si,The Monitor ^
I NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DKYOTBD TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
S the REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, MiUr.
M _______ __
$2.00 a Year—5 CentiS Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FEBRUARY 4, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 32 Whole Number 602
MOB MURDER AROUSES CAROLINA
SHUMAN HEINK IS
WELCOME VISITOR AT
BETHUME COLLEGE
Great Singer Who Ha* Ri*en to Emi
nence from Poverty by Dili
gence and Sacrifice Bring*
Helpful Meuage to
Student*
WARNS AGAINST BITTERNESS
Adviie* Student* to Keep Up Their
Ambition, Avoid Jeaiouay, and
Peraist in Doing What I*
Right
Daytona Beach, Fla.—It was an
unusual distinction for the students
and teachers of Bethune-Cookman
College to have as their guest Madam
Ernestine Shuman-Heink, world's fa
mous opera singer, to visit the col
lege and in pleasing manner express
her feeling with respect to a strug
gling people. No person is better in
position to speak on such a subject
tnan Mme. Shumann-Heink, because
her meteoric career has been the re
sult of hard work and sacrifice. It
was fitting, therefore, that she should
see the work of a woman who has
made untold sacrifices for the bene
fit of the Negro.
Madam Shuman-Heink was receiv
ed at the college by the president,
Mrs. Mary MacLeod Bethune, and
escorted to the platform by fifteen
members of the advisory board,
where she was introduced by the
chairman ,Mrs. C. M. Ranslow, who
said: “I am sure that we are not
only glad, but very joyful at this
moment that Mme. Shuman-Heink
has taken a little time from her rest
ing period to come out and look at
us. It is very wonderful for us, be
cause we are deprived of going to
hear her at the auditorium. To the
school I want to say what, I am sure,
she will not tell you, that she has
by great diligence and hardship and
sacrifice, worked her way up to a
grand career, from poverty, like your
own. Isn’t it wonderful? It gives
me great pleasure to present Mme.
Ernestine Shuman-Heink.”
Madam Shumar. Heink replied as
follows: “I am not a speaker, al
though some time, I find the words
to express my feelings. I am an
old mother and grandmother. I be
lieve in God. I belhve in human be
ings. They are all alike. We are
all children of God, and I have found
that your race, the race to which I
belong, and all races have some in
telligent, fine and beautiful repre
sentatives. You are the real, loyal
Americans, who have reached a
great, big, high point in life. Suffer
ing means sacrifice. I sacrificed, I
suffered, but I knew that God would
never, never leave me if I did my
duty, and if I did not let bitterness
and jealousy come into my life. I
do love the world—I do love, above
all, our blessed America! It is the
greatest country in the world! It is
the greatest nation, and if I never
did know what it meant, I learned to
appreciate and to bow my head dur
ing my life in the tents when they
let me serve them—when I met all
of the boys, when I sang for them,
when I went to the hospitals . . I
felt that that was the time when I
could prove to the United States
my deep, undying gratitude for what
the United States did for the old
greenhorn, Shuman-Heink. (I am
not a greenhorn any more.)
You must excuse my poor English.
I started to learn English, not from
books and reading, nor old teachers
—but from the boys in the tents.
You can imagine what I learned.
Now, young men and young wo
men, I am not a speaker, as I told
you. I just want to tell you to keep
up your ambition; never get bitter;
never get jealous, because God Al
mighty will bless your race just the
same as everybody else who is de
cent and good, who is right and am
bitious. Later on, when my career
is over—I have just one and a half
years more—if I can have the oppor
tunity to come here and be of help
to you, you can rest assured that,
as the soldier boys called me “Mother
Shuman-Heink,” I will be just
“Mother Shumann-Heink” to you and
help wherever I can.”
Madam Shumann-Heink joined in
the singing of “Swanee River” and
all were held spellbound by the rich
ness of her deep contralto voice.
SOUTH CAROLINA ROUSED AS
GRAND JURY GETS EVIDENCE
ON AIKEN LYNCHINGS
New Governor, John G. Ricahrds,
Presiding Judge Johnson, and
Newspapers Demand
Indictments
New York, Jan. 28—The entire^
■state of South Carolina is aroused
over the Aiken lynchings now that
Ihe Aiken county grand jury has
met and is hearing the testimony of
twenty-eight witnesses, according to
reports received by the National As
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People. The outstanding de
velopments in the situation are as
follows:
1. Governor John G. Richards on
January 24 issued a statement say
ing that the case was “one of the
most important matters inherited by
my administration” and that he was
“deeply concerned in the outcome of
the state’s efforts to bring to justice
those who participated in the murder
of the Cowmans.”
