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The Monitor
NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
GROWING —
THANK YOU
$2.00 a Year—5 CcnU a Copy_Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, December 23, 1927 Vol. XIII—Number 25 Whole Number 647
A Merry Christmas To All
DIFFICULT TO FIND
EMPLOYMENT FOR
NEGRO WORKERS
—
Industrial Relations Department of
National Urban League Reviews
Labor Conditions in Its
Recent Bulletin
GOOD SPOTS HERE AND THERE
New York City—“Not in recent
years,” says the National Urban
league through its most recent bul
letin of the industrial relations de
partment, of which T. Arnold Hill is
director, “has there been exerted so
much effort to find jobs for Negroes
with so little success. In the import
ant industrial communities of the
north and west men and women ex
perienced in this field have made fu
tile attempts to secure work for the
large number of unemployed Negroes
whose conditions have been practical
ly unchanged throughout most of
1927.”
Among the important efforts made
to meet this situation was the crea
tion of a committee in New York of
white and colored citizens which had
its first meeting at the Park Avenue
Community church, of which Dr. John
Haynes Holmes is minister. This
committee, formed by the New York
Urban league, and comprising a num
ber of important persons heretofore
not actively interested in a program
of this sort, began its work with an
appeal to the United Cigar Stores, the
United Electric Light and Power com
pany, the New York Edison company,
and the New York Telephone com
pany, with the hope of securing em
ployment for colored people in ca
pacities in which these companies do
not employ them. The committee set
out earnestly to secure telephone op
erators, readers of electric light and
gas meters and clerks in stores.
Two other ventures in this same
direction were industrial campaigns,
one in Milwaukee and one in Spring
field, Illinois, when the attention of
business men and women through the
service clubs, the Manufacturers’ as
sociation, and the Association of
Commerce and the Business and Pro
essional Women’s club was called to
the need of additional lines of em
ployment for Negroes. The person
ell managers of p’ublic utilities and
department stores were interviewed
and general managers of industrial
corporations were appealed to with
the result that calls from five places
not before employing Negroes were
received at the headquarters of the
Urban league of that city. Two large
corporations have initiated new poli
cies favorable to the employment of
colored people. One of these, the
Ford Motor company, has employed
a salesman in one of its New York
agencies; the other a reputable oil
company operating in the west, has
reached definite decision to give jobs
to colored men when the spring
weather increases the volume of gas
and oil business done by this com
pany, in ten cities in which large
numbers of Negroes live.
Here and there occasional happen
ings throw light on the ebb and flow
of employment affecting members of
the Negro race. Two steel plants in
Milwaukee have closed temporarily,
thereby forcing into unemployment
125 colored men, and two other
plants in this city, in which 20 per
cent of the working population were
Negroes, have suspended business un
til January 1st.
In the Pittsburgh district where
mines are operated on a half-time
basis, some 4,000 colored mineis
have been affected. In several cities
there have been replacements of col
ored by white help. Chicago reports
the loss of 100 positions formerly
held by colored girls in a pencil com
pany who have been 'replaced by
foreign help.
The other side of this picture is re
flected in St. Louis, where many col
ored building tradesmen have found
employment in the tornado asone. In
Chicago, the opening of the Savoy
ball room was the occasion for the
employment of nearly 100 men and
women. In Baltimore, a cleaning
and dyeing concern recently hired
TEN COLORED AND THREE
WHITE STUDENTS FROM
HOWARD KENNEDY SCHOOL
Children Preient Interesting Program
Including Class Play. Miss Belle
Ryan, Assistant Superintend
ent, Delivers Address.
Ten colored and three white stu
dents were graduated from the eighth
grade of Howard Kennedy school,
Wednesday, December 14. An inter
esting program was rendered by the
graduating class, assisted by four pu
pils from the eighth A class and one
from the first grade, the latter be
ing necessary to fill out the cast for
the class play, “Graduation of Any
Child.”
