eiv The Monitor —
\ NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
\ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
$2.00 a Year——I \ nts a Copy ~ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 52 Whole Number 622
_ <0 ---———— . ...
WOMAN IN JAIL ON MURDER CHARGE
MISSISSIPPI LYNCH
ING BRINGS WIRE
TO PRES. COOLIBGE
Advancement Association Contrasts
New York Lindbergh Day Tri
umph With “Degenerate
Barbarians”
New York City—The National As
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People, 69 Fifth avenue, tel
egraphed June 14, President Cool
idge, calling to his attention that on
the very day New York and the na
tion were celebrating Charles Lind
bergh’s and America’s triumph be
fore the world in aviation, a crowd
of “degenerate barbarians" in Mis
sissippi tied two Negroes charged
with murder to a telephone pole, sat
urated them with gasoline and burn
ed them alive, humiliating this coun
try before all civilization. The as
yet unpunished lynching of Aiken, S.
C., is also cited as justifying the plea
that the president demand a federal
anti-lynching law at the next session
of Congress. The telegram to Presi
dent Coolidge, signed by James Wel
don Johnson, secretary of the Nation
al Association for the Advancement
of Colored People, is as follows:
“On the very day that millions of
people in New York City were cele
brating a feat of courage, skill, sag
acity and scientific forethought,
which has added luster to the name
of America throughout the civilized
world, a crowd of degenerate bar
barians in the state of .Mississippi
tied two human beings to a telephone
pole, saturated them with gasoline
and burned them alive, thereby be
smirching the name of this land
wherever civilization is known.
The victims of the Mississippi mob,
the second and third respectively to
be publicly murdered by unpunished
mobs in that state this yenr, were Ne
groes deprived of uny semblance of
due process of law. It is safe to say
that in no spot on earth except the
Southern states of America, in par
ticular the state of Mississippi, would
such a degenerate and bestial viola
tion of nil decent human instincts as
the burning alive of two human be
ings accused of murder, be tolerated.
The occurrence of this mob crime
on the very day that New York and
the nation were acclaiming Charles
A. Lindbergh’s feat adds weight to
the demand for a federal law to ex
tend the power of the nation to the
backward, ignorant and brutal com
munities in which neither human life
nor the Constitution nor th^ good
name of the United States is respect
ed. May we again call to your atten
tion at this time the mob murder
in Aiken, S. C., of a colored woman
and two colored men, of whom one
had been declared innocent in court,
new trial ordered for the other two
by that state supreme court. This
mob murder is as yet unpunished and
the mob murderers go unmolested
and flaunt their guilt.
“In the name not only of the col
ored citizens of the United States,
but of all the citizens with any pre
tense to respect for the honor of
their native land, the National Asso
ciation for the Advancement of Col
ored People urges you to demand of
Congress at its next session the
prompt enactment of a federal anti
lynching law.”
WEST AFRICA NEEDS SCHOOLS
Washington, D. C.—Although on
the Gold Coast of West Africa alone
there is a school population conserv
atively estimated at 300,000, fewer
than 40,000 can be taken care of at
present. Conditions on the Ivory
Coast are even worse.
OPPOSE HOSPITAL
Kansas City, Mo.—The Linwood
Improvement association, which led a
fight to prevent colored persons from
living in white neighborhoods, re
newed its activities when its mem
bers filed a vigorous protest against
the proposed location of the new col
ored hospital at Twenty-sixth street
and Michigan avenue.
MOB VICTIMS BRING
SUITS FOR DAMAGES
Two Men Were Hunted by Lynched
Following Girls' False Charge
Against Negroes, Bring
Suit
Coffeyville, Kansas — Close after
the arrest of a white man and a white
girl for conspiracy to incite race riot
growing out of the riot which occur
red in this city several months ago,
additional damages suits have been
filed by colored persons who were
victimized by the rioters. The latest
suits were filed recently by Curtis
Smith, barber, and Vanges Harden,
who were both held as suspects in
connection with the attack which the
whites charged three Negroes com
mitted on two white high school girls
resulting in the riot March 17.
Held as Suspects
Smith filed claim with the city
commission asking $500 damages for
injuries he says he received when
forced to crawl through the rafters
of the cupola of the city hall to es
cape the infuriated mob.
Harden, who is 16 years old, was
also taken into custody in connection
with the attack when bloodhounds
led officers to the Harden home,
where Smith, Vanges Harden and his
brother were found, also filed a dam
age suit through his mother.
