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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1928)
L I F \ in Z— LIFT, \ > O --- n -- 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 Ye{ Cents a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, January 20, 1928 Vol. XIII—Number 29 Whole Number 651 Negro Woman Member State Legislature Sculptor Wins $250 Prize in Exhibit of Neero Art A sculpture in terra cotta of the head of a Negro boy called “Sam my,” was unanimously voted by the judges the prize of $250 in the first nation-wide exhibition of the fine arts productions of Negroes. The ex hibit is being held under the sponsor ship of the Harmon Foundation in co-operation with the Commission on the Church and Race Relations of the Federal Council of Churches, at International House, 500 Riverside Drive, New York, N. Y. The artist to receive the prize, which is being given by a well known patron of the arts, is Sargent John son, a picture framer of 2777 Park street, Berkeley, Cal. The judges were Edwin II. Blash field, mural painter and president of the National Academy of Design; Charles C. Curran, mural painter, secretary of the National Academy of Design; Way man Adams, portrait painter; Arthur Lee, sculptor, and Karl Illava, sculptor. “We unanimously give to Sargent Johnson the prize for the best work exhibited, it being the terra cotta head of a boy, called by the artist ‘Sammy, ” they said in their decision. Honorable mentions were given to Albert A. Smith of New York for his drawing, “Place de la Monnaie, Pau, France,” O. Richard Reid of New York for his portrait of Charles S. Johnson, and M. Gray Johnson of New York for his oil portrait of Wil son Lamb. Honorable mention was made “only to those to whom we would gladly have given money prizes,” says the judges’ decision, “had such prize- oeen available.” Eighty-seven a. t objects, including oil paintings, etchings, drawings, sculpture and various kinds of hand work, are being presented by Negroes from all parts of the country in the exhibition at International House. Although it is an outgrowth of the CONVICT WHITES IN AN ASSAULT CASE Assaulters of a Pittsburgh Matron Face Long Sentence in the Pennsylvania Peni tentiary Pittsburgh, Pa. — A jury in the criminal court returned a verdict of guilty against two white men here recently on a charge growing out of a criminal attack upon Mrs. Sara Redd, prominent race matron of this city. The whites, Charles McGill and Russell Dale, are members of two of the city’s wealthiest white families. Sentence was set aside peading fil ing of a motion for a new trial. Mrs. Redd was accosted by the two white men in an exclusive white resi dential district. She was taken to a secluded spot, attacked by both men, and left in a hysterical condition. The attack occurred July 17. WHITES AND NEGROES JOIN TO RAISE $500,000 FOR A HOSPITAL IN BALTIMORE Baltimore, Md.—The New Provi dent Hospital and Free Dispensary campaign for $176,000 ended bril liantly recently with subscriptions and cash amounting to nearly a half million dollars. Of this, $164,496.46 was reported by race workers under George A. Watty, general chairman. The white workers, under Dr. J. M. T. Finney, made a report of $149, 007.90, with a total of 769 subscrip tions. GIRL INSURES EYE FOR $1,000 Los Angeles, Cal.—Mrs. Marie Ront has taken out an insurance pol icy on her eyes representing the first time a similar policy has been issued to a Negro girl. Serious injury of her highly prized orb will bring a pay ment of $1,000. Mrs. Ront is young, pretty and well known, and is pro prietor of a doll hospital. 4 Award in Fine Arts of the Harmon Foundation (which is one of a series of seven awards for Negro creative work), the showing includes the work of many who were not entered for this year’s award. Conforming to the usual custom the decision of the judges as to the winner of the prize aat, the exhibition was made without taking into consideration the pro ductions of those which had already received Harmon Awards in Fine Arts. These are given for disting uished achievement in the Fine Arts j rather than as competitive prizes. The success of the Exhibit has been such that the sponsors have decided to hold it again next year. It has at tracted considerable attention in both white and colored circles and because ! of the continued large attendance it has been extended through the even jing of January 17. It is open to the | public from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m., and jfrom 7:30 to 9:30 p. m. The spon sors hope the exhibit to accomplish (three things: