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lnni The Monitor ^
NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALPURT WILLIAMS, Editor.
$2.00 « Year—5 Cent. ■ Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1927 Volume XIII—No. 16 Whole Number 638
First Victory In Anti-Segregation Fight
N. A. A. C. P. WINS FIGHT
AGAINST WASHINGTON,
D. C„ SEGREGATION
Secretary Work Yields to Persistent
Demand to Abandon Segregation
of Employees in Interior
Department
New York — Neval H. Thomas,
presdent of the Washington branch
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, re
ports to the national office that all
42 colored employes who had been
segregated in the Department of the
Interior, have been ordered back to
their old, unsegregated posts of duty.
Mr. Thomas terms the order “an un
precedented backdown on this great
issue; and by the most stubborn man
in the cabinet. All Negro Washing
ton is acclaiming the victory.”
The victory against segregation in
the Interior department comes as the
consequence of a persistent campaign
engineered by the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of Colored
People, under the leadership of Mr.
Thomas, with the co-operation of oth
er bodies. In the course of the cam
paign, Mr. Thomas several times call
ed upon Hubert Work, secretary of
the interior, to present protests in
person as well as by letter, against
the segregation of colored employes*
The colored press of the country
rallied, almost as a unit in this cam
paign, and the N. A. A. C. P. was able
to present Mr. Work with copies of
newspapers from every part of the
United States showing that sentiment
was united against the practice which
had been inaugurated in the govern
ment buildings.
Significant of the effect of the N.
A. A. C. P. campaign, is the following
extract from a dispatch from Wash
ington to the Savannah, Georgia,
News, which stated:
“Expectation of the Negro to be
in the thick of the political situation
as 1928 approaches has been evidenc
ed by special activity in this city and
in Chicago. Prospects of support of
Herbert Hoover for the presidency
have been affected this week by ac
tion of the National Association foi
the Advancement of Colored People
through investigation of alleged seg
regation and racial discrimination in
the pension office under Hubert
Work, secretary of the interior, said
to be closely aligned with the candi
dacy of the secretary of commerce.”
The N. A. A. C. P. reprints the
above extract, not because its action
in the segregation fight was in any
sense motivated by political reasons,
but to show that the campaign ha:
registered in the minds of politician:
and political correspondents.
Secretary Work’s memorandum
ending the department segregation,
directs "that all the employes in the
' pension bureau, both white and col
ored, affected by the new organiza
tion of the division of files, be re
stored to the location and work as
signments they formerly occupied.”
Secretary Work denied that segre
gation was intended, saying, "I want
no feeling that there was any so
called segregation intended in th^
changes complained of, because such
a feeling would militate against effi
ciency, the only purpose contemplat
ed by the change.”
THE GRAND CHAPTER
ORDER EASTERN STAR
CONVENED IN OMAHA
The Amaranthus Grand Chapter,
O. E. S. of Nebraska and its juris
diction, convened October 12, 13, and
14 at the Masonic hall. The grand
chapter was called to order by Wor
thy Grand Matron Maggie Ransom.
In the absence of Worthy Grand Pa
tron I. B. Smith, Associate Grand Pa
tron W. P. Wade presided in con
junction with the W. G. M. Peace
and harmony prevailed throughout
the session. While the delegates en
joyed the social events, a reception
was held Wednesday night at
the hall and a banquet Thursday
night at the Y. W. C. A. arranged by
the local committee, of which Mrs.
Florence Johnson, was chairman.
Each sick member of the grand chap
ter and the various subordinate chap
ters was remembered by receipt of
a bouquet of flowers.
The following grand officers were
elected: Maude H. Johnson, worthy1
grand matron; W. P. Wade, worthy
grand patron; Estella Craig, associate
grand matron; Thomas Scott, associ
ate grand patron; Lulu B. Alexander, j
grand secretary; Viola Cole, grand
treasurer; Leona Glass, grand con
ductress; Janie Johnson, associate
grand conductress; and Hazel Terry
Lewis, grand lecturer.
