m The Monitor
m NEBRASKA'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
£ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Edito.
$2.00 a Year—5 C* f a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 14, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 29 Whole Number 599
I
“Second Generation of Col
lege Bred Negroes”—Miller
During the Christmas holidays I
-delivered the annual address before
the grand session of the Kappa Al
pha Psi fraternity which was held
at Howard University. My general
theme was, “The Responsibility of
the Second Generation of Educated
Negroes.” Some observations which
I made have caused lively discussion
and sharp rebuttal. It was my in
tention to present the actualities of
the situation and not to indulge in
laudatory elogiums and meaningless
compliments.
Two Generations
Broadly speaking there have been
two generations of educated Negroes.
For sharpness of differentiation, let
us say that they are divided by the
century mark; those graduating prior
to 1900 represent the first genera
tion, and those finishing since that
date represent the second generation.
The two generations overlap and
combine in many ways. Both com
parison and contrast might seem in
vidious. They are both in the main
the product of philantropy and have
the elemosynary complex. They look
for help outside of the race instead
of from within. They both seek to
stand in the cooling shade of the
shadow cast by the white man’s in
stitutions rather than a place in the
sun whereby they casf. their own
shadow. They both seek places on
the white man’s payroll instead of
making payrolls for others to seek.
The chief function of the first gen
eration was to demonstrate to the
world that the race was capable of
taking in the higher education; the
second generation must provie its
ability to give it out. Up to nineteen
hundred there were probably fewer
than one thousand Negro college
graduates—now there are ten times
the number. Then a Negro college
graduate from a northern university
was looked upon with admiration
akin to amazement—now they are
so common as to arouse no curious
interest. The first generation had
no background and scanty founda
tion; the second generation had con
siderable of an educated background
and a cultural environment. The
new issue is much more thoroughly
educated in the letter and tech
nique than the older; but misses
much of the power of the spirit and
inspirations.
The first generation is now pass
ing away, and I am the middle man,
and overlap both. I can, therefore,
look both forward and backward.
I can stand as a daysman between
the two and lay a propitiating hand
upon both of them.
The Challenge
The call is to the surviving edu
cated men and women of the day,
whether of the old or the new gen
eration. They are challenged to
meet the requirements of leadership
and direction of the vast estate in
volved in the possibilities of twelve
million of their own race and kin.
Have they the ability or the dispo
sition to meet this challenge? Let
(Continued on Page Two)
TWENTY-THREE ARE
INJURED IN BALTIMORE
SHIP EXPLOSION
Colored Dock Workers Aro Victims
of s Maryland Shipyard
Blast—Several Are
Missing
Baltimore, Md.—Between eight
and twelve men were missing and 23
injured after an explosion late last
Tuesday which ignited a cargo of
pitch aboard the French bark Riche
lieu at a pier in Curtis Bay. Five
of the missing and two of the injur
ed were members of the vessel’s
crew. The others were for the most
part colored dock workers.
Paul Mageuerez, in charge of the
workmen trimming pitch in the No. 3
hatch, where theb last occurred, fin
ished work and led twenty men from
the hatchway a few moments before
flames leaped from the opening. His
crew was at first believed to have
been trapped in the hold. The miss
ing men were believed to be some
where in the chip’s interior, which
was a seething mass of flames.
All available fire apparatus and
ambulances were called from Balti
more.
KIP RHINELANDER
IS DENIED NEW TRIAL
BY APPELLATE COURT
New York—The appellate court
division of the New York supreme
court Tuesday ruled that Leonard
Kip Rhinelander, scion of one of New
York’s oldest families, be refused a
new trial in an effort to have his
marriage to Mrs. Alice Beatrice
Jones Rhinelander annulled.
One of the justices, Edward Lazan
eky, dissented. His opinion provides
the 26-year-old son of Phillip Rhine
lander the opportunity to take the
case to the court of appeals. Wheth
er he will avail himself of another
appeal could not be learned through
his attorney, Isaac N. Mills.
