Is fTHE MONITOR m
t NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
£ $2.00 a Year—S Cents « CopyOMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1927VoT XII—No. 47 Whole Number 617
f RACE REALIZING POLITICAL POWER
RACE EFFECTIVELY |
USES ITS BALLOT IR i
LATE CAMPAIGNS
Have Proven Decisive Factor in Elec
tion of Desirable Candidate* in
Several Important
Cities
REALIZING POLITICAL POWER
Demanding Square Deal and Equal
Privilege* as American Citizens
in Return for Hi*
Vote
. . j
The Associated Negro Press
Chicago, 111.—That Negroes are
awakening to the fact that the ballot
is the most effective weapon with
which to fight for their rights, is
shown by the almost nationwide in
terest being taken in registering and
voting as demonstrated in the 1927
municipal elections in various parts
of the country.
Beginning with the Chicago elec
tion, which stirred the whole United
States and continuing through the
Los Angeles election held May 3, the
Hot Springs, Arkansas election about
the same time, to Raleigh, North
Carolina election of the same date,
Negroes have played an important
part in putting over the successful
candidates. In each instance the
Negro citizens have used their votes
to combat proposed, unjust legisla
tion directed against them as cam
paign promises.
Out on the coast, colored citizens
were struggling to establish their
right to the use of public amuse
ment places and the municipal parks
and swimming pools. Ane group
fostered the idea of having separ
ate parks, swimming pools and the
like for colored people located in
the districts most thickly populated
, by Negroes. The other held out
promises of fair play and justice for
all citizens. As Harry Levette
pointed out in an article in the Los
Angeles Express, the thirty-six thou
sard Negro voters, lined • up behind
the latter group, and marched to the
polls on election morning to cast
their ballot for those in whom they
had the most confidence. As in the
Chicago election, the Negro’s candi
date won.
Race Issue in Hot Spring*
Down in Hot Springs a battle was
against a candidate for mayor whose
record was considered unfair to col
ored people, and who had led the
opposition to the location, of a col
ored church. A form of segregation
that did not heretofore obtain at the
famous health resort. While inter
racial meetings could have been held'
and were held, the colored citizens
realized that to protect themselves
and their rights it would be necessary
to keep the candidates out of office
who proposed such unfavorable con-j
ditions. This they did with much
effect.
Raleigh Rival* Chicago
The campaign in North Carolina s
state capitol rivalled that of Chica- ^
go, in bitterness and in appeals to
race prejudice. The candidates seek-1
ing to overthrow the administration 1
played to the hoodlum element and
held out glowing promises of com
plete control and power. The admin
istration stood for justice to all citi
zens and an equal opportunity for
all, that is, as far as such is avail
able in the southern states. To the
administratiin went the Negro votes
and the election.
In Chicago, Los Angeles, New
York, Philadelphia, and other cities
above the ‘‘line," Negroes have for
years played an important part in
polifTcal campaigns and elections. |
- To hold the position of a factor
which must be recognized and dealt
with, in politics in the south, is
something new. A few Negroes per
haps have voted for many years but
the scarcity of votes prevented the
race from deriving any benefit from
(the election. The granting of suf
frage to women, and the decision of
the supreme court with reference to
democratic primaries, have brought
about a changed condition. Thou
sands of Negroes are struggling to
%£ f
P
I MALONE IN CUSTODY
AT SPRINGFIELD
I
* St. Louis, Mo.— (A. N. P.)—Aaron
Malone had another mental collapse
immediately following the settle
ment of his receivership suit last
week, and was arrested in Spring
field, 111., where he was taken into
custody because of his unbecoming
conduct.
When arrested, Malone said he was
being driven crazy since his marital
entanglements. Such utterance, ac
cording to persons who heard Ma
lone, does not support the rumor that
he was not satisfied with the termB
| of the receivership suit settlement.
