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\ NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
>2.00 a Year—S CenU a Co\ ' - OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 44 Whole Number 614
TOLERANCE GREAT
NEED OF PRESENT
DAT, SATS SPEAKER
, Secretary Omaha Church Council
Believe* America’s Prejudices
Falsify Her Claim to
Culture
RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, ACADEMIC.
“America has not recovered from
the period of demogogy and ‘bug
bearism’ which attacked the insti
tutions of this country after the
war when to call a person a pro
German or a “red” was to label him
as a creature, hateful in the eyes of
his fellow men,” said Kev. James A.
Crain, secretary of the Omaha Coun
cil of Churches in an address at the
Lions club luncheon Tuesday of last
week.
Complete absence of every form
of intolerance is an earmark of every
real civilization, he asserted, and
that this country has not yet achieved
that stage is an indication that our
culture is not yet on the high plane
that we sometimes place it. “The
history of all civilizations has been
the struggle of a newly developing
culture to attain the place of the one
which already existed and intolerance
'was always the weapon of that civili
zation which was not superior to the
new one,” said Rev. Mr. Crain.
The greatest problem which this
country has to face on the score of
tolerance, believes Rev. Mr. Crain, is
that of racial intolerance as demon
strated by segregation, “Jim-crow
ism” and lynching practised against
the Negro, religious intolerance
against unfamiliar creeds and reli
gions and worst of all in Rev. Mr.
Crain’s opinion, academic intolerance.
“We find today a situation in
which the average instructor in a
state university dares not open his
mouth on any economic question
which involves imperialism, militar
k ism, or even a scientific discussion of
the economic structure of society.
A country like ours must pause for a
moment when it becomes possible for
teachers to be dismissed from their
posts for daring to critize the policy
of our government in Nicaragua as
was the case of 12 state normal
school teachers in Westchester coun
ty, Pennsylvania, recently.”
RECORD BREAKING CROWD
SEES OMAHA BUFFALOES
WIN SEASON’S OPENER
Aprroximately six thousand paid
admission Wednesday afternoon to
see the Buffaloes trim the Oklahoma
City Indians to the tune of 3 to 2.
Nearly one thousand school children
were also guests of Mr. Burch, as
members of the “Knot Hole Gang,”
The game was great. One of the
best games played on the Omaha dia
mond for many moons. It was fast,
and marked with brilliant plays. It
was a game ideal in every way for
the opener of a season.
This year’s team under the man
agement of Kal Segrist, late of Tex
as, appears to be a fast, clean, hard
working aggregation of young men,
and it is predicted they will go high
in the pennant race in the Western
league.
The team this year is balanced,
something that could not be said last
year. There is far more pep and
spirit in the bunch than Omaha fans
are in the habit of seeing.
Many ' improvements have been
made at the Vinton lot, and with the
improved team, great crowds are ex
pected this season. Tulsa is the at»
traction Saturday and Sunday and
good games can be anticipated. Tul
sa is at the top of the heap, with
k Omaha in the first division. Real
battles will be the result.
Attend these games and all during
the season. You will be treated right
and made to feel that you are wel
come. Make up a party and attend
Saturday’s and Sunday’s games.
Adams’ popular orchestra broad
casted un excellent program from
WOW, Woodmen of the World sta
tion, Thursday night.
SHERIFF IS GIVEN
MEDAL FOR SAVING
NEGRO FROM MOB
Kentucky Governor Presents Trophy
on Behelf of Inter-racial
Commission for
Duty Done
Frankfort, Ky.—Sheriff P. R.
Brown of Graves county, who in
1926 saved a Negro from mob vio
lence at Mayfield, Ky., has been
awarded a medal by the Southern
Inter-racial Commission, Governor
Fields announced April 19. The
award was the first of its kind to
be made in Kentucky, and Governor
Fields, in sending the medal to Brown
in behalf of the commission, congrat
ulated him upon the “splendid ser
vice” he had rendered his state and
nation.
The handsome bronze medal bears
a heroic figure with drawn sword
standing in front of a temple of just
ice, surrounded by the legend “In
Defense of Law and Civilization.”
The award was passed upon by a
commission composed of Hon. Hugh
| M. Dorsey, former governor of
j Georgia; Governor John W. Martin,
j of Florida; the late Governor Henry
' L. Whitfield of Mississippi; Mrs. J.
| H. McCoy of Alabama; George B.
Dealey, Editor of the Dallas News;
and Marshall Bullard, Editor of the
| New Orleans Item.
When on June 21st of 1926 a mob
gathered about the Mayfield jail to
get Willie Lusby, Negro, charged
with attacking a white girl, Brown
gathered up his deputies and drove
76 miles at night through two rivers
to carry the man to safety.
