■as The Monitor me
» NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
© THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS,
$2.00 a Year—S Cei g Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FEBRUARY 18, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 34 Whole Number 604
White Press and Public Engage in
Spirited Controversy on Ques
tion of Domiciling Racial
Groups
By George Perry
Palo Alto, Calif.—Never before
in the history of California has the
question of segregation received the
attention that it is now being accord
ed through state wide discussion pro
and con by the press and public on
the question of domiciling the various
racial groups throughout the state.
Staid Palo Alto,, the home of the
great Leland Stanford university is
up in arms as never before in taking
sides for and against the question of
segregation.
Two Questions Aiked
The trouble started at a meet
ing in Mayfield, a nearby community,
at which members of both races were
invited to discuss the opposition of
certain property owners to the re
cent acquisition of a home, for
months unrentcd, by a Negro family.
At the conclusion of the meeting two
questions asked by the colored peo
ple remained unanswered by the
whites. These questions were
‘•Where are the colored people to
live?” and “Why are not colored
people entitled to have good homes
if they can pay for them?”
Attempts to Answer
The Palo Alto Daily Times in a
strong editorial attempts to answer
the questions by stating that “be
cause of the too obvious and wide
spread racial feeling which makes the
colored families unwelcome in white
neighborhoods, there is, from the
practical standpoint, nothing to be
gained in arguing the case on con
tentions of citizenship equality, hu
man brotherhood or Christian ethics.
Until human nature is revolutionized
and racial feeling wiped out, any
solution of the difficulty in order
to be effective must rest upon the
foundation of the admitted social
incompatibility between the colored
people and the whites.” Continuing,
the Times offers as the only solution
“the establishment of a section of the
community for the colored people,
where, instead of being condemned
to live in miserable shacks, they
would be privileged and encouraged
to build attractive and comfortable
homes, and where they couKl live
in an atmosphere of social congeni
ality. And it further states that in
so doing another problem would ob
viously be that of finding a section
of the community that would be
available for this purpose.
Professor W. G. Beach of Leland
Stanford university takes exception
to the Times’ editorial and the easy
way in which the editorial brushes
aside the most fundamental aspects
of the problem, together with the
calm assumption that all white peo
ple are hostile to the colored people
as neighbors and that this is due to
something which is called “human
nature” and which is apparently un
alterable.
“Race prejudice is largely a prod
uct of experiences in the past of in
dividual and social life, a result of
teachings often based themselves on
ignorance and prejudice, and it var
ies very greatly among Individuals
depending on their experiences and
their characters.” stated Professor
Beach, “It is perfectly possible for
white people to think of black neigh
bors as they do of white neighbors
and to treat them as such, and there
are many people who follow this
practice.”
“Shades of Abraham Lincoln and
Wendell Phillips! Is the whole
thought of what is right in the rela
tions of men to each other to be
brushed aside as of no consequence?
It was once well said that ‘this ques
tion will never be settled until it is
settled right’ and this remark of
Lincoln in regard to slavery is equal
ly true of the relations of the raceB
today.
“Proper values are secondary to
human values, and property interests
have no right to determine the selec
tion of who shall make up the life
of the community. This is a problem
of human relations, involving prin
ciples of community life and wel
fare, not to be subordinated to real
estate interests as though the latter
were the end of the purpose of civic
life.”
NEGRO IMMIGRANT
MAKING GOOD IN
NORTHERN CITIES
Southern White Man Promoter of
Sympathy and Understanding
Between Races Pays Oma
ha Brief Visit
The Rev. Will H. Alexander of
Atlanta, Ga., who has been called
the father of inter-racial good will,
because of his organization of inter
racial committees for the cultivation!
of good will and understanding be
tween the Negro and white races,
was an Omaha visitor last week. Mr
Alexander was recently given the
$500 Harmon award as the white per
son who, during the past year, had
contributed most towards better re
lations between the races.
Mr. Alexander spent last Thurs
day in Omaha. In the afternoon he
spoke to a group at the Y. M. C. A.,
an at 8 o’clock h addressed a group
of the race at the Colored Commer
cial club. The latter meeting was in
reality a conference in which Mr.
Alexander was seeking information
on racial conditions in our communi
ty from the viewpoint of our own
people. The speaker was introduced
by the Rev. James A. Crain, secre
tary of the Omaha Council of
Churches, and a close personal
friend of Mr. Alexander’s, and
through whose invitation he had
stopped over in the city. Between
thirty and forty persons were present
at this meeting.