Four of the five justices, who sat
in Brooklyn, held that Rhinelander
knew his bride was part Negro and
that Mrs. Rhinelander did not deceive
him in this respect.
The Rhinelanders were married on
October 14, 1924, when Rhinelander
was 23. Rhinelander left his bride
November 20.
WHAT GOOD STORY DO
YOU KNOW?
(If you know a good story, send
it to The Monitor, for publication
so that others may enjoy a hearty
laugh as well as you.)
Here is one told by James G. Jew
ell: One colored man met another
a few days ago, and said, “Say, man,
you doesn’t know where I kin git a
dishwasher’s job, does you?”
The other scratched his head, look
ed profoundly serious and replied,
“No sir, I doesn’t. You see I has
only one plate an’ I washes that my
self.”
HEAR j!
i! Bishop White J;
;; at j;
jj St. Philip’s Church jj
;; 10 o’clock Sunday Morning j
Everybody Welcome jj
A STUPID BLUNDER
Information has reached us that an Interracial Committee
of fifteen, composed of seven white and eight coored people i
has been recommended by the Executive Committee of the
Council of Social Agencies to look after the welfare of the
colored people of the community primarily, at this time, to
supervise the employment situation through an Employment
Bureau. Not only has such a recommendation been made,
and such an agency with a wider scope might be quite help
ful, but this committee, on which there was no representative
of our people, has presumed to name all the seven white mem
bers and four of the colored members, and has requested the
Colored Commercial Club to name the other four from its
number.
Granting that the motive back of this action is absolutely
sincere and well intended, which, let it be frankly sated, some
are inclined to doubt, a moment’s reflection makes it very
plain that the method pursued is absolutely wrong.
The proper procedure for the formation of an Interracial
Committee, if such be needed, woud be this: To call a meet
ing of representatives of both groups, and let it be truly rep
resentative, frankly discuss plans and objectives, everybody
putting all their cards on the table, and then, if the concensus
of opinion be that such an organization be necessary, appoint
a joint committee of equal numbers from both groups on nom
inations of the personnel of such an Interracial Committee and
report back to the representative gathering for ratification.
This would be the intelligent, logical, wise and sensible pro
cedure and would make for efficiency and co-operation. The
method that has evidently been followed is directly opposite
to this and is absurdly foolish.
The Monitor, voicing the sentiment of the colored people
of this community, denies the right of any committee, be it
of the Social Agencies, the Chamber of Commerce, or any other
organization, upon which our people have not full and ad
equate representation, to institute organizations for us, desig
nate how they shall be constituted and name the membership
thereof. This is the blunder, the stupid and inexcusable blun
der, made by the committee of three, no doubt well-meaning,
but meagerly informed white gentlemen who made this rec
ommendation of an Interracial Committee of fifteen upon
which the Executive Committee of the Council of Social Agen
cies has acted.
THE PULLMAN PORTERS’ JUST DEMANDS
The Monitor has been carefully studying the movement
inaugurated some monhs ago for the organization of the Pull
man porters for improving their wages and working condi
jtions. That there is room for improvement cannot be ques
tioned. Take, for example, the time basis. While Pullman
conducors are required to work 240 hours as a working month,
on an eight hour basis, porters are required to put in from
333 1-3 to 366 2-3 hours as a working month, on a twelve hour
basis. Not only do porters have to put in longer hours, but
their pay is far under that of the conductors. The porters
are dependent upon the gratuities of their passengers to eke
out their salaries. Admittedly this is wrong. The workman is
worthy of hig hire. Workmen should receive an adequate liv
ing wage. This is a sound economic principle which cannot
be denied.
To improve these conditions the Brotherhood of Sleep
ing Car Porters has been organized and is growing rapidly, as
it deserves to grow. It is being vigorously opposed by the
Pullman company. Why? If the wage and working condi
tions are now fair, the Pullman company has no reason to fear
an investigation by the Federal Mediation Board. It was
necessary for the porters to unionize to have their case heard
by the Federal labor authorities. The vigorous opposition to
the unionizing of the porters by the Pullman company would
seem to indicate that the company has something to fear.