WALTER WHITE SPEAKS
AT DARROW’S SEVENTIETH
BIRTHDAY DINNER
Expresses Thanks and Gratitude of
11,000,000 Negroes for His
Services in Behalf
of Justice
New York—At what is reported to !
have been one of the most extra
ordinary affairs of the kind ever held
in Chicago, the seventieth birthday
dinner tendered to Clarence Darrow
in the Palmer House by 1,200 men
and women in all walks of life, one
of the speakers was Walter White,
assistant secretary of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People.
Mr. White brought to Mr. Darrow
an expression of the thanks and grat
itude of 11,000,000 Negroes and
their friends for his services in be
half of justice. Mr. White told the
story of the defense of Dr. Sweet
and his associates in Detroit, and of
the masterly conduct of the case by
Mr. Darrow culminating in a seven
hour address to the jury which
brought acquittal of Henry Sweet.
“We do honor to a man who has
attacked, ridiculed and exposed every
idea held by this smug, bourgeois
civilization of ours,” declared Mr.
White. “He has shown that the ag
nostics and free-thinkers are friends
6f the Negro rather than the funda
mentalists whose religion which
should make them the best friends
of the people of other races, actually
stops at the color line.”
Other speakers at the dinner to
Mr. Darrow were: Zona Gale, nov
elist; Judge Harry Fisher of the Cook
county circuit court; Donald Rich
berg, prominent attorney; Dr. John
Haynes Holmes; Prof. Thomas V.
Smith of the University of Chicago;
Prof. Shirley J. Case and Fay Cooper
Cole.
YOUNG MATRONS FORM CLUB
Eight young matrons met at the
home of Mrs. J. F. Scott, 2731 Frank
lin street, April 8th, and organized a
club called “The Mitzi Girls.” The
club meets the first and third Friday
of each month. The club met last
Friday, April 22, with Miss Blanche
Buford, 2515 Binney street. Old
gold and blue was the color scheme
in the decorations, games were play
ed, and a delicious two-course lunch
eon was served. The next meeting
will be with Mrs. Drew Harrold, May
6th. —
EDITORIAL
Next Tuesday is election day. More than 75,000 voters
have registered and are therefore eligible to cast their vote for
the men whom they want to entrust with the government of
this city. This is a very, very important matter. As a matter
of fact, as we have frequently said, it is more important who
shall be mayor of our city, sheriff of our county, and governor
of our state than who shall be president.
We are called upon to elect seven commissioners, who for
the next three years will be responsible for the peace and gen
eral welfare of the community in which we live. The mayor is
the general peace officer and administrator of the city. The
police commissioner is charged with the protection of the lives
and property of all citizens and the enforcement of the law.
Public improvements, maintenance of the streets, lights, sani
tation, public health, parks and recreational facilities, protec
tion from fire and like calamities, and the oversight of expend
ing the taxpayers’ money for the needs of the city, are duties
which devolve upon the commissioners in charge of the re
spective departments. So you can see how vitally interested
you ought to be in the question of who shall be our City Com
missioners. *
Don’t you see how this question affects you directly and
personally? If so, then don’t you see how necessary and im
portant a thing it is for YOU to GO TO THE POLLS AND
VOTE?
If it is necessary and important for you to vote, you can see
at once that it is important HOW AND FOR WHOM YOU
SHOULD VOTE.
Two separate tickets or slates are in the field. You are
being asked to support either one of these tickets in their en
tirety, because the reven members of each slate are pledged
to certain policies. It is not a question of independent or in
dividual candidates now, but of slates. The fight is clean cut
and sharply drawn between the “SQUARE SEVEN” and the
“CITIZENS’ TICKET,” which is the new name for the Civic
Alliance or KLAN SLATE. Which slate are you going to sup
port? That is the whole question in a nutshell.
The “Square Seven” is composed of men of proven civic
ability. Six of them, Dahlman, Dunn, Hummel, Hopkins, Kout
sky and Noyes have served the city faithfully and well as com
missioners. This experience is worth a great deal. They have
made good on their respective jobs. Among their opponents,
there is not one that can surpass them in ability or equal them
in experience. Marcell, the seventh man, has rendered good
service in another public office. Judged from the viewpoint
of experience and faithful public service the “SQUARE
SEVEN” stand head and shoulders above the “Citizens’ (Civic
Alliance!. Ticket” and therefore are entitled to your vote.
Their record is before you.
The Monitor has not stressed the other reason why our
people should favor the “Square Seven” rather than the “Citi
zens’ Ticket,” because we desired to appeal to their good sense
and judgment upon the ground of experience and fitness of
the opposing slates rather than by what might be considered as
an appeal to their prejudice against a hostile organization.