The program consisted of the fol
lowing numbers: Piano solo, Edrose
Willis; song, “The Boat,” eighth
grade; school poem, Grace Godwin;
class prophecy, Harry Brown; song,
“Elegy”, eighth grade girls; song,
“Merry Life,” eighth grade boys;
class play, “Graduation of Anychild,”
in which Sylvia Adams took the chief
role. The cast of characters was as
follows: “Anychild,” Sylvia Adams;
Amy, Marie Petersen; Clare, Alyce
Gardiner; Conscience, Eula McIntosh;
Alma Mater, Grace Godwin; Cheer
fulness, Joe Brown; Harmony, Roset
ta Larkin; Love, Edrose Willis;
Work, Marvin Howard; Indolence,
Lewis Vann; Frivolity, Frances Peter
sen; Selfishness, Vilma Valk; Pover
ty, Harry Brown; Industry, Robert
Washington; Knowledge, Wayne Car
sey; Vocation, James Hunter; Inde
pendence, Richard Alexander; Small
Child, Otelia Gordon.
Miss Belle Ryan, in her address to
the class on “The Outstanding Char
acteristics” stressed personal appear
ance, judgment, ability to see both
sides, honesty, good manners and
politeness, and efficiency.
Flowers were presented to the prin
cipal and to Miss Ryan by pupils of
the eighth grade.
The graduates were Sylvia Adams,
Richard Alexander, Joe Brown, Har
ry Brown, Wayne Carsey, Alyce Gar
diner, Grace Godwin, Marvin Howard,
James Hunter, Rosetta Larkin, Marie
Petersen, Vilma Valk, Lewis Vann,
and Robert Washington.
About 65 per cent of the enroll
ment of Howard Kennedy school is
colored. *
MILLS MEMORIAL
FUND GETS $5,000
New York City—The first $5,000
toward the Florence Mills Memorial
fund was secured from two benefit
performances which were given at
the Alhambra and Lafayette theaters
recently. The performances were
participated in by many prominent
stage folks and were declared real
successes.
The fund will be used to erect a
home for Negro actors and actresses
which will be named the Florence
Mills Memorial Home, after the fa
mous “Little Blackbird,” who died
recently. The home is expected to
cost $500,000 and the funds will be
derived from the proceeds of mid
night benefit performances to be giv
en in Negro theaters throughout the
country for the next three months.
KENTUCKY’S RICH
WOMAN DIES AT 84
Lexington, Ky—Mrs. Bettie Pat
terson, who is known as Kentuck’s
richest woman of the race, died in
this city at the age of 84, leaving a
son, Robert Patterson, her only child.
Mrs. Patterson received a great deal
of advertisement some years ago up
on her inheritance of a large fortune,
consisting of cash money, race horses,
a large farm, and a beautiful man
sion fully equipped. Relatives of her
former employer tried to break his
will, but the courts decided in her fa
vor. Many visitors visited her at
home.
colored workers for the first time.
A popular hotel in Jefferson City,
Mo., has dismissed its colored help.
From many parts of the south re
ports indicate that there is practical
ly no change from the quiet condi
tions that existed at the beginning of
the fall. *
EDITORIAL
Sunday afternoon a simple event of far reaching signifi
cance took place in Omaha. It was more far reaching in proph
ecy, perhaps, than in immediate fulfillment, for it foretells
the kindly and co-operative relationship between all races and
kindreds of the earth which must ultimately obtain when the
spirit of Christ shall truly reign in the hearts of those who pror
fess to love and serve Him. Who, as a matter of fact, really
do want to manifest His spirit, but who through moral coward
ice, generated and sustained by racial and religious prejudice,
belie Him and thereby rest under the charge of hypocrisy.
The Christian religion is the true panacea for all the ills of
the world. It is the only panacea. There is nothing the mat
ter with Christianity. Its motive power is love. Its product
and fruitage brotherhood.