South Carolina are making strong
2. The leading newspapesr of
editorial demands for action by the
grand jury. The Columbia Record,
edited by Charlton Wright, in a
front-page editorial, unmercifully
condemns the previous grand jury
which failed to act and says that the
present case “is the most important
case, in all probohility, than any
grand jury in South Carolina has had
to consider within the past twenty
years. Upon its actions and deci
ions in that case depends the honor,
not alone of Aiken county, but of the
whole people of South Carolina.”
A charge to the grand jury by j
Judge J. Henry Johnson, calls the
lynchings “deliberate, wilful, coward- i
I ly murder,” and continues: “The!
time for words is past. It is time
for action. Say you propose to bring
them to justice or say you don’t
propose to do anything. And God
help Aiken county and South Caro
lina if you fail to do anything.”
eYo:uea?,e H ‘nbkKfa’
4. Governor Richards has re-ap- :
pointed Detective W. W. Rogers, who j
had been in charge of the lynching
investigation under the preceding ad
ministration.
5. A front-puge news story in the
Charleston News and Courier expli
citly credits Walter White, assistant
secretary of the N. A. A. C. P. with
bringing about the expose of the j
lynching, as follows: “Walter White
(after the coroner's jury had failed
to indict) then appeared on the
scene as an investigator for the As
sociation for the Advancement of the
Colored race (meaning N. A. A. C.
P.) and also with a commission from1
I
a New York newspaper. After a day
or two in \iken county he compiled ^
a report that led the newspapers to
send one of its staff men to investi
gate the circumstances. White’s re
port, it became known, gave a long
list of alleged participants and spec
tators at the lynching . . .
On Januury 26, the first day the
grand jruy heard testimony, nine
witnesses wye called, including eight,
who were prisoners in the Aiken jail
at the time of the lynching, when,
it is charged, the sheriff and other
officers delivered the Lowmans to
the mob. Nineteen more witnesses
are being called by the state and it
is not expected that they will have
concluded their testimony today.
The present investigation by the
grand jury of Aiken county is the
third time the grand jury has met
for this purpose. At each of the
other two sessions, the grand jurors,
of whom two were members of the
lynching mob according to evidence,
reported inability to reach definite |
results and were discharged at their
own request. The present grand
jury, of eighteen members, contains
six hold-overs from the grand jury
which previously admitted failure.
Our death rate in Atlanta, Ga., is
more than double that of the whites,
according to the latest statistics.
EDITORIAL
This may be embarrassing to the woman, for she is modest.1
and retiring and does not seek the limelight, but we are going!
to say it just the same because she deserves it and because the I
community needs to know it. We are really an appreciative!
people and only need to know to express that appreciation, j
Despite apparent evidence to the contrary we are really proud
of our people. This racial pride often leads us to fail to dis-j
tinguish between those of mediocre ability or training and those |
of superior ability and training. This is a defect which will
eventually be corrected. We mention it to show that we are
really proud to see any of our people achieve. This is parti
cularly true of the masses of our people. Among the so-called
higher-ups or quasi-intelligentia, not the genuine, but the count
erfeit, there is often manifested envy and jealousy of those
who achieve or attain any prominence, but this is not true of
the common folk, the masses. They are really delighted when
a member of the race gains prominence or distinction.
Omaha is fortunate in having a woman of rare ability and
exceptional training who is obsessed with an ambition to de
velop the musical talent of our children. Endowed with mu-1
sical ability, she has had the advantage of studying under some
of the best teachers in America and Europe. She is a graduate
of the New England Conservatory of Music at Boston under
Alfred DeVoto, and a pupil of Isidor Phillips, Paris Conser
| vatory of Music, Paris, France. Advised by teachers and
friends to follow a concert career, she has elected the “drudg
ery of teaching.” Said one of her fellow students at the New
England Conservatory, who stands eminent in the concert
world in America and Europe, and who is soon to appear
again in Omaha at the Auditorium, when here some months
ago, “Why in the world do you devote yourself to the drudg
ery of teaching when concert work in which you would do
well, is so much more pleasant and remunerative?”