to creat a wider inter est in the work of the Negro artist as a contribution to American culture: | to stimulate him to aim for the high ; est standards of achievement, and to | encourage the general public in the I purchase of his work with the event ual purpose in view of helping the | American Negro to a sounder and | more satisfactory economic position 1 in art. Sargent Johnson is exhibiting, be sides the prize winning head, the (green porcelain bust of a child, and : a terra cotta statuette with gothic tendencies of a meditative maiden which he calls “Pray.” Photographs j of several of his other works are also being shown. One of these, a Chinese , | baby done in green porcelain and | called “Pearl,” received the gold medal for sculpture at an exhibition | a short time ago at the San Francisco, i Cal., Art Association’s exhibition. ---__ •TEACHER IS AWARDED $1,000 FELLOWSHIP Mitt E. C. Harris, Washington Edu cator, Will Study in Germany Next Year At Retult of the Award Washington, D. C.—The coveted traveling fellowship of $1,000 given by the national organization of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority has been awarded to a Washington, D. C. edu cator. Miss Ethel C. Harris, head of the department of mathematics in the high schools of Division 10-13 was awarded the sorority fellowship at the annual meeting of the body at Cleveland, O., two weeks ago. Miss Harris will study in Germany next year. CLEVELAND HAS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER Cleveland, O.—The Negro citizen ry of Cleveland is rapidly coming into their own politically. Following closely upon the election and seating of three candidates in the city coun cil, is the election of Harry E. Davis, attorney and state legislator, to the Civil Service Commission. The election of Mr. Davis was made possible when Councilmen E. J. Gregg and Clayborno George joined ! hands with the “faithful twelve Re publicans” of the city council in vot ing for him. FRENCH PRODUCER AGREES TO STAGE NEGRO REVUES New York—An announcement of unusual interest was that made last week to the effect that Maurice Gau gin, noted theatrical impressario of France, is enroute to America where he plans to present a number of all Negro revues in the large cities of the each. Mr| Gaugin, it was learned through his persinal representative, George Morris, whose headquarters are in New York City, will begin work on his productions immediately upon his arrival here. EDITORIAL </"■ The commutation of the sentence of Sol Wesley from death to life imprisonment will, we believe, meet with general ap proval. Popular approbation of the action of the board of pardons is attributable to several causes, chief of which are the lapse of time between the commission of the crime and the date set for the execution of the criminal ;and the revul sion of feeling, justified by a righteously humane sentiment, against the execution of an insane person. Wesley, it will be recalled, and a companion in crime by the name of Muldew, were convicted of murder in the first degree five years ago, for the shooting and killing of a by stander in holding up a grocery store. Both were sentenced to be executed. Subsequently the supreme court reduced Mul drew’s sentence to life imprisonment and reaffirmed the death j penalty in the case of Wesley. Before the date set for Wesley’s execution, he was declared insane and the death penalty sus pended. Recently, being declared sane, a date was fixed for carrying out the original sentence. Those close to Wesley, in cluding Warden Fenton of the penitentiary; the prison chap lain, the Rev. Mr. Maxwell, and if, we are not mistaken, sev eral physicians, claimed that he was still insane, or of a “very low mentality.” This lead to a vigorous protest against Wes ley’s execution, from prominent people of both races, a protest in which The Monitor joined. Several agencies were active in requesting a commutation of sentence, among these being the Omaha and Lincoln branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Colored Min isterial Alliance of Omaha. The chief credit, however, in our opinion, should go to the Rev. O. J. Burckhardt, who, although backed by the organizations named, has worked unremittingly for nearly five years to have the sentence commuted. The important fact is that by the commutation of the penalty to life imprisonment the great commonwealth of Nebraska will be freed from the stain of executing an insane man. The ends of justice will be conserved and the public pro tected, which is the chief consideration in the punishment and incarceration of