Made Nervous Wreck
The boy’s mothuj* charges her son
had been ill before he was taken
from home by the officers and that
as a result of his experiences he is
a nervous wreck. She asks $6,600.
The two claims bring the total
dumages asked aB a result of the mob
to $H0,426.
The city commission Tuesday plac
ed on first reading a series of or
dinances carrying penalties for overt
acts on the part of citizens or groups
of citizens in a time of public unrest.
ANOTHER ARRESTED
IN CONNECTION WITH
COFFEYVILLE RIOT
Coffeyville, Kansas—The third
arrest to be made in connection with
the race riot which took place here
March 18, occurred last Saturday
when Frank Attebury, a white Bhoe
salesman of Independence, Kansas,
was taken into custody by police.
Attebury is being held with Julia
Mooney, 19-year-old white high
school girl and Ira Kennedy, 30-year
old white automobile salesman of
Wichita, Kans., on a charge of com
plicity in a purported attack on two
white girls by three colored youths
March 17.
ANTHONY OVERTON AWARDED I
1927 SPINGARN MEDAL I
Capitalist Wins Honor Through Suc
cess in Long Business Career.
Heads Powerful Financial
Institution
New York, N. Y.—The coveted
Spingarn medal, which is awarded
each year to the colored American
adjudged to have accomplished the
most outstanding achievement, has
been awarded to Anthony Overton,
organizer and capitalist, according
to an announcement made by the
National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People recent
ly
Mr. Overton is the first business
man to have received the Spingarn
medal, the others being composers,
artists, authors, educators and a
social worker. The outstanding work
of the now powerful capitalist was
in distinguishing himself in the re
cent movement of Negroes for eco
nomical freedom, which has resulted
in the rise of powerful industrial
and financial concerns among the
race. His success in a long business
career and the crowning achieve
ment of securing the admission of
the Victory Life Insurance company
to do insurance business under the
rigid requirements of the State of
New York. The Victory Life Insur
ance company was the first race in
surance company to be permitted to
operate in New York.
At the present time Mr. Overton
is president of the Victory Life In
surance company and Douglass Na
EDITORIAL
Since the fight for the employment, or rather re-employ
ment, since we once had them, of colored teachers in the Omaha
Public schools is to be relentlessly and uncompromisingly con
tinued until victory is won, it may not be uninteresting or un
instructive to recall the story of the efforts for the appointment
of our first colored teacher in 1895, thirty-two years ago. The
opposition then came from an entirely different quarter to
what it has come during the past seven years. Then, th^Super
intendent of Education, Mr. A. P. Marble, and the Board of
Education were favorable and the task was therefore quite easy
of accomplishment. The opposition was from Mrs. Grace Sud
borough, principal of the Normal Training Class, who tried her
hardest to prevent the applicant qualifying for the position.
In 1893 Miss Lucinda W. Gamble was graduated from
Central High school and presented herself for examination for
admission to the normal class. Mrs. Sudborough tried to dis
suade her from taking the examination, advising her that it
would be a waste of time and effort for her to take the train
ing because “no colored girl would have any chance of teach
ing in Omaha.” Miss Gamble, however, insisted upon being
permitted to take the examination. At the close of her first
day’s examinations Mrs. Sudborough insisted that before Miss
Gamble continue the examination she should see the President
of the School Board as to the wisdom of her entering the train
ing class and the possibility of her being permitted to teach
provided she were successful in taking the prescribed course.
The president was Jonathan Edwards. Miss Gamble in
terviewed him. He said: “By all means take the examination.
The question of appointment will be a later consideration. I
don’t see why Mrs. Sudborough should send you to me or raise
any objection to your entering the class. You’re entitled to
the same privileges as are the other young ladies of your class;
so go back and take the examinations for admission to the
training school, and if you are successful, when the time comes,
the matter of your appointment with that of others will be con
sidered.”
Miss Gamble was successful in the entrance examinations,
took the two years’ normal course, and in due time received her
diploma and certificate and filed her application for appoint
ment.
A committee of colored citizens, among whom were the
late W. R. Gamble, E. R. Overall, George F. Franklin, George
Collins and M. O. Ricketts; and M. F. Singleton, T. J. Maham
mitt, Alphonso Wilson and others, who still survive, then waited
on the Board of Education and requested that since Miss Gam
ble had qualified that she be appointed as a teacher in the
public schools. The writer was chosen to present the matter
to the board.