Her reply was, “Because my people, and particularly
our children need it. In the hope of perhaps being able to
train up some artists among my pupils who will make their
! contribution to the world I prefer the work of teaching, which
1 is of course hard work; but it is a real joy and I love it.”
This young woman has undoubtedly done a great work in
developing the musical talent of the Negro children of Omaha.
And she should be esteemed highly for her work’s sake. She
gives generously of her time and money to cultivate the talent
of our children. ;
In addition to her regular work, for over five months she
has been training sixty children, ranging in ages from four to
eighteen, for an operetta which will demonstrate the ability
of these children not only in music, but also in the dramatic
and terpsichorean arts.
When asked why she was undertaking this big job her
reply was, “To develop the talent there is among the colored
children of Omaha and to encourage them in every way I
can. The white children are presented from time to time in
operettas and plays and are thus given a chance to show what
they can do. Negro children need the same chance and en
couragement and some of us must see that they are given
this chance. Of course it’s hard work. I can take care of
the music, but they should have the best dramatic instructor
it is possible to get, and the best teacher of artistic dancing,
so that this operetta can be put on right. If it can’t be done
right, then it ought not to be done at all. These additional
teachers must be employed and paid, but our children must
have the best.”
This shows the wishes and desires of this young woman
for the children of our group. Ought not she have the whole
hearted and loyal backing and support of all who believe in
the best interests and progress of our people and in the high
est development of our children?
Washington is proud of Miss Nannie Borroughs; Augusta,
Georgia, of Miss Lucy Laney; Daytona, Florida, of Mrs. Beth
une, for their great educational work among the young; and
Omaha, Nebraska, should be equally proud of Florentine F.
Pinkston, who is doing a great and far-reaching work for us
and our children.
U. S. WOODCRAFT
INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATED
U. S. Woodcraft Industrial Asso
ciation, Incorporated, held its annual
meeting January 13 and 27. The
following officers were elected:
J. W. Dacus, president; M. Land
drum, first vice president; J. F.
Thomas, second vice president; A. S.
Duff, secretary; J. S. Sloan, treasur
er; Dr. II. Wiggins, examiner; S. W.
Mills, director; E. S. Mills, director;
C. W. Pierce, manager.
The meeting was enthusiastic, re
ports showed progress and plans were
proposed for extended activities.
CHORAL CLUB PARTICIPATES
IN PROGRAM AT CENTRAY “Y”
Last Thursday night at the annual
meeting of the Central Branch of the
Young Women’s Christian Associa
tion, a most delightful program was
rendered. An amusing play entitled
“Driftwood" demonstrating the ex
cellent work done by the Traveler’s
Aid of the association was well done
by members of the Y. W. C. A. and
of the Y. M. C. A. The choral club,
numbering forty-seven from the
North Side Branch, under the direc
tion of Ben Stanley, contributed
three numbers which elicited hearty
applause and unstinted praise and
commendation. Miss Edna M. Strat
ton, secretary of the North Side
Branch, was accompanist. In the
candle-lighting service, illustrating
the spirit and ideals of the Y. W. G.
A., led by Mrs. A. H. Fetters, Mrs.
John Albert Williams participated
as a representative from the North
Side Branch.
NEW COMMITTEE OF
MANAGEMENT HOLDS
ORGANIZATION MEETING
The new Committee of Manage
ment of the North Side Branch, Y.
W. C. A., held a very enthusiastic or
ganization meeting Wednesday after
noon at the “Y.” The following of
ficers were elected for the year
1927:
Mrs. Estella Craig, chairman.
Mrs. W. C. Ricks, vice-chairman.
Mrs. John A. Williams, secretary.
The following were appointed
chairmen of the various committees:
Membership, Mrs. W. C. Ricks.
Finance, Mrs. L. F. McIntosh.
Girl Reserves, Mrs. Craig Morris.
General and Religious Education,
Mrs. Charles Garrett.
Health Education, Mrs. A. D. Mc
Gee;
House, Mrs. Lena Moore.
Service and Hospitality, Mrs. Ger
trude Shakleford.
Fellowship, Mrs. Irene Jones.
Recreation, Mrs. Minnie Dixon.
Publicity, Mrs. Goldie Downing.