It was authoritatively learned that
while Malone contended for a half
interest in the million-dollar Poro
college, the money involved in the en
tire settlement did not exceed $50,
uuu. Malone accepted as his part
$0,000 and his attorneys were paid
$35,000, according to information
fe.*cn oy one of Mrs. Malone’s attor
neys.
Malone was brought back to St.
Louis by friends who found him in
the Sangamon county jail. During
L.ie morning of last Thursday he had
entered the home of a former St.
Louis friend who was absent, and the
friend’s wife, who did not know Ma
lone, called the police.
in Springfield, Malone declared
he did not Know how he got there,
Out his St. Louis attorney, Edward
W. toristel, said that Malone had an
nounced his intention of going to
Springfield to live with a friend there
for an indefinite period.
A month ago, Maione injured him
self by leaping through a first-story
wmuuw at 4Kt2 Look avenue, where
he was staying with a friend, K. C.
»..t.tu»oi, wnu explained Malone had
been brooding over his domestic
troubles. At City Hospital No. 2,
wneie ne was treated for cuts from
window glass, physicians said he was
in "an extremely nervous state,” and
recommended a rest.
it is understood he will have to
undergo a thorough examination by
doctors.
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
OFFERS AID TO SUFFERERS
IN FLOODED DISTRICTS
Help Offered to President Coolidge
The National Urban League,
through its executive secretary, Eu
gene Kinckle Jones, has offered the
services of two of its trained exe
cutives for work among the colored
sufferers in the flood area. This of
fer was made on May 5th through
a telegram sent by Mr. Jones to Pres
ident Coolidge and to which the pres
ident replied stating that the matter
had been referred to the Red Cross j
for immediate action. Mr. Jones’ tel
egram to President Coolidge follows:
“Inasmuch as Negroes in the
Mississippi flood area are a
large proportion of the sufferers
and the National Urban League
with branches in forty-four cit
ies is the outstanding Negro so
cial service movement in Amer
I ica, we offer the federal govern
ment or the Red Cross through
you the services of Jesse 0.
Thomas of Atlanta, Georgia,
southern field secretary and T.
Arnold Hill, director of indus
trial relations, to serve in any
capacity in this crisis, determin
ed by you or the Red Cross.
These men have had many years
of experience in social service
activities.”
, qualify, even under the most strict
requirements for registration and
when registered are going to the
polls to cast their vote.
In neither of the Southern cities
mentioned did any racial trouble
arise on account of the Negro voting.
In many cases white men and women
carried Negroes to the polls and
peace and harmony obtained. This
new day is welcomed by leaders and
followers alike and the success in
the past elections have given rise In
some sections to the idea of an in
tensive campaign to force the
“sleepy heads” and those who say
“well the election does not mean
anything to me” to register and vote.
EDITORIAL
Another sincere effort has been made to unite our people
so that we can make a concerted effort to secure employment
for our people in the political, eucational and industrial fields.
We believe this effort has been reasonably successful. A large
and representative mass meeting was held Sunday afternoon at
St. John’s A. M. E. church. An honest and earnest effort was
made by those calling the meeting to have all classes repre
sented. If any group, faction or class was excluded, it excluded
itself. Whatever anyone may say to the contrary, it was an
honest and well-intentioned move to get the Negro citizens of
this city together in order that an effective demand might be
made for a more proportionate share of political jobs. This
was the primary object of the meeting. It subsequently devel
oped, however, in the course of the discussion that there were
jobs in the educational and industrial fields that we ought to
try to secure and could undoubtedly secure by united and in
telligent action.
It was pointed out by several speakers, as The Monitor has
frequently done, that those in postion to grant employment in
the political field, hypocritically dodge behind the assertion, I
“if your people were not so divided we would give you what
you want, but until you are united we can’t do anything, for 1
fear of offending one side or the other.” Of course, this is only j
a subterfuge, because this rule is not applied to the other group! j
but it has been effectively applied in our case to our great loss
and disadvantage.