Despite our imperfect application of its principles and our
failures to practice what it teaches, we must not forget that
the world and humanity have made great advancement since
that never-to-be-forgotten birthday in Bethlehem of Judea,
which the world still celebrates with festival and song.- Faint
ly, but growing louder through the advancing years, the world
is giving back the song which the angels sang on Judean hills
two thousand years ago, “Glory to God in the Highest and on
Earth Peace, Good Will to Men.”
“Peace and "good will” are growing among men. A back
ward glance through the ages shows this to be true. The ideal
has not yet been reached. There is much yet to be attained;
but we art. diking progress, it may be “with painful step and
slow” and yet the important thing to remember is that mankind
is moving toward the far-off divine intent for which the Saviour
of mankind was born, “Who for us man and our salvation was
incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made
man.” To make all men realize that they are children of a
common Father and shoudl live as such in their relations one
with another.
Inis we know is not yet realized. We know that men and
women yet look askance upon God’s children of different
color from their own. This is keenly felt in the United States
of America, nominally a Christian land. There are few com
munities, even among the most liberal ones, in which, for ex
ample, there is any real contact or association between Chris
tians whose skins are called “white,” and whose skins are call
ed “black.” There are prejudices on both sides of the line
which retard, in a larger measure than we realize or think, the
progress of Christian principles. Suspicion, dislike, hatred and
ill-will are foreign to the Christ spirit. Isolation fosters these.
Association and co-working banish them. It is in the light of
this truth that we have noted an obscure event as one of far
reaching significance, because it manifests the true spirit of
Christ, the spirit of Christmastide, which is that of peace and
good will.
The event to which we have alluded to is this: The Central
branch of the Young Women’s Christian Association held its
Christmas vesper service Sunday afternoon. They invited the
North Side branch to unite with them in this service. Both
groups took part on the program and in the social activities.
There was no evidence of patronizing, but a genuine spirit of
fellowship prevailed. The white girl reserves and the colored
girl reserves, each group equally neat and trim in their simple
uniforms, and equally sedate and well-mannered, graciously
waited upon the guests, naturally and without embarrassment,
Such helpful association and contact as prevailed upon this
occasion, as indeed, has upon others, makes for “Glory to God
in the Highest and on earth Peace, and Good Will to Men.”
This is the Christmas Evangel. May there be more and
more practical manifestation of it throughout every community
not only in America, but the entire world.
McGILL GIVES ANNUAL FREE
CHRISTMAS DINNER
For several years Eugene McGill
has made it his practice to give a free
Christmas dinner to all unemployed
persons who apply at McGill and
Davis restaurant, 2616 Q street. The
same custom will be followed this
year.
Mr. McGill is one of the enterpris
ing business men of our race who
has built up a substantial restaurant
| business on the South Side.
ANNUAL SESSION OF THE
AMERICAN NEGRO ACADEMY
The thirty-first annual meeting of
the American Negro Academy will be
held in Washington, D. C., Wednes
day, December 28, 1927.
The Academy was organized on
March 5th, 1897, having for its ob
ject, the promotion of literature, sci
ence, and art; the culture of a form
of intellectual taste; the fostering of
higher education; the publication of
scholarly works, and the defense of
the Negro against vicious assault.
Mr. Charles S. Johnson, editor of
“Opportunity,” a journal of Negro
life, published monthly by the de
partment of research and investiga
tion, National Urban league, will read
a paper, the subject of which is “The
New Negro,” at the open meeting at
8 o’clock Wednesday, December 28,
in the parlors of the Mu-So-Lit club,
1327 R street, N. W.
The officers of the Academy are
as follows: President, Arthur A.
Schomburg, Brooklyn, N. Y.; vice
presidents—J. R. Clifford, L. M. Her
shaw, W. P. Dabney; recording secre
tary, Thomas M. Den; treasurer, P.
H. M. Murray; executive committee
Leonard Z. Johnson, chairman, Kelly
Miller, Henry P. Slaughter, Alain
LeRoy Locke, and William Cook; cor
responding secretary, Robert A. Pel
ham, Washington, D. C.