Mr. Alexander gave a most illu
minati lg address, centered around a
scientific study by trained workers
of the subject on the Negro-white
migration, calling attention to the
fact which is frequently overlooked
that more white people, and these
very largely of the lower strata, left
the South than Negroes. The Negro
was more noticeable. This migra
tion was a tremendous social revolu
tion. It wus the transportation by
the shortest route of the man lowest
down in the economic scale, the ten
ant farmer and plantation worker,
from the plantations of the South
to the highly organized industrial
centers of the North. The whites
who came in large numbers were also
low down in the economic scale. This
great influx of black and white labor
has shifted in the cepter of nationali
zation. Sudden transplantation in
volves the problems of readjustment,
starting life anew under entirely dif
ferent conditions.
A study of the Negro migrant in
thirty-five cities shows, strange as
it may seem, that he has been more
resourceful than the white migrant.
Home ownership among the Ne
gro migrants is large. They are am
bitious to become home owners.
There are fewer foreclosures of
mortgages among them than among
the corresponding class of whites.
They have made good in industry,
wherever given the opportunity. In
dustry regards the Negro almost ex
clusively as unskilled labor. Negroes
look on themselves as such and so
they have been slow in getting into
the skilled class but are gradually
getting in and doing well.
Ninety per cent of race friction
and race prejudice, according to Mr.
Alexander, is economic. In the event
of a panic Negroes would suffer most
because of their elimination from the
gainful occupations.
Following his address, Mr. Alex
ander was asked many questions and
in turn asked many questions about
local conditions and the replies dis
closed that they are about on an
average with those of other cities of
like ratio. He gave several valuable
suggestions, among them the neces
sity of educating the community to
an appreciation of what the Negro
race has contributed and is contrib
uting to American life, by bringing
outstanding artists like Roland Hayes
and Paul Robeson and Lillian Evanti,
and speakers and scholars like James
Weldon Johnson, William Pickens
and others before mixed audiences,
and by getting favorable mention of
the constructive things of the race
in the newspapers.
EDITORIAL
The Monitor indulges in the hope that Omaha may soon
have another visit from that great apostle of inter-racial good
will, the Rev. Will H. Alexander of Atlanta, and that he may
be given the opportunity of delivering his message to a large
audience. His visit this time was off schedule. His warm
personal friend, the Rev. James A. Crain, secretary of the ,
Omaha Council of Churches, learning that Mr. Alexander was ,
[to be in the vicinity of Omaha wrote him and asked if he
(would not plan to stop over in the city, even though for a
short visit. This was arranged. Opportunity was given him
to address two rather small, but opinion-making groups, one'
at the Y. M. C. A., where he spoke irankly and learlessly to a l
number of prominent white people, and in the evening to a rep-|'
resentative gathering of between thirty and forty colored peo-j
pie at the Colored Commercial Club.
After meeting and listening to Mr. Alexander, one can un
derstand why he has the confidence and affection of so manyj
| of our people and of his own. One can appreciate why he wasj
jthe unanimous choice of the committee of the Harmon awards
as the outstanding character who among the white group has
contributed most to racial understanding and good-will.
Our purpose now, however, is not to discuss the man, but
some things he said. But first, we desire to repeat what we
have often said before, that our people still have many earnest
and sincere friends among the other group, who sincerely de
jsire to help up attain our highest and best.
It is gratifying to be told by one who knows that wherever
they have gone, the members of our race, speaking generally,
who have come from the restricted privileges of the Southland
and have been thrown into new, trying and untried surround
ings are sincerely trying to meet those conditions and are doing
so with a large measure of success Home ownership seems to
be uppermost in the minds of those who have come into the
land of larger opportunities. Home owning makes for stability
of character and good citizenship. With this goes a desire for
education. That the later migrants, because most of us have
only preceded them by a few years, are doing so much home
buying and are getting an education, argues well for the future
of our people.
Those of us who have been in this section longer and do
not feel strange should see to it that those of our brethren who
have come later are welcomed into our life and helped in every
way to adjust themselves in thej^ new conditiops and oppor
tunities. It is up to us to help make bur race a valuable asset
in every community.