That the Pullman company is opposing the unionizing of
the porters may be illustrated by what has happened in the
Omaha district, and this, it is safe to say, is the method em
ployed everywhere because we are sure the local superintend
ent whom we know personally and highly esteem, is simply
working under general orders. Within a comparatively short
time, no less than ten men have been dismissed from the Pull
man service. These ten men are all members of the Brother
hood of Pullman Porters. This is a very significant fact. ALL
UNION MEN.
It is very evident that neither the Omaha district nor any
other district will admit that the union men whom they have
discharged were discharged for membership in the union, but
it is rather remarkable to account for the fact that men who
have been exemplary employees before become infractors of
rules which will justify heir dismissal afer they get their union
cards. This is rather strange, isn’ it?
Now of these ten men who have been discharged in this
district, eight are men of families and six are buying homes.
This indicates their industrious character. They are not loaf
ers or undesirable citizens, but real contributors to the welfare
of the community. Loss of men of this character from any
community does not help that community.
The Pullman porters are absolutely right in trying to im
prove their wage and working conditions. To accomplish this
they are following the rriethods that other workers have found
effective and that is by unionizing, and intimidation and co
ercion will not stop them. Their cause is just and will prevail.
They ask a living wage and an equitable adjustment of work
ing hours and they will win.
TIGER FLOWERS IS SIGNED
TO BOX MIDDLEWEIGHT
CHAMPION OF COAST
Los Angeles, Cal.—Dick Donald,
Los Angeles boxing promoter, an
nounces that he has the signed con
tracts of both ‘Tiger” Flowers and
Leo Lomiski for a ten-round event at
Wrigley baseball park the night of
January 22nd.
In meeting Lomiski, Flowers is tak
ing on a formidable foe who has beat
en every good middleweight on the
Pacific coast, including Bert Colima
and “Cowboy” Willis.
Lawton on Samt Card
Dick Donald has also agreed to use
Bob Lawson on the same card and
he will box the semi-windup against
an opponent to be selected. Mack
House, a slashing Colored light
heavyweight, has been offered the
spot with Lawson.
RACES CO OPERATE IN
NASHVILLE FLOOD RELIEF
General Imporvement of Condition*
Over the State Reported at
Inter-racial Meet
Nashville, Tenn.—Reports of in
creasing inter-racial good will and
of the steady improvement of con
ditions featured the annual meeting
of the State Inter-racial Committee
held here January 5th. Representa
tive men and women to the number
of seventy-five were present from
all parts of the state, without a dis
senting voice expressing gratification
with the progress made and plan
ning unitedly for the future. Espe
cially striking were the reports of
the improved school facilities for
Negroes, including the building of
many new Rosenwald schools, stim
ulated largely through the efforts of
Robert E. Clay, of Bristol, secretary
of the colored division.
There was much favorable com
ment also on the fine co-operative
spirit manifested in Nashville dur
ing the recent flood which drove
some eight thousand people from
their homes, many of them colored.
It was brought out that the two
groups had worked together in the
utmost harmony for relief of the
flood sufferers, and that the relief
measures, for which $50,000 was
contributed by the community, were
carried out with scrupulous fairness.
Among the recommendation made
by the group was one suggesting
to the city administration that in re
habilating the flooded areas steps
be taken to improve radically many
of the housing conditions from which
the poorer colored families have suf
fered.
The committee pledged itself to
work for a school for feeble-minded
Negroes, and recommended that local
committees throughout the state seek
to provide proper recreational facili
ties for colored children, since such
facilities “serve as a great crime de
terrent, as well as a promoter of good
health”. All the churches and re
ligious groups were admonished to
give more attention to the cultiva
tion of inter-racial good will as a
religious duty. Gratitude was ex
pressed for the support given to the
committee’s program by the leading
newspapers of the state, and partic
ularly for their vigorous editorials
against lynching. Will W. Alexan
der, director of the general inter
racitl commission, was present and
made a strong appeal for the final
eradication of lynching, pointing out
the part which the pulpit, the press,
and individuals might play in bring
ing this about.