criminals, by life imprisonment, provided that it IS imprisonment for life. The trouble is that life imprison ment rarely means this. Increasing crime, which is becoming a terrible menace to society in the United States, is due very largely to inadequate punishment for crime by the carrying out of sentences imposed by the courts. If punishment is to be a deterrent for crime then the United States must adopt the methods employed by England and other European countries in dealing with crime. There must be fair, speedy and just trials of the accused and prompt execution of the sentence. If Wesley be a mental defective as those who have exam ined him claim he is, then the commutation of his sentence is a justifiable act of mercy and as such is to be commended; but we express the hope that no weak sentimentality in the lapse of years will become operative to liberate him. He should be confined for life in protection to society. Sixteen Persons Get Harmon Awards New York, N. Y. (By the Associ ated Negro Press).—Four thousand dollars in money accompanied by gold and bronze medals were award ed sixteen men and women in recog nition of their creative work by the Harmon Foundation. The awards were announced last Monday and gave recognition for achievements of national significance in literature, fine arts, business, including indus try, education, music, science .and religious service. Two awards were made in each field, a first of $400 and a gold medal and a second of $100 with a bronze medal. They are to be presented in the home towns of | recipients in public gatherings on i Lincoln’s birthday, February 12. First award in science went to James A. Parson, jr. In describing his work and those of the others who received honor the committee said: “James A. Parsons, jr., 27, chief chemist and metallurgist of the Dur iron company of Dayton, Ohio, was given the first award in science for special research in aluminum bronze, his discoveries on corosion testing and his development in duriron. Through the interest of his present employer in whose family his father served as butler, he was able to at tend and graduate from the Renes selaer Polytechnic institute of Troy, New York, where he specialized in electro chemistry and electro metal lurgy. He has developed a research staff of five or six Negro experts employed by the Duriron company. There was no second award. “Laura Wheeler Waring, a teach er of art at Cheyney State Normal school, Cheyney, Pa., was accorded the first award in fine arts for a group of paintings. Special mention was made of the portrait of an old Negro woman entitled ‘Anna Wash ington Derry.’ J. W. Hardwick, 36, of Indianapolis, Ind., received the second award in fine arts for a group of portrait studies. A special award consisting of a gold medal was given William Edouard Scott, 43, of Chi cago, 111. “One of the $400 and gold medal awards in music was granted to R. Nathaniel Dett, 45, musical director of Hampton Institute, Va., for his vocal and instrumental compositions. The recipient of the other award of $400 and gold medal was Clarence C. White, 47, director of music, West Virginia Collegiate institute, Insti tute, W. Va., for his work as a violin ist and a composer. J. Harold Brown, Indianapolis, Ind., was given honor able mention in music. “The first award in religion was accorded William N. DeBerry, 57, pastor of St. John’s Congregational church, Springfield, Mass., in recog nition of his development of a model Negro church as an outstanding ex ample of what the church may mean in group and community service. The Rt. Rev. Re. E. Jones, 52, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, New Orleans, La., was given the sec ond award for his work in organizing and furthering an educational, social, and religious center and conspicuous work as a religious editor. Honor able mention was made of Dr. J. W. E. Bowen, Atlanta, Ga., and Bishop A. L. Gaines, Baltimore, Md. “In education, John W. Davis, 39, president of West Virginia Collegiate institute, Institute, W. Va., received the first award for his success in building up a land grant college from a secondary school to an institution acknowledged as having college standing. One of its features is its full Negro faculty. It is the first institution of its kind to be accepted as a member of North Central Asso ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The second award in edu cation goes to Benjamin Brawley, 45, professor in Shaw university, Raleigh, N. C., for his work as a teacher of English, his publications on Negro life and on English literature. Hon orable mention was made of Thomas M. Campbell and Clinton J. Calloway, both of Tuskegee institute. Dr. J. W. E. Bowen, Atlanta, and Mrs. Althea Edmiston, Nashville, Tenn., mission continued on Page Three) RACE WOMAN SITS IN WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE Mr». E. Howard Harper Fill* the Vacancy Created By Death of Her Husband In Third Term Welch, W. Va.