SHEFFIELD PILOTS
AIRSHIP OVER CITY
FOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles, Cal.— (ANP)—Maceo
B. Sheffield, lieutenant of detectives,
and one of the most daring and fa
mous colored officers of the west,
was tendered special honors by be
ing selected by the city officials to
pilot the airship bearing the city’s
official photographer.
The flying cop, as he is called, was
not only the only officer-aviator on
the force, but also the only Negro
among the hundred or more under
consideration for the hazax'dous and
important service.
A survey of city improvements and
the great civic center now in process
of building was made and it was nec
essary to fly very low at times, cir
cling the tower of the new Hall of
Justice as well as high over the sea
and mountains to get a panoramic
view of the surrounding country.
Miss Robbie Turner, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. James S. Turner, 2514
Corby street, is home from Washing
ton, D. C., where she is a senior at
Howard university, to spend Christ
mas with her parents. Miss Turner
attended the National Students’
Council, which convened in Lincoln,
Neb., as one of the delegates chosen
to represent Howard university.
CHRISTMAS VESPER
SERVICES ARE HELD
AT CENTRAL BRANCH
North Side Branch Invited to Co
operate. Furnishes Part of Pro
gram and Takes Part in Social
Hour
Last Sunday afternoon at four
o’clock the spacious auditorium of
the Central Y. W. C. A. was comfort
ably filled by the audience that at
tended the Christmas vesper service.
An invitation had been extended to
the North Side Branch to unite with
the Central branch for this service
and the cordiality with which the in- ,
vitation was accepted was manifested
by the large number of our people i
who attended and also contributed to 1
the delightful program rendered.
Several Christmas carols were
heartily sung by the audience and a
beautiful Christmas Litany, led by,
Mrs. James Patton, with sung re
sponses by the audience. Beautiful
tableaux, featuring the coming of
the Magi, the shepherds and the Na
tivity, were impressively presented.
The music for the tableaux was fur
nished by the ladies’ quartet of Zion
Baptist church. The Bel Canto chor
al club rendered two spirituals, “Look
Away” and “You Gotta Crown,” and \
Mr. Joseph Thomas, gave two num
bers on the stro violin.
Miss Ruth White, on furlough from |
China, where she has been engaged in
the work of the Y. W. C. A., gave
an illuminating address on China.
Miss White characterized the people
of China as peace-loving, home-lov
ing, and courteous. The disturbed
conditions there are due to the de
veloping of a new life, incident to
all transitional periods, the develop
ment of nationalism, which rebels
against unjust conditions imposed on i
her by western nations. Christian- !
ity is finding welcome there by learn- j
ing to work with the people of China,
rathfer than for them.
Following Miss White’s address,
the service was fittingly closed by i
singing “In Christ There Is No East
Nor West,” and prayer by Mrs. Har
ford, one of the pioneer presidents of
the Central branch.
A social hour followed, during
which refreshments were served by
the Girl Reserves of the Central and
North Side branches, tea being pour
ed by Mrs. M. McFarland of the Cen
tral branch, seated at one end of the
table, and by Mrs. Hiram Greenfield
of the North Side branch, at the
other end.
_ i
10 NEGROES IN DIPLOMATIC
AND CONSULAR SERVICE
There are ten Negroes in our dip
lomatic and consular service, accord
ing to official records. They are the
Hon. William T. Francis, minister
resident and consul general to Li
beria, American legation, Monrovia,
Liberia; Clifton R. Wharton, third
secretary, American legation, Monro
via, Liberia; William H. Hunt, Amer
ican consul, Guadeloupe, French
West Indies; James G. Carter, Amer
ican consul, Calais, France; William
J. Kirby, American consul, Oporto,
Portugal; Carleton A. Wall, clerk,
American legation, Monrovia, Li
beria; Lorenz B. Graham, consular
clerk, attached to the American le
gation, Monrovia, Liberia; Napoleon
Bonaparte Marshall, clerk, American
legation, Port au Prince, Haiti; Miss
Lillie Marie Hubbard, clerk, Amer
ican consulate, Oporto, Portugal.