Representatives of Race
Address Professional Men
The needs and some of the prob
Jems of Negroes in Omaha were ably
presented to the Professional Men’s
club at their customary meeting and
dinner at the Hotel Fontenelle, Mon
day noon, by Dr. D. W. Gooden, phy
sician; the Rev. Charles H. Trusty,
pastor of the Hillside Presbyterian
church, and Harrison J. Pinkett, at
torney. Miss Edna M. Stratton, sec
retary of the North Side Branch of
the Y. W. C. A., was also an invited
guest and contributed musical num
bers to the program and also spoke
briefly of her work.
The club is composed of many out
standing men in the various profes
sions in Omaha and consequently has
a large and influential membership.
Dr. Palmer Findlay is president. The
invitation to representatives of our
group to address this assembly gave
an opportunity of placing important
question is what is his race or na
tionality. When patients are admit
ted to the hospital, the Negro physi
cian must turn the patient over to
the staff physician. This is especial
ly true in operative cases. Yet we
are licensed by the same State Board
of Examiners and must pass the same
examination.”
Dr. Gooden also called attention to
much illness resulting from improper
housing conditions and undernourish
ment arising from the lack of em
ployment which compelled many to
deny themselves the necessities of
life.
The Rev. Dr. Trusty recommended
the opening of a branch Y. W. C. A.
with an inter-racial committee to take
care of the employment situation.
Application of the Golden Rule will
go a long way towards solving the
race problem. He criticized the
l)r. D. W.
(iooilcn, ex
li r e s ident of
the Omaha
Negro Medical
a s s o c iation
and president
of the Colored
C o m m ercial
Club, who was
one of the
s p e a kers to
add r e s s the
Pro fessional
Men’s Club.
facts before molders of sentiment
and opinion in the community.
Dr. Findlay, in presenting- the
speakers, gave evidence of a knowl
edge of the achievements of notable
Negroes in the United States and a
sympathetic interest in and an ap
preciation of the Negro’s contribu
tion to American life.
Dr. Gooden, whose topic was “The
Problem of the Negro Physician,”
laid most emphasis upon the lack of
hospital facilities, and the practical
impossibility of a Negro physician be
ing permitted to attend his patients
in the hospital.
“The greatest problem,” he said,
“is the lack of hospital facilities. In
many cases it is almost impossible to
get Negro patients into hospitals,
even in charity wards. Even when
patients are'well able to pay for ac
commodations it is often difficult to
secure them. When calling to make
arrangements very often the first
church for not stressing the social
message and for failure to keep pace
with modern developments of effic
iency in business education and other
fields.
Speaking on “The Problem of the
Negro Lawyer,” Mr. Pinkett, who is
the oldest practicing race attorney in
the city, paid a tribute to the uni
form courtesy shown by the courts ■
and better members of the bar to the
colored lawyer.
“The main problem of the Negro
lawyer is competing with the poorer
class of white attorneys who hire col
ored solicitors,” he said. “The Negro
attorney is far better equipped to
handle cases than the average shyster
who employs Negro solicitors.”
The affluence of the Negro attor
ney depends directly upon economic
status of his community, and indi
rectly upon the educational standards
which prevail among his race, he de
clared.
The work and duties of the chair
men and some of the rules of the
Association were briefly explained by
the branch secretary, Miss Stratton.
A fine spirit prevailed and each seem
ed anxious to take up her duties and
push forward the work of the Asso
ciation.
SPANISH WAR VETERANS
INSTALL OFFICERS
At a meeting of the Captain Al
lcnsworth Camp, United Spanish War
Veterans, last Friday evening, four
teen officers were installed by Mr.
Charles Stillwater, past commander
Lee Forby Camp No. 1. Officers in
stalled were: George Douglas, com
mander: William Dais, senior vice
commander; Eugene Thomas, Jr.,
vice-commander; John Wright, adjut
ant; Henry W'atts, quartermaster;
David C. Elliqtt, officer of the day;
Jesse Williams, officer of the guard;
Charles Cooper, A1 Gray and Isaac
Rainer, trustees; George Anderson
and Walter Ford, color sargents, and
James Newton, chaplain.
The N. A. A. C. P. branch, of
Washington, D. C., re-elected its of
ficers, last week Friday evening. Pro
fessor Neval H. Thomas, presiding.
Officers and members of the
Chamber of Commerce of Howard
university, Washington, D. C., re
cently tendered Prof. George W.
Cook, dean of the University, a tes
timonial luncheon in honor of his
seventy-second birthday.