The following were appointed
grand officers: Sarah M. Baker,
grand state deputy; Myrtle Metcalf,
grand chaplain; Lillian Frierson,
grand marshall east; Hattie Brown
low, grand marshall west; Lulu C.
Wheeler, grand Ada; Willina Thom
as, grand Ruth; Mabel Williams,
grand Esther; Ella Hunter, grand
Martha; Amand Jenkins, grand
Electa; Kathryn Huston, grand ward
er; M. S. Harris, grand sentinel; Pearl
Fletcher, grand organist; Hattie
Barnett, grand historian; and Jennie
Edwards, foreign correspondent.
Lincoln was voted the next meet
ing place of the grand chapter.
NEW PASTOR INSTALLED
AND HONORED BY FLOCK
The Rev. C. B. Burton, pastor of
Mount Moriah Baptist church, Twen
ty-fourth and Ohio streets, was for
mally installed Sunday afternoon.
The installation sermon was delivered
by the Rev. J. H. Jackson, pastor of
Bethel Baptist church, South Side,
whose choir and a quartet rendered
special music. Five-minute talks were
given by officers of the New Era
Baptist Association. A week of spe
cial services in which various churches
participated, preceded the formal in
stallation service of Sunday.
Monday night the installation ex
ercises culminated in a reception
complimentary to the pastor and his
wife at which an excellent literary
and musical program was given. The
musical numbers were selections by
the congregation and a tenor solo by
Mr. W. L. Myers. The Misses Ethel
and Anna Speese gave readings. Mrs.
L. Lohman read a thoughtful paper,
entitled "The Spirit of Missions.”
The principal address of the evening
was delivered by Attorney H. J. Pink
ett, who advocated co-operation upon
the part of all citizens of color in
helping to make Omaha a better city
in which to live. The Rev. Mr. Bur
ton and Mrs. Burton gave brief ad
dresses expressing their appreciation
of the courtesies shown them and the
good-will expressed and pledging
themselves to do faithfully the work
which they had accepted.
The Rev. Mr. Burton comes to
Omaha from Minneapolis.
COMMITTEE ASKS
AN APPROPRIATION
FOR URBAN LEAGUE
A committee, headed by Dr. Craig
Morris, appeared before the Board of
Governors of the Community Chest,
Monday afternoon, with the request
that $5,000 be appropriated for fi
nancing a branch of the Urban
League in this city. Dr. Morris gave
a clear-cut and lucid statement of the
origin and work of the Urban League.
Other speakers were the Rev. Dr.
Trusty, the Rev. Russel Taylor, tho
Rev. John H. Grant and Mr. Charles
Stanton, secretary and treasurer of
the Inter-racial Committee operating
the Free Colored Employment bu
reau. The general sentiment express
ed by all the speakers was in favor
of an Urban League. Dr. Grant
stated that he believed that it ought
to be financed by our own people,
and if it was a good thing, as he
believed it was, there was no need of
“bootlegging it in.” Mr. Staniton
said that the Urban League, nor the
Y. M. C. A., nor any other agency
would solve all the Negro’s problems,
as no agency could solve all white
people’s problems.
Mr. C. M. Wilhelm, president of
the Board of Governors, thanked thq
committee for coming and presenting
the subject, stated that inasmuch as
the subject of the Urban League had
not come before the budget commit
tee that committee hod appropriated
$.‘{,000 for colored work, leaving its
disposition to a joint committee of
the social agencies and a committee
representing the colored people, the
Rev. John Albert Williams to be a
member of that committee.
EDITORIAL
Next Tuesday nearly 1,200 volunteer workers will begin
! combing the city for subscriptions and donations for the Com
! munity Chest.
What is the Community Chest? This is a most important
question, for despite the fact that Omaha has had a Commun
ity Chest for four years and people have heard a great deal
about it, we are convinced that there is a large number of
citizens among all groups of our population who do not know
what the Community Chest is.