There is, however, another valid objection to the “Citizens’
Ticket” which we cannot afford to overlook and that is that
it haa the backing of the KU KLUX KLAN.
We do not claim that all the candidates on that ticket are I
members of the hooded order, but that some are is generally!
conceded. This, however, cannot be denied, that the head of
the local klan and his cohorts, among whom is the Florence fan
atic upon whom it is alleged rests supicion of serious crime, are
actively working for the “Citizens’ (Civic Alliance) Ticket.”
WHY? They know that the “Square Seven” is against the
Klan!
The present administration refused permission to the hood
ed brigade to march through the streets of Omaha or to hold
meetings in the City Auditorium and so the “Invisible Empire”
is concentrating its strength, whatever it amounts to, to defeat
the “Square Seven.” It is thus a clear Klan and anti-Klan
contest. Which do YOU want to see win?
It is for you to say on next Tuesday by your vote whether
you want men as City Commissioners who have given us a good
administration, respecting the rights of all citizens, and have
proven themselves capable and efficient, or whether it shall
be turned over to inexperienced men, who, however good they
may be personally, are under obligation to and will be influ
enced by an organization which teaches racial and religious
hatred and intolerance.
Whom do you want as YOUR city Commissioners for the
next three years? Men of experience, who have served you
well, and whom you know what they stand for and what they
will do, or men of inexperience, whom you do not know what
they will do? Men who stand against racial and religious in
tolerance, or men who are under the domination of an organi
zation which stands for racial and religious intolerance? Klan
or anti-Klan? “Citizens’ (Civic Alliance) Ticket” or “Square
Seven?”
There are clear cut issues at stake in this campaign which
make it imperative that you should go to the polls and vote.
Don’t stay home. Get out and vote.
The Monitor believes that all our readers will see the issues
of Tuesday’s election as we see them and will go to the polls
and VOTE FOR THE “SQUARE SEVEN.”
Colored Clergy Command
a Far Reaching Influence
Washington, D. C. — Addressing
the Interdenominational Ministerial
Alliance here last week, James Wel
don Johnson, secretary of the N. A.
A. C. P., declared that the influence
of the colored clergy among their
people was relatively greater than
that of the white clergy among their
white people.
“The relative influence of colored
clergymen among their congrega
tions is greater than that of the
white,” declared Mr. Johson, “for
the very obvious reason that the mem
bers of the average white congre
gation are open to and affected by
more influences than the members of
the average colored congregation.
“The average colored congregation
looks more fully to its pastor for its
guidance upon all matters not only
religious but political, social and per
sonal. Therefore, since his influ
ence is proportionately greater, so
are the colored minister’s responsibil
ities greater. It is incumbent upon
him not only to inform himself in
telligently upon the religious and
moral phases of race problems but
also the secular phases and forces
that enter into and control race prog
ress.
“Colored clergymen should be well
informed upon the Negro’s status as
a citizen, and his progress, the ob
stacles the Negro has to confront;
and they should be among the first
to support the organized activity by
which the Negro’s cause is advanced
and his status as an individual af
firmed through the courts and before
the tribunal of American public opin
ion. In this way, the colored mini
sters can become, as some of them
are, leaders of the race in every
sense. The opportunity is there.”
RIVIERA CHANGES
SEGREGATION POLICY
Personal Appeal of Representative
Singleton Is Successful
la Securing Reform
Members of our group who have
attended the Riviera theatre in the
past two weeks have been agreeably
surprised at the courtesy extended to
them. No attempt is now being made
to seat colored patrons in the last
rows of the third balcony.
Representative John A. Singleton
of the ninth district is to be given
credit for the change in the segrega
tion policy inaugurated upon the
opening of this beautiful playhouse.
At the earnest solicitation of sev
eral of our represntative citizens, Dr.
Singleton began an investigation. He
took the matter up with R. W. Mc
Ginnis, connected with the movie
industry, who was attending the leg
islature. Mr. McGinnis immediately
got in telephone communication with
the manager of the Riviera and pro
tested against this unfair discrimina
tion. He gave Dr. Singleton his per
sonal card, with the suggestion that
he seek an interview with the mana
ger. Dr. Singleton called upon him
several days later, introduced him
self and stated his mission. The man
ager received him courteously and
listened to him attentively. While
admitting that he had given orders
to seat colored people in the third
balcony, he declared that the atti
tude of the white theatre-going pub
lic demanded a separation of races,
reminding Dr. Singleton that there
were nearly 200,000 whites and 16,
000 colored people in this communi
ty. Dr. Singleton called his atten
tion to the Nebraska Civil Rights bill
which guarantees to those 16,000
Negroes equal rights and privileges
with those 200,000 whites.
After some further discussion, the
manager assured Dr. Singleton that
the order segregating our group in
the balconies would be cancelled.