It does look now, however, that we are beginning to get
some sense, and are not going to continue to submit to the cus
tom inherited from slave times of permitting this man or that,
by flattery and cajolery, to have one little group of our people
pitted against the other while they enjoy the bacon. We do
not expect all to agree, for there will still be this little faction
and that, but with the great mass of our people united it can
not be truthfully asserted that our division renders just recogni
tion impossible.
The mass meeting Sunday was representative of the masses
of our citizenship both in the person of the heads of represen
tative bodies, like churches and lodges, and in the membership
thereof. Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians,
Roman Catholics and others were there. Masons, Oddfellows,
Pythians, Elks, Tabors, Mosaic Templars and other fraterni
ties attended the meeting. The Colored Commercial club, the
Business and Professional Men’s club, the Medical Association
and the Roosevelt Post of the American Legion and like socie
ties were there. So it was as nearly a 100 per cent represen
tative gathering as it was possible to get. The sentiment of the
meeting was unanimous upon the one point that the time was
opportune for a united and intelligent demand for political and
other positions. With this as the prevailing sentiment a com
mittee of nine, seven men and two women, was elected as the
representatives of the colored citizens to carry out the wishes
of the meeting.
The committee has gone actively and intelligently to work
to carry out the work entrusted to it. It has devoted several
hours to making a survey of the field, mapping out its plan of
procedure and has interviewed the city commissioners from
whom it is confidently believed substantial recognition for our
people will be obtained. It plans to wait upon those in charge
of the public utilities and public service corporations such as
the Nebraska Power company, the Telephone company and
Street Railway company. It is animated by no selfish desire
but with the honest intention of trying to get jobs for our peo
ple irrespective of their denominational, non-denominational
or fraternal relationship, but according to the applicant’s abil
ity to satisfactorily fill the job available. The committee con
ceives its duty to be to find as many kinds of jobs for our
people as it can, and then find and recommend the man or
woman who can fill the job. It recognizes that it has a dif
ficult task before it and that it will not be able to please every
body, but The Monitor sincerely believes that this committee
will secure results that will win the commendation of the pub
lic. Other methods have, failed and we, as a group, have lost
ground. The time has come for united action. We are going
after it in the right way. It is absolutely true, as a prominent
white citizen said not long ago, “If the colored people of this
city will unite and go persistently and intelligently after many
things they are undoubtedly entitled to, they can get them.”
EDITOR STANDARD
NEWS ARRESTED
St. Louis, Mo.—Charged with hav
ing violated the Postal laws by send
ing copies of his publication through
i‘ic nu is which contained an obscene
story, Edgar D. Brown, editor of The
Standard News, a sensational "yel
low” journal published here, was ar
rested last Friday by federal author
ities.
The article purported to be an ac
count of the death of Charles Wil
liams, 33, chef cook, who was em
’> ved at the American Annex Hotel,
2612 Lawton avenue, which collapsed
during a terrific windstorm early on
Sunday morning, two weeks ago.
Brown was arrested on a charge of
libel last month upon the complaint
of Judge Crittenden E. Clark and
Robert Scott, republican committee
man of the Sixth Ward and members
of the City Central committee, war
rants charging Brown with criminal
libel were issued by the Prosecuting
Attorney’s office.
Clark, the first of the race to be
elected to the judicial bench in this
state, alleged in his libel charge that
Brown featured him in his newspaper
as being a traitoy to his race and an
associate of the poorest of white
trash.
In the warrant obtained by Com
mitteeman Scott, he stated that
Brown’s attacks through The Stan
dard-News have caused him to be
robbed of public confidence.
Brown will be brought in court this
week to give an account for the libel
charges against him.
The punishment for the transmis
sion through the mails, copies of a
publication containing obscene arti
cles shall be, according to the federal
law, a fine of $5,000 or five years
in the federal prison or both.
ST. LOUIS N. A. A. C. P. RAISES
$1,805
St. Louis, Mo.—St. Louis not only
holds second place in all baby con
tests, having raised $1,550 in 1925,
but now holds first place among all
contests of grown-ups, raising $1,805
in a contest just closed under the
leadership of Rev. C. M. Moore, ac
tive member of the Executive Com
mittee of the Branch.