What is your idea about it? Is it clear in your mind just
what it is and aims to do, and what is your relationship in or
towards it, and just what your duty and responsibility is, as
a citizen of Omaha, concerning it? If your mind is clear on
these points then you will be ready and willing to cheerfully
give your share when requested.
The Community Chest is one big common fund, purse or
pot, made up by contributions, big and little, from everybody
in the community who will give for financing or paying for the
charitable and welfare work of thirty organizations which
are ministering in various ways to the physical, moral,
mental and spiritual betterment of the people of Omaha, ac
cording to the needs of each, and this irrespective of race,
creed, or color. It gives to everyone an opportunity to help do
a big and necessary job, helping the fellow in need and build
ing character. In a word, making Omaha a better and happier
community in which to live.
The work carried on by these various agencies may be
classified as that of Family Welfare and Relief, Health, Care
of Children, Care of Aged, Education and Aid of Under
privileged, Protective and Shelter Homes, Work Among Girls
and Hoys. Part of this work, as you see, comes under the head
of charity and charitable institutions, and another part under
the head of welfare and character building agencies which
eventually reduce the need of what is strictly known as charity.
forward looking cities a few years ago discovered that in
stead of having independent agencies making several appeals
for funds and getting donations from a comparatively few,
which made the cost of collection quite high, and reducing
thereby the amount available for the direct work for which it
was collected, it would be better to establish one big fund out
of which could and would be paid the expenses for carrying
on this needed work, and so they established what is known as
the Gommunity Chest. Four years ago, or in the fall of 1923,
Omaha seeing how the plan worked in other cities adopted the
Community Chest plan, and it has proven quite successful.
Each agency makes a budget for the year. It says we will
need so much money to do our work. These budgets are sub
mitted to the budget committee of the Board of Governors of
the Community Chest, who hold several meetings and spend
hours and hours going over these several budgets, suggesting
cuts where deemed necessary, and then they agree upon the
I amount that will be necessary to finance this work for the year.
They set a figure. This year it is $435,000, or about $2.00 from
every resident of Omaha, provided every man, woman and
child of the total population could and would give. But the
budget is fixed and then the whole community is requested to
put whatever he feels he can and ought to give in this common
fund called the Community Chest. Then each one of the
agencies, like the Associated Charities, the Visiting Nurses
Association, the Colored Old Folks Home, the Christ Child
Society, etc., is paid, month by month, the amount of money
allotted to it. Not all that each may have asked for, but as
much as the Board of Governors by whom the report of its
budget committee must be endorsed, honestly believe can be
given each agency in proportion to the contents of the Com
munity Chest, or pocketbook, and in justice to other agencies.
The Community Chest aims to interest all citizens of the
community in helping support the charitable and welfare work
of the city. It aims to create a community spirit. Last year
nearly 40,000 people, about one-fifth of the population, con
tributed to *he Chest. “Chipped in,” as Mayor Dahlman would
say.
Well, you are a citizen of Omaha. The Community Chest
campaign offers you the privilege and opportunity of helping
to make Omaha a better and happier city. To help the fellow
who may be out of a job to get one. To help some family in
need. To provide shelter for the aged. To help administer to
the sick, the poor and the outcast. To help in the development
of boys and girls, who will be the citizens of tomorrow. It is
a good cause which you are privileged to help.
As our people have contributed to the Community Chest in
the past we are very confident that all will gladly and cheer
fully contribute this year, according to the limit of their ability,
so that the full quota of $435,000 may not only be raised but
surpassed. Give what you can to the Community Chest. Feel
that you have a share in the good work that all these agencies
are doing. Do your bit.