THE VIRUS SPREADS
_ I
Phoenix, Ariz.—Arizona’s jim crow
school law has been sustained by the
state supreme court, in an appeal
from the action .of the Douglas School
Board in refusing a race boy admis
sion to the city’s high school. The
supreme court upheld the board’s
power of race segregation, this not
to be considered racial discrimina
tion.
Mrs. Owen Jones, formerly of Oma
ha, who has been residing in St. Paul,
Minn., for some time, arrived Sunday
and is at the home~of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Middleton, 2122
North Twenty-sixth street.
LEADERS UNITED IN
APPEAL FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT
Representatives of Religious tCivi!
Rights, Fraternal and Welfare
Organizations Stand for
Constitution
ALL AMENDMENTS ARE EQUAL
New York City—Leaders of frater
nal, religious, welfare and civil
rights organizations of Negroes
throughout the United States, meet
ing in conference in Washington un
jder the auspices of the Elks, have
! united in an appeal to the congress
■ of the United States, to leaders of
American thought and to the Amer
ican people, for enforcement of the
! entire Constitution.
The appeal, drafted by William
i Pickens, field secretary of the Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People and vice
chairman of the Washington confer
ence, was signed by representatives
of the following organizations as well
as by many individuals: The Elks,
by J. Finley Wilson; the National
Equal Rights League and Races con
gress, by W. H. Jernagin; the Na
tional Association of Republican Col
j ored Women, by Nannie H. Bur
roughs; the National Association of
/Colored Women’s Clubs, by Mrs.
| Mary McLeod Bethune; the Shriners,
by Ceasar R. Blake; the True Reform
jers, and the A. M. E. Church, by
John R. Hawkins.
I The appeal deplores “the danger
lous policies of those time-serving
political leaders of any party or sec
|tion, who are disposed to compromise
t with the sentiment that certain of
lour laws and constitutional provisions
I cannot be enforced because of the
fact that a minority, even a power
ful minority, is opposed to such laws
and provisions.” The appeal states
that the thirteenth, fourteenth fif
j teeth and eighteenth amendments are
as vital to the Constitution and
“should be as honestly enforced as
| .he fifth or sixth.” The appeal con
tinues: “In the last analysis, white
I people and black people have a com
j mon interest in the sacredness and
I the security of the ballot and of all
constitutional rights.”
Besides its meetings, participated
I in by Negro leaders from every part
of the United States, the conference
called upon republican national head
quarters and met in banquet cement
ing the program in which all Negro
organizations of the country are now
co-operating.
COLLEGE WOMEN IN
ANNUAL SESSION
Washington, D. C.—More than two
thousand women in all sections of
the country are preparing to attend
the annual session of the grand chap
ter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority
which will convene December 27 to
30, 1927, at Howard university,
where the organization was founded
in January, 1913. It will be the
ninth annual convention of the grand
chapter and as usual delegates and
visitors from the 34 active chapters
are expected to be present.
Despite a full program of social
activities announced by Beta Sigma,
the hostess chapter, the convention
promises unusual opportunity for
real accomplishment with the inter
est of officers and delegates centered
upon individual chapter problems, re
ports of chapter progress, and plans
for chapter accomplishment.
The daily business sessions, which
will be held in Library hall, Howard
university campus, will be presided
over by Ethel L. Calemise, of Cincin
nati, who is the president of the grand
chapter. The other officers are as
follows: First vice president, Anna
G. Thompson, Washington, D. C.; sec
ond vice president, Vivian O. Marsh,
Berkeley, Calif.; secretary, Beatrice
Morton. Cincinnati, Ohio; treasurer,
Annie M. Dingle, New York City;
journalist, Madree Penn White, St.
Louis, Mo.
Miss Grace Dorsey, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Dorsey, arrived
home this morning to spend the holi
days.