Our people, who are among the
most loyal, substantial and law-abid
ing of our citizenry, rejoiced with all
Omaha in the erection of this mag
nificent palace of amusement and
are grateful to Dr. Singleton for the
effort he made to adjust this matter
that they may be able to enjoy the
high-class attractions at the Riviera
without embarrassment and humili
ation.
PICKENS SPEAKS AT FOUR
COLLEGES ON MIDWEST TOUR
—
New York, April 28—William
Pickens, field secretary of the Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, has spoken
at four colleges on his midwestem
lecture tour.
In Meadville, Pa., Mr. Pickens ad
dressed the students of Allegheny
college; in Akron, Ohio, Mr. Pickens
spoke in the chapel of Akron college;
in Columbus, Ohio, he took two of
Professor H. A. Miller’s classes in
sociology at Ohio State University,
and at Butler college in Indianapolic,
Mr. Pickens spoke in chapel and took
a sociology class.
THE “SQUARE SEVEN"
STRONGLY ENDORSED
Sixteen civic and improvement
clubs, nearly all of the defeated can
didates in the city primary, and men
and women of every station of life,
every race, creed, and religion, re
siding in all parts of the city, have
endorsed Dahlman, Hopkins, Marcell,
Dunn, Noyes, Koutsky, and Hummel,
the “Square Seven” candidates, ac
cording to A. V. Shotwell, chairman
of the campaign committee.
During the past week there was
published the names of 428 men and
women from every part of the city,
endorsing the “Square Seven” can
didates because of their efficiency;
their stand for square and sound gov
ernment, and because they have kept
i the city taxes down to the minimum.
A statement calling upon the vo
ters to elect the “Square Seven” can
didates was signed by practically
everyone of the candidates who were
defeated in the recent city primary.
The statement of the defeated can
didates said: “We heartily endorse
the ‘Square Seven’ ticket composed
of Dahlman, Koutsky, Hummel, Dunn,
Hopkins, Noyes, and Marcell and
urge the voters of Omaha to cast
their vote for them at the election
on May 3rd. We believe that the
seven candidates known as the
| ‘Square Seven’ are the best qualified
, for the office, because they are ex
perienced, efficient, and believe in
| sound government.”
The improvement club endorse
ments have actually poured into the
campaign headquarters. Among the
sixteen clubs that endorsed the
‘Square Seven’ are organizations of
every leading faith and nationality,
located in practically every part of
the city.
“The general city-wide support we
are receiving is very gratifying to
me and the other six,” said Mayor
Dahlman. “It is an inspiration to us
to carry on in the best interest of the
taxpayers of Omaha.”
DOMESTIC SCIENCE AND
BRIDGE CLUB
The Domestic Science and Bridge
club met at the home of Mrs. Flo
rence Johnson, 2618 Binney street,
Monday, April 26th, with the presi
dent in the chair. After the trans
action of business a delightful lunch
eon was served by the hostesses and
bridge was played. The first prize
was won by Mrs. Theodore Thomas
and the booby prize by Mrs. H. Vaw
ter. Mrs. G. W. Watson of Phila
delphia substituted for Mrs. Jessica
Wright. The next meeting will be
held with Mrs. Edgar Lee, 2417 Ma
ple street.
MEAD ANTI-IMPERIALIST
WILL SPEAK SATURDAY
Manuel Gomez, head of the All
American Anti-Imperialist league, is
to be the principal speaker Saturday
night at an anti-imperialist and Sac
co-Vanzetti protest meeting at the
Swedish auditorium. "Hands off
China, Mexico and Nicaragua," is
his subject.
AGED RESIDENT ANSWERS
SUMMONS
Mrs. Missouri Blackwell, aged 72,
resident of Omaha for nearly forty
years, passed away at the home of
her daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Dick
erson, 2814 Ohio street, early Mon
day morning t fter a protracted ill
ness. Mrs. Blackwell’s death follow
ed that of her brother, Henry Woods,
one of Omaha’s oldest citizens, by
less than three weeks.
Mrs. Blackwell is survived by three
sons, Bert of Des Moines, Iowa;
Frank and Henry of Omaha; a daugh
ter, Mrs. Charles W. Dickerson; three
grandchildren, and other relatives.
The funeral, which was largely at
tended by sympathizing friends, was
held Wednesday afternoon from
Myers’ Funeral Home, the Rev. Char
les H. Trusty, pastor of Hillside Pres
byterian church, officiating. He was
assisted by the Rev. John Albert Wil
liams. Interment was at Forest
Lawn. The three sons of the de
ceased, her son-in-law, Charles W.
Dickerson; and Malcolm Scott and
Robert Burns Allen were the pall
bearers.