
forcement of the Eighteenth Amend
ment while the Fourteenth Amend
ment is violated in all of its parts
prejudices the whole constitutional
fabric and works to the undermining
of a democratic government.
11. We condemn the practice of
certain states to disfranchise Negro
citizens in primaries or in regular
elections.
POPULAR OMAHA GIRL
MARRIED IN CHICAGO
Miss Lucy Mae Allen Becomes the
Bride of Ralph Elliott at
High Noon Tuesday.
Miss Lccy Mae Allen, the oldest
and accomplished daughter of Mir.
and Mrs. R. Dewey Allen of 2621
Hamilton street, was married in Chi
cago at high noon Tuesday to Mr.
Ralph Elliott, popular in Chicago so
cial circles, active in politics of the
“Windy City” and employed for a
number of years as a clerk in the
city hall. The ceremony was per
formed by the Rev. Dr. Cook, pastor
of the Metropolitan M. E. church.
After a trip to Detroit and Canada,
the happy pair will be at home to their
friends after August. 27.
Since her graduation from the Tech
nical high school three years ago, Mrs.
Elliott, who is talented in music, has
been making her home in Chicago.
Omaha friends join in heartiest con
gratulations and best wishes for a
happy and prosperous married life.
JONES ACCEPTS THE
BENNETT PRESIDENCY
Greensboro, N. C.—The board of trustees
of Bennett College for women, located
here, announced recently that David D.
Jones, Atlanta, Ga., had accepted the pres
idency of the college, and will assume the
duties of that office September 1st. The
election of Mr. Jpnes. according to the
board of trustees, brings to the presidency
a capable administrator and an educator
who understands thoroughly the problems
of the institution.
President Jones, who is widely known
throughout the country, is a brother of
Bishop R. E. Jones.
WHITES OF FOREIGN
DESCENT ATTACK
HOMES OF NEGROES
Firemen Extinguish Fires and Police
Quell Disturbance in One of
Chicago's Ghettos.
Chicago.—Homes of Negroes in the
Maxwell street district on the west
side of Chicago were the objects of
attacks by white residents August 4.
Police say that the whites were ang
ered when Negroes encroached beyond
a line which the whites had agreed
among themselves was far enough for
the colored citizens to go. An auto
mobile belonging to a colored man,
Robert Woodman, was destroyed, and
flaming rag-wrapped bricks were
throwm through the windows of the
home of George Williams, a blind vet
eran of the world war. One girl was
seriously hurt. Firemen extinguished
the flames and police restored order,
guards being placed around several
houses occupied by Negroes.
The Maxwell street district is often
referred to as “The Ghetto.” It is
very thickly populated with Jewish
tradesmen and poor foreigners. It is
a great market center. In the last
few years many Negroes have moved
into the district, most of them com
ing from the south. It was there that
William Bell was lynched three years
ago.
N. A. A. C. P. PRESIDENT DIES
ATTENDING CONVENTION
Oakland, Cal.—While attending the
Women’s National Convention here,
Mrs. Cora J. Carter, president of the
Pasadena branch of the N. A. A. C. R,
was suddenly stricken by death. Mrs.
Carter was formerly of Stf Louis.