Superintendent Marble frankly stated that the request was
reasonable and right and that personally he favored the ap
pointment of teachers upon their merit and that so far as he
was concerned the committee could rest assured that the ap
plication would be fairly considered. The president of the
board gave like assurances. There was no “passing the buck”
about it.
At the regular election of teachers Miss Gamble was ap
pointed, and taught for six years acceptably, successfully and
without friction, first at the Dodge school and then at the Cass,
until the time of her marriage in June, 1901, many of her for
mer pupils being successful business men of today, who remem
ber her most kindly.
In June, 1901, Miss Eulalia Overall, having graduated
from the Normal School at Peru, was elected without opposi
tion as the second colored teacher, and taught acceptably and
successfully for nine years, one as a supply teacher, for two
years at Mason and six at Columbian, many of her former
pupils, too, being prominent men and women of Omaha, who
speak of her in highest terms. She resigned in June, 1910,
when she became the wife of Dr. L. E. Britt.
It may be noted, in passing, that comparatively few of the
children taught by either of these young women were colored
children, but children of all groups, and that, just like other
teachers, they were highly esteemed by their pupils.
For fifteen consecutive years, then, Omaha had at least
one colored teacher on her corps. Had they not married or
died they doubtless would have been teaching yet, and the
precedent having been set, no doubt by this time, as in other
progressive cities, the number would have been increased. No
applicants, however, having presented themselves for several
years, the door was shut, and if some could have their way the
door would be kept shut and barred; but thank God, there are
still some men and women in Omaha with a sense of justice
and fair play and who are determined that door is again going
to be opened and kept open for those who qualify themselves
to teach.
Other doors of opportunity will also be opened if we con
tinue to qualify and not lose heart or courage or be discouraged
by those who claim “there will be no chance for a colored”
youth to follow the calling or avocation for which he is pre
pared. Prepare and persevere.
tional Bank of Chicago.
Those who have won Spingam
medals in previous years are: Dr.
E. Just, biologist, Howard; the late
Col. Chas. E. Young, West Point
U. S. military academy graduate and
commander of the 10th U. S. Caval
ry; Harry T. Burleigh, composer;
W. E. B. Dubois, author; Charles E.
Gilpin, actor; the late Mary B. Tal
bert, social worker; Prof. George W.
Carver, chemist, Tuskegee; Roland
Hayes, singer and composer, and Dr.
Carter G. Woodson, historian.
.. .
CENTURY OF HONEY
RUINS FARM HOUSE
Gomshall, England. — There’s so
much honey in the roof of a fifteenth
century farm house here, called
“Cole Kitchen Farm,” that the ceil
ing of the room immediately under
neath is giving way beneath the
weight after 100 years service as a
gigantic beehive.
T. H. English, the owner, says no
body ever tried to get the honey be
cause it would necessitate removing
the roof.
In the swarming season the place is
smothered with bees.
Hampton Institute, Va.—Farmers’
community clubs in Virginia will
within the next few days select dele
gates to send to the annual Hampton
Farmers’ Conference, June 28 and
29. Farmers and wives from Virgin
ia, North Carolina, Maryland and vis
itors from more distant states will
participate in the program, tx» which
| they look forward annually.
Coolidge Sends Greeting to
Race Relations Conference
_ I
Expresses “High Regard for Most
Valuable Work” of Advance
ment Association
Indianapolis, Ind., June 22—Presi
dent Coolidge has sent a warm letter
of greeting to the eighteenth annual
conference of the National Associa
tion of Colored People, which opens
here tonight, and in his letter the
president expressed his “high regard
for the most valuable work” being
done by the association. President
Coolidge in his letter states that
“your organization, including as it
does able and sincere men and wom
en—white as well as colored—has
been most effective in its efforts to
secure for your race the rights and
privileges that are the common heri
tage of us all.”
In the letter transmitting Presi
dent Coolidge’s message of greeting,
his secretary, Everett Sanders, states
his gratification that the race rela
tions conference is being held in his
native state of Indiana and the hope
that increased good will will be the
result of its proceedings.
President Coolidge’s letter, which
is addressed to James Weldon John
son, secretary of the National Associ
ation for the Advancement of Color
ed People, is in full as follows:
White House, Washington, D. C.