WRONGS CAN BE RIGHTED WHEN RIGHTFULLY
ATTACKED
The recent victory won in knocking out segregation in the
Department of the Interior at Washington shows what can be
done in righting wrongs when intelligently and rightfully at
tacked. Segregation of government employees in Washington
began under President Taft and has been continued under his
successors. Like all other evils, which are not checked in time,
it steadly and stealthily grew. It was first introduced in the
Department of Printing and Engraving, and then crept by
stealth into other departments. A few months ago, under the
pretense of making necessary changes for efficiency in the
Treasury Department—why cannot those who pride themselves
upon their superiority be honest and straightforward and not
so damnably hypocritical in dealing with our people?—forty
one Negro employees were transferred and segregated in one
department, several of the employees being thus demoted and
placed in a lower class, not only as to work, but as to pay.
The Washington Branch of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People, under its intrepid, able
and alert leader, Neval Thomas, may his tribe increase! took
up the fight against this unjust and undemocratic act. His
efforts were reinforced by the National Office, the Equal Rights
League, and the race newspapers of the country. The result
has been that the employees have been restored to their former
(Continued on Fourth Page)
COLLEGE OF LAW
HONORS COLORED CO-ED
Lincoln, Neb.— (Special to The
Monitor)—At the recent election
held at the University of Nebraska,
Miss Zanzye H. Hill, a member of our
race, was featured on the ballots.
The Morning Journal had the follow
ing account of this election: “Six co
eds were in the race for honorary
colonel of the cadet regiment. The
winner is not announced until the an
nual military ball early in December.
The Law college ran in a surprise
candidate, Miss Zanzye Hill, a junior
from Lincoln. Miss Hill, a colored
girl, is the only woman in the law
college and was backed solidly by
that school.”
Last year Miss Hill v.'as the winner
of a scholarship offered by the Law
school. The young student, who re
ceived her A. B. degree from that in
stitution in June, is also active in
other campus activities, being the
only race girl who has membership
in the university vesper choir, an or
ganization with sixty members. Miss
Hill is a pledge of the Alpha Kappa
Alpha sorority, and is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. P. M. E. Hill of
Lincoln.
LEAGUE OFFICIAL
TO VISIT OMAHA |
New York—T. Arnold Hill, direct
rector of the National Urban Leag
or of the National Urban League’s
Department of Industrial Relations
is off to the west in search of better
jobs for Negroes. In Milwaukee Mr.
Hill goes to confer with heads of the
city’s largest industrial plants and to
speak before the leaders of the race
through whom he hopes to pass a
word of warning to the workers, lest
the remarkably fine showing the race
has made should be impaired in the
midst of the unemployment depres
sion throughout the middle west.
From Milwaukee he goes to Minne
apolis and St. Paul, thence to Spring
field, 111., Omaha, St. Louis and In
dianapolis. In these cities an exten
sion of occupational opportunities
will be sought. Omaha, where the
Negro population is estimated at 17,
000, ther is an abundance of common
labor, but few skilled jobs. For
women the field is disappointing. A
branch of the Urban League now in
process of organization there was
stimulated by this condition which
both white and colored people desire
changed.
Y. W. C. A.
Increased attendance and a desire
to learn more is noticed as we go into
our second week at the night or op
ortunity school held every Monday
and Wednesday evenings.
The regular monthly board meet
ing was held Saturday, October 15th.
New interest and new members with
new ideas made the meeting interest
ing and many new plans to improve
the “Y” were talked of.
The Membership committee, in or
der to raise funds for a radio, are
quilting and tacking comforts quite
reasonably. Help them buy a radio
for our girls.
The Publicity committee meets
every Tuesday in special session for
a while to perfect certain plans they
are trying to put over.
Public speaking class is held every
Wednesday night. Do you know how
to speak at meetings, if not come
out and learn!
My! One should see the beautiful
shades, placques, Artamo pieces and
flowers made in our art classes.
Come out and learn how to make
your Christmas presents.