INCREASING DEMAND FOR
COLORED HELP REVEALED
Washington, D. C.—Negro house
hold domestics are increasing in
number in New York City and are
receiving higher wages than were
formerly paid servants from Ger
many, Austria and the British Isles,
according to a statement made be
fore the House Committee on Ap
propriations recently by Representa
tive Anthony J. Griffin of New York,
a member of the committe.
Francis I. Jones, Director General
of the United States Employment
Service, who was before the commit
tee, said that he had given close
study to the question of household
help and that he had found there
was a shortage of supply in the cities
of New York, Philadelphia, Boston,
and other New England cities, and
generally throughout the North At
lantic States.
Y. W. C. A. NOTES
The committee of management of j
the North Side Branch of the Y. W.
C. A. met in its regular monthly
meeting, Wednesday afternoon, Feb
ruary 9th. The report given by the i
chairman of the several committees
marked much interest. The educa-!
tional lesson on organization which
was given by the Branch secretary, I
Miss Edna M. Stratton, proved to1
be very helpful, especially to those
women who have been recently elect
ed to this committee.
Mrs. J. H. Vance, chairman of the
committee on colored work from the
Central association, who was present
at this meeting, gave a clear inter
pretation of the extensive duties of
this committee, also its relation to
the North Side Branch.
The executive committee appoint
ed to serve for the year 1927 are
Mesdames Walter Craig, W. C. Ricks,
John A. Williams, T. F. McIntosh and
M. L. Dixon.
The members present were very
happy to be engaged in their new
work, and are looking forward to
a very successful year.
After the completion of all busi
ness transactions, the committee ad
journed to meet Wednesday, March
9th.
The Theater Arts, New Work City,
will give an exhibition of primitive
African sculpture from February 7
to March B.
OFFICERS OUTWIT MOB
Associated Negro Press
Reidsville, N. C.—Officers of thej
law and bands of citizens have been
engaged in the little game of "hide
and seek’ here for two days, follow-1
ing the report that Paul Settle, a
Negro, had raped a 17-year-old white
girl. The mobs were bent on lynch-»
ing the accused man and stormed jail
and jail in this vicinity only to find!
that the prisoner was not there. ThcP
officers are equally determined to
protect the prisoner and have spirit
ed him away for safe keeping.
ANOTHER YOUNG ARTIST
DISCOVERED IN CALIF.
Los Angeles, Calif.—Mrs. Kather
ine Barr, head of the Los Angeles,
California, branch of the National
Urban league is making arrange
ments whereby Miss Laura Brock, a
15-year-old Pasadena High school
girl will be able to pursue the study
of art after she graduates.
Miss Brock has shown much ability
in art work. She makes weekly con
tributions to the Los Angeles Times
magazine and has won more than 20
prizes.
FRANCE HONORS
AMERICAN NEGRO
Associated Negro Press
Birmingham, Alabama—The cer
tificate of “Officer d’ Academie”,
was conferred on John W. Oveltrea,
a teacher in the Miles Memorial Col
lege, by Simon Klotz, French Consu
lar agent at Birmingham, Friday, in
accordance with instructions from
France. Prof. Oveltrea was a chap
lain in the A. E. F. and the distinc
tion awarded him by the French Gov
ernment results from observations at
that time.
ALLEGED RAPIST IS
FOUND NOT GUILTY
Associated Negro Press
Little Rock, Ark.—Lorenzo Pick
ens, charged with criminally assault
ing a white woman near here several
months ago, was acquitted by the
Little River Circuit Court on the
grounds that the identification of
Pickens had not been established
with sufficient certainty. The ver
dict of the jury was submitted after
three hours of deliberation.
Negro Land Owners and
Home Owners Increase
Agricultural extension work for Ne
groes by Negroes under the direction
of the United States Department of
Agriculture has passed its first 10
year milestone. Some of the achieve
ments of the period are recorded in
a new publication just issued by the
lor and Hall while Mrs. Mush and
Miss Gauss presented the cause of
social settlement work.
Many gave their names for mem
bership of the association, among
them Miss Gauss, who has charge of
the South Side Social Settlement
work.
Sunday, at 4:00 p. m. the associ
ation will meet in the Freestone
Primitive Baptist church, Twenty
sixth street, near Hamilton in regu
lar forum. At this time some phases
of the platform adopted by the Na
tional body will be discussed.