Among the prominent colored lead
ers present were Bishop I. B. Scott,
Prof. W. J. Hale, Dr. J. A. Lester,
Dr. C. V. Roman, and Mrs. M. L.
Crosthwaite, of Nashville, Dr. R. T.
Burt, of Clarksville, Prof. C. L. Mc
Allister, of Chattanooga, and R. E.
Clay, of Bristol.
Mr. George Goff, a student at
the University of Minnesota, who
came to spend the holidays with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Goff,
911 Forest avenue, left Sunday to
resume his studies at the university.
NEGRO LAWYER WILL
DEFEND ATHEIST JAILED
FOR BLASPHEMING
Resident of Toronto, Alleged Self
Confessed Atheist, Is Arrest
on Very Unusual
Charge
Toronto, Can.—World-wide inter
est in the ranks of agnostics and un
believers has been aroused in the
arrest of Ernest V. Sterry, self-con
fessed atheist, as was his “mother
before him,” and editor of the new
ly established Christian Inquirer, who
has been charged by the crown with
uttering “blasphemous, indecent and
profane libel of and concerning the
holy scripture and the Christian re
ligion.”
Sterry has been taken into custody
under a provision of the criminal
statues which has only been invoked
on two other occasions in the history
of British law; namely, the celebrat
ed cases of Bradlaugh and Pooley,
and of Foote, in London, in 1883, in
connection with the publication of
the famous Free Thinker of that
time.
When Sterry appeared in police
court recently and was granted a re
mand of one week, he was represent
ed by E. Lionel Cross, Negro lawyer.
He is solicitor for the Rationalist So
ciety of Canada, which body has vol
unteered to “back” the editor of the
Christian Inquirer “to the limit.”
One passage of his writings cited
was: “Read your bible—and you will
find in it hundreds of passages rela
tive to the divine being, which any
moral and honest man would be
ashamed to have appended to his
character.”
TAPS SOUND FOR OLD SOLDIER
Dudley Maxey, aged 82, died at
his home, 1215 North Twenty-first
street, Wednesday noon. He was
born in Monroe, Ky., September 18,
1844, and after ten years’ service in
the Tenth cavalry he came to Oma
ha In 1884 where he has since re
sided. Mr. Maxey is survived by his
widow and five children, Mrs. For
estine Burroughs, Floyd and Charles
Maxey, Mrs. Caroline Hunter and
Myrtle Lewis. The date of funeral
has not been set.
BISHOP WHITE TO
PREACH AT ST. PHILIP’S
The Rt. Rev. John Cbnnler
White, Bishop of Springfield,
will preach at St. Philip’s Epis
copal Church, Sunday morning
at 10 o’clock.
The service begins at 10
sharp as Bishop White is to
preach at the closing service of
the Bishops’ Crusade at Trinity
Cathedral at 11 o’clock, leav
ing Sunday afternoon for Lin
coln.
This is the opportunity of a
life time to hear one of the
most eloquent bishops in the
Episcopal Church.
He is one of the three Cru
saders who has been conduct
ing the Bishops’ Crusade in
Omaha.
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Ii ►
The Hartman Furniture Company
Makes Important Announcement ::
With the start of the new year Hartman’s is putting in effect an ! ,
even mpre liberal credit plan than ever before. Smaller down pay- « >
ment and smaller monthly or )
weekly payments are the big fea- . .
tures of the new plan. 1 ’
There is no interest to | ]
pay—no extra charges < <
of any kind. | |
Hartman’s has long ] J
held the confidence of < >
the colored people of
Omaha and under this |
new plan of easier < >
payments is bound to JP
extend greatly its cir- ,i
cle of friends and cus- <►
. tomers. J [
Special low prices !,
are being featured on < >
t Furniture and Rugs J |
iand all housefurnish- .,
ings, such as lamps, < >
stoves, dishes, etc. ‘)
Values are exceptionally good. . >
»♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<
Adv.