I -
BETHEL A. M. E. GETS
A NEW PASTOR
The Rev. J. H. Garner of Macon
City, Mo., has been assigned to Bethel
A. M. F,. church, as the successor of
the Rev. T. W. Kidd. He held his
first services last Sunday, returning
thereafter to Macon for his family,
with whom he will arrive Saturday
and enter into residence at the par
sonage.
See next week’s issue of The Moni
tor for the announcement of a new
and wide-awake real estate company.
{former OMAHA BOY
STARS IN THE MOVIES
Son of Mr. and Mr*. Wm. Shackle
ford I» Making a Name for
Himself as a Movie
Actor.
Floyd Shackleford, one of the twin
sons of Mr. and Mrs. William Shackle
ford, 2115 Ohio street, will play the
leading cole in the new colored pro
duction, the stupendous drama, “Bab
ylon,” to be staged in the San Gabri
iello playhouse by John Stevens Mc
Groarty, who stages the famous mis
sion play yearly, depicting the early
days of California. Mr. Shackleford,
better known as Buster, for several
years one of the most used Negro
actors, has been selected for this
drama because of his heroic build and
power of expression. The part of
“Essonnues,” which he plays, is that
of a huge Nubian, a tall giant, omin
ously silent figure in bronze, stand
ing statue-like beside his king. A
superb body with powerful, rippling,
muscles, leaping into swift, dynamic
action, with murderous power and
unrelenting vengeance; who has been
enslaved and his tongue cut out, yet
around his life much of the story
swings, and though unable to speak,
he helps to shape the colorful and
tragic destinies of that ancient, ill
fated city. His twin brother, Lloyd
Shackleford, is also in the movies and
they are making good. Some of their
movie plays are as follows: “The
Ten Commandments,” “The King of
Kings,” “Romance,” “The Sea
Hawk,” “Hold That Lion,” “Campus
Flirt,” “Man Trap,” with Lon Chaney
in “The road to Mandalay,” “The
Claw,” “The Spider’s Wen,” and
many other pictures too numerous to
mention.
“BEARCAT” WRIGHT TO
MEET "CHUCK” WIGGINS
Omaha Athletic Club Is Staging Box
ing Bout of the Season Between
Tunney’s Trainer and Pop
ular Colored Fighter
“Bearcat” Wright, Omaha’s popu
lar colored heavyweight boxer, is go
ing to get the chance on October 28
at the city auditorium, to show
“Chuck” Wiggins that the decision of
their first battle was not fair.
When the two boys mixed the first
time, Wright was given the decision.
Jack Lewis, his manager, insisted that
his boy was just as good, and now
the famous “Bearcat” will get his
chance again.
On the bill are going to be some
wonderful preliminaries.
Robert $. Simmons of the Omaha
Athletic club, who is one of “Bear
cat” Wright’s close followers, said
that the “Bearcat” is going to win by
a knockout this time. Mr. Simmons
picks the seventh round. All who
know Mr. Simmons by his work as
organizer and president of the Col
ored Amateur Baseball League know
that he usually predicts such events
very well.
Monte Munn, the Nebraska legis
lator, was offered $2,000 to fight
the “Bearcat” but he refused. Jim
mie Daugherty, manager of George
Godfrey, refused to respond to the
Omaha Athletic club’s request for a
bout. The “Bearcat” has them all
scared.
Wiggins was formerly light-heavy
weight champion of Australia. He
has licked most of the good boys in
this country. He trained Gene Tun
ney for his last victory over Jack
Dempsey.
Tickets are on sale at the Omaha
'Athletic club, Baseball Headquarters,
Live Stock Exchange, Ernie Holmes’,
Auditorium and Knights of Columbus.
RETURN FROM HONEYMOON
Mr. and Mrs. Overstreet have re
turned to Omaha for an indefinite
stay after visiting many of the prin
cipal cities on their honeymoon. The
oride was Miss Halleck Allen. Mr.
and Mrs. Overstreet were married
June 6. They are residing for the
present at the home of the bride’s
mother, Mrs. Allen, 2812 Caldwell
street.