June 8, 1927.
“My dear Mr. Johnson:
“It is always a pleasure to ex
press my high regard for the most
valuable wcme'belHg d*n,SB-by the Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, and, I
thank you for the opportunity of
sending a message to be read at its
eighteenth annual conference.
“When we recall the history of the
colored man in this country, the long
period of his bondage—during which
he established a record for industry
and fidelity—when we consider his
lack of educational and other oppor
tunities for many years, we cannot
but marvel at his advancement. It
has been steady in the face of many
discouragements. We find the col
ored man today not only an impor
tant factor in our industrial and agri
cultural development, but successful
in business and showing skill in the
professions and in the arts. That
his achievements and standing in our
communities will continue to increase
is certain. To that end he should
receive every assistance that may be
given.
“I would like to repeat and em
phasize here what I said in my last
annual message to Congress:
‘The social well-being of our coun
try requires our constant effort for
the amelioration of race prejudice
and the extension to all elements of
equal opportunity and equal protec
tion under the laws which are guar
anteed by the Constitution. The
federal government especially is
charged with this obligation in be
half of the colored people of the na
tion. Not only their remarkable
progress, their devotion to duty and
their loyalty, but our duty to our
selves under our claim that we are
an enlightened people requires us to
use all our power to protect them
from the crime of lynching. Al
though violence of this kind has very
much decreased, while any of it re
mains we cannot justify neglecting
to make every effort to eradicate it
by law.
‘The education of the colored race
under government encouragement is
proceeding successfully and ought to
have continuing support. An in
creaing need exists for properly edu
cated and trained medical skill to be
devoted to the service of this race.’
“Your organization, including as
it does able and sincere men and
women—white as well as colored—
has been most effective in its efforts
to secure for your race the rights
and privileges that are the common
heritage of us all.
“My best wishes for the future.
Very truly yours,
.(Signed) CALVIN COOLIDGE.”
In his letter transmitting the Pres
ident’s greeting, Mr. Sanders writes:
“As an Indianian I should like to
say that I am glad personally that
this conference is to be held in my
native state; and I am sure that the
people of Indiana will welcome so
auspicious an event. We shall look
with interest to the addresses to be
delivered by the distinguished guests
of your conference; and we shall ex
pect that great and mutual good will
between the groups of our citizens
will result from the interchange of
views broadcast from your meet
ings.”
BISHOP CLAIR SPEAKS
HERE TUESDAY NIGHT
The Rt. Rev. W. M. Clair, bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal church,
will deliver a--* address Tuesday night
at Grove M J. church, Twenty-sec
ond and S« vard streets, Rev. T. V.
Oville, pastor. Bishop Clair has just
returned from Africa and will speak
on his observations there. A social
hour, giving the public an opportuni
ty to meet the bishop will follow the
lecture and refreshments will be
served. Public invited. There will
be no admission charged but a free
will offering will be taken.
Miss Rachel Rice left the city Sat
urday for St. Louis where she will
spend the summer with her mother
| and brother.
WOMAN ACCUSED OF
KILLING HUSBAND
HELD FOR MURDER
Mrs. Alma Wright, who it is alleg
ed shot and killed her husband, Ailus
Wright, a Pullman porter, follow
ing a quarrel at their home, May 24,
and was freed by a coroner’s jury,
has been rearessted and is held to the
district court without bond on a
charge of first 'degree murder. This
is the case, as The Monitor readers
will recall, in which it is alleged that
some time after a quarrel at their
home, Mrs. Wright took a revolver
and went hunting for her husband,
who had gone away from home,
threatening to kill him, and intercept
ing him on Twenty-fourth street, shot
him, killing him almost instantly.
Inasmuch as there had been sev
eral similar homicides recently among
Negroes and coroner’s juries had
freed p arsons accused a strong senti
ment prevailed among the law abid
ing members of the race that the at
tention of the county attorney’s of
fice should be called to this apparent
laxity where only Negroes were in
volved and cases of this character
should be more rigidly investigated
and prosecuted. This was done, with
the result that County Attorney Beal
ordered a further investigation of the
Wright case. As a result of this in
vestigation Mrs. Wright was rearrest
ed on a charge of murder. She
waived preliminary trial in police
court last Friday morning and was
bound over to the district court.
Judge Ben Baker and N. W. Ware
have been retained as her attorneys.