Mrs. S. L. Knox and Mrs. Viola
DOCTORS WIVES ORGANIZE
On Monday afternoon, February
14th, the following ladies met at the
home of Mrs. A. A. Foster, 2877
Binney street: Mesdames L. E.
Britt, J. H. Hutten, Craig Morris,
Herbert Wiggins, A. M. McMillan,
and D. W. Gooden. The purpose of
the meeting was to organize an aux
iliary to the Nebraska Medical asso
ciation. Mrs. L. E. Britt stated the
purpose of the auxiliary was to ren
der service to the community at
large and to assist the doctors in
whatever way they could towards
having a hospital. Owing to several
of the ladies being absent, they went
into a temporary organization. Mrs.
Craig Morris was elected temporary
chairman, with Mrs. D. W. Gooden,
secretary. They adjourned to meet
with Mrs. Craig Morris, Tuesday af
ternoon, February 22nd.
B. N. Duke, (white), of Durham,
N. C., gave our orphanage of Ox
ford, N. C., $4,200, recently.
The National Equal Rights league
announces a patriotic literary prize
contest in honor of Lincoln’s birth
day, February 12, and Frederick
Douglass’, February 14.
■ .. ■— * —
cotton and 3,072 carried the work
to completion and submitted reports.
In addition, 2,630 junior club mem
bers planted an acre or more of cot
ton and 1,734 of them completed the
work. Many of these boys cleared
more than $100 each on their acres
and some more than $200.
Corn has always been a favorite
:rop for demonstrations by adults
ind juniors in the south. More than
5,000 adults and 4,000 club members
:ompleted work with this crop. From
a demonstration viewpoint alone, it
is estimated that a million Negro
'armers and home makers are being
influenced effectively. The agents
lave visited in the course of their
demonstration work more than 28,
000 and 26,000 homes.
The extension work for Negroes
and by Negroes has been built up
practically in the last ten years.
It is a fine tribute to the good work
of the Negro agents that, when the
period of retrenchment came soon
after the world war, their force and
*their appropriations were the only
rones which were not reduced. With
| this solid foundation, with this inspir
ing record, and with this successful
history the near future holds out
much hope for even more rapid de
velopment.
A copy of the circular can be ob
tained as long as the supply lasts
by writing to the United States De
partment of Agriculture, Washing
ton, D. C.
NEGRO RECORDS IN LIBRARY
New York—The Arthur A. Schom
burg collection of Negro literature
was formally presented to the New
York Public Library last week, and
opened to the public, at the 135th
Street branch of the library, where
it remains permanently.
The collection, which comprises
4,000 articles, including books dat
ing back to the sixteenth and seven
teenth centuries, manuscripts of
Negro authors, rare prints, maga
zines and newspapers, was presented
to the Public Library by Frederick
Keppel of the Carnegie Corporation,
which recently purchased the collec
tion for $10,000 from Mr. Schom
burg, who had spent many years in
gathering it. It was accepted by
Franklin F. Hopper, Chief of the
Circulation Department of the Pub
lic Library.
The principal speaker a( the exer
cises was Mr. Schomburg, who told
of the difficulties he had encounter
ed in gathering the collection, and
expressed the hope that it would
prove of value to historians and
writers on Negro history and
sociology. Henry Goddard Leach,
editor of “The Forum,” and L. Hol
lingsworth Wood spoke in praise of
the acquisition. Miss Ernestine Rose,
branch librarian, presided.
$12,000 COUNSEL FEES
STANDS IN KIP TRIAL
New York City—The $12,000 ad
ditional counsel fees fixed by Justice
Morschauser in the Rhinelander an
nulment suit, will stand as a result
of the decision of the Appelate Div
isions of the Supreme Court in
Brooklyn recently. The Court of
Appeals refused Leonard Kip Rhine
lander the right to appeal the award
of the counsel fees to his wife on the
ground that they were excessive.
Mrs. Alice Jones Rhinelander stated
that the $12,000 fee was necessary
because of numerous heavy expenses
incurred by the defense.
_i
Tom Moore, aged 70, of Alamance
county, North Carolina, has let it be
known by authentic proof that he is
the daddy of 42 children, 24 by his
first wife and 18 by his second wife.
Mrs. O. W. Ferguson and Corinne
and Marie, daughters, came from
Lincoln to attend the operetta “The
Snow Queen.”