PUPILS’ PIANOFORTE
RECITAL DELIGHTS
LARGE AUDIENCE j
| Hillside Presbyterian Church Filled
to Overflowing for Eleventh
Annual Recital
Hillside Presbyterian church was
filled to overflowing last Sunday af
ternoon by an appreciative audience
which was delighted with the’ pro
gram rendered by the pianoforte pu
pils of Mrs. Florentine Pinkston. It
was the eleventh annual recital to be
given by the pupils of this thorough
and proficient teacher who has done
so much for the development of mu
sical talent and ability in this com
munity. Every pupil reflected credit
upon himself and teacher.
Those taking part ranged from be
ginners to advanced pupils. Each
one showed proficiency in thfe grade
demonstrated and several of the pu
pils showed remarkable brilliance and
musicianship. Among some of the
most outstanding ones special men
tion should be made of Vonceil And
erson, Mildred Bronson, Orade Max
well, Marjory Bolden Edrose Willis,
Helen Hannigan, Willa Hays, Sarah
Brown/ Catherine Williams, Dorothy
Allen and Elaine Smith.
One of the features of the pro
gram was the contest between Sarah
Brown and Catherine Williams, who
played with excellent spirit and in
terpretation, Barlow’s “God of the
Mountains,” and that between Willa
Hays and Dorothy Allen in Feu Fol
let by Rogers, in which the contest
ants were so closely matched in its
almost faultless interpretation that ,
the judges declared it a tie by a
unanimous decision. By a unanimous
decision the judges awarded the prize
to Catherine Williams in her contest
wi+h Sarah Brown.
Miss Edrose Willis, who was to
have been one of the two contestants
in a third confest, but which was
dropped out, charmed the audience I
with her brilliant execution of her
contest number, which she was per
mitted to play.
The iudges of the contest were Mr.
Karl Tunberg, Miss Bernadine Gil
mna, supervisor of music at North
High school, and Mrs. Pinkston.
These recitals which are eagerly
anticipated are real revelations of
the musical ability to be found in this '
city and demonstrate beyond ques
tion what capable teaching and pains
taking work can accomplish.
PROGRAM
The program was as follows:
Key signatures of the major and
minor scales named by Elaine Smith;
Class drill, key signatures, rhythm,
etc.; Rudolph Geraer—“The Big Bass
Singer,” Rolfe; Mae Crumbley—
“Bam Dance,” Bilbro; Yuanita Jones
—“Joyous Song,” Hartmann; Edna
Mae Blair—“Little Emerald,” Engle
mann; Janet Johnson—“On the Ice,”
Crawford; Lyle Lawson—“The Sol
dier’s Song,” Steinheimer; Eugene
Skinner—“Scale Waltz,” McIntyre;
LaVerne Lawson—“Romance Sans
Paroles,” Streabog; Frank Perkins—
“Memories of Spring,” Anthony;
Henry Garcia—“At the Spring,”
Paldi; Algernon Pryor—“The Cello
Player,” McIntyre; Vonceil Anderson
— (a) “Four Leaf Clover Waltz,”
Spencer, (b) “Indian Dance in the
Firelight,” McIntyre; Louise Pryor—
“Etude in C Minor,”—Burgmuller;
Bernice Phannax — “Prixies Good
Night Song,” Brown; Mildred Bron
son— (a) “Meditation,” Morrison,
(b) “The Beetles’ Dance," Holst;
Orade Maxwell—“Fluttering Leaves,”
Rolling; Madeline Shipman — (a)
“The White Butterfly,” Huerter, (b)
“Hide and Seek,” Dennee; Jean Dor
sey — “Giants,” Rogers; Marjory
Bolden—(a) “Dance of the Shad
ows,” Coppee, (b) “Frolics,” Von
Wilm; (c) "Fairy Wedding,” Turner;
Joella Washington—“Swaying to and
Fro," Hamer; Edrose Willis—“By
the Sea,” Tosca; Helen Hunigan—
(a) “Elegie,” Massenet, (b) “Russian
Dance,” Englemann, (c) “Etude,”
Brugmuller; Willa Hays — “Valse
Arabesque,” Lack; Sarah Brown—
“Hungarian March,” Kowalski; Cath
erine Williams — “Crescendo,” Las
son; Dorothy Allen—“Prelude in C
Sharp Minor,” Rachmaninoff; Elaine
Smith—(a) “Polanise in E Flat Mi
COLORED CITIZENS
TAKE UNITED ACTION
FOR RECOGNITION
Enthusiastic Mass Meeting Held at
St. John’s Church Appoints
Committee to Get
Results
COMMITTEE ACTS PROMPTLY
Sunday afternoon a mass meeting
was held at St. John’s A. M. E.
church, Twenty-second and Willis
avenue, to consider the unifying of
our people in a sane and reasonable
demand for adequate representation
in the matter of employment at the
hands of the city and county govern
ment.
An earnest and sincere effort was
made upon the part of those respon
sible for calling the meeting to make
it thoroughly representative. All fac
tions and all classes were invited and
urged to be present and to take an
active part in the deliberations. As
a result, it was one of the most thor
oughly representative mass meetings
of our people held in our city in re
cent years. About 400 persons were
present.
The Rev. John H. Grant, pastor of
St. John’s, was- chosen chairman of
the meeting, and Dr. John Singleton,
secretary. The chairman stated the
object of the meeting, stressing the
importance of united action for racial
good. Several persons of both sexes,
expressed themselves as in hearty ac
cord with the purpose of the meeting.
The final outcome was the election
of an executive committee of nine to
make a survey of the possible posi
tions which might be secured for our
people and to wait upon the city com
missioners and such other officials,
as might be deemed advisable and
make a request for appointment of
suitable and qualified persons for
employment.
The committee elected by the
unanimous action of the mass meet
ing was as follows: the Rev. John
H. Grant, chairman; Rev. W. F. Botts,
Dr. John A. Singleton, Dr. Jesse C.
Hutten, Rev. John Albert Williams,
Rev. T. C. Kidd, Mrs. James G. Jew
ell, Mrs. Ada Hill Smith and Rev. P.
W. Harris of the South Side.
It was further enacted that all the
ministers of the city should serve
as an advisory committee to the exe
cutive committee.
The executive committee held a
meeting Monday afternoon, all mem
bers being present except the Rev.
Dr. Botts, who was out of the city.
Several of the advisory committee
also being present, and outlined a
part of its program. Another meet
ing of the committee was held Tues
day afternoon and arrangements
were made to meet the commission
ers, individually and by appointment
Thursday morning, from whom sat
isfactory assurances were given to
the committee that more adequate
representation would be given mem
bers of our race.
WEBB IS GIVEN
FAREWELL RECEPTION
Hot Springs, Ark.—Hon. John L.
Webb, supreme custodian, Woodmen
of Union, left Saturday on his Euro
pean trip, where he will spend three
months visiting nine of the European
countries. Mr. Webb is accompanied
by Mrs. Webb. He was tendered a
magnificent reception here Thursday
night by the citizens of Hot Springs,
wishing him a bon voyage. He left
here direct for Washington, D. C.,
and will go from there to New York,
from where he sails on the 28th of
this month. The entire office force
under leadership of Professor S. M.
Wyatt, office statistician, accompani
ed him to the station where they all
posed for their picture, standing near
the train which bore him away. These
pictures will be reproduced in the
various colored weeklies throughout
the United States.
nor, Chopin, (b) “Valse Triste,” Si
belus.
CONTEST
Edrose Willis—“Etude No. 2 Op.
46," Heller; Sarah Brown and Cath
erine Williams—"God of the Moun
tains," Barbour; Willa Hays and Dor
othy Allen, “Feu Follet,” Rogers.
M*f