—When the House of Delegates is called to order, Mrs. E. Howard Harper, prominent West Virginia Race woman, will occupy a chair among the members. It will mark the first time that a colored American woman has filled an office in a state legislature. Mrs. Harper was recommended by I the Republican executive committee j to Governor Gore for appointment as ; a member of the House of Delegates j to fill the vacancy created by the recent death of her husband, Hon. E. Harper. Governor Gore supported : the recommendation, as required by | a state law. ! Mr. Harper was one of the most ; popular members of the West Vir | ginia House of Delegates. He was serving his third term as legislator. — WHITE MAN SUES FOR TEN THOUSAND; CALLED A NEGRO ' It’s worth $10,000 for any white 1 man in Alabama to be colored. Yes, : sir, strange as it may seem, it’s true just the same. This fact was estab j lished Friday when Alex De Fleron | of Mobile, Alabama, sued the R. L. | Polk Co., of Norfolk, Virginia, pub | lishers of the Mobile City directory, for $10,000 because he was errone ously designated as “colored.” Whether or not the designation re sulted from the compiler of the di rectory having seen De Fleron com | ing out of the Negro section after the shades of night had fallen or whether he mistook one of those synthetic “colonels” of the south, which is ab , breviated just the same as the south I ern white folks abbreviate the word I colored, viz., “col.” to mean colored ! instead of colonel, is not known, but | De Fleron thinks the designation is worth $10,000 to him and is asking the courts to help him collect it. j APPOINTS NEGRO DEPUTY AS THE COUNTY CLERK Louisville, Ky.—Among the many political appointments already an nounced is that of C. L. Grundy, a young man who under the former administration of Republicans, serv ed as engineer in the Number 8 en gine company. Mr. Grundy has been appointed to a place in the county clerk’s office as deputy county clerk. Messrs. Page Hemphill and W. B. Wood, former detectives, have been restored to their places, also three probation officers in the juvenile court, two bath house attendants, one police woman, and a number of men in the custodian’s department of the city hall and the street cleaning de partment. It is expected that a num ber of very important positions will be named in the city health depart ment. KIP’S SISTER WILL SUE FOR A DIVORCE New York, N. Y.—The New York American Monday says Mrs. Julien St. Charles Chaqueneau, daughter of Philip Rhinelander, and sister of Leonard Kip Rhinelander, is plan ning a suit for a divorce. Her husband at the time of the wedding six years ago was known as John St. Charles Shackno, but upon locating in Paris with his bride, he changed his name to Chaqueneau. His wife is now at the home of her father here. CAPITAL CITY STUDENTS GAIN COVETED HONORS Washington, D. C. — Francis Sy phax, a graduate of the Dunbar High school, class of 1922, has been ap pointed literary editor of the Sed, an nual student publication of Boston University’s School of Education, while Robert Weaver, of the class of 1925, was a member of the Harvard debating team which recently defeat ed Wesleyan. WESLEY’S SENTENCE COMMUTED TO LIFE IN STATE PRISON State Board of Pardons Stipulates That Omaha Negro Shall Re main in Penitentiary For Life Lincoln, Neb. — Sol Wesley, who for more than five years has faced death in the electric chair, now faces life—life in the state penitentiary. The state board of pardons Satur day commuted Wesley’s death sen tence to life imprisonment. Clemency was granted Wesley, who shot and killed Deerson during the holdup of an Omaha grocery store in 1923, because he was found to be mentally incompetent. Three state physicians told the board that their examinations had convinced them Wesley is a feeble-minded per son with the mental capacity of a 6 year-old child. No Parole In the order granting the commu tation the board recommends “that no further pardon, commutation or parole ever be granted him.” The decision to grant the commu tation was reached by the board in less than two hours after the hearing held at the penitentiary, j “In granting this application,” the board says, “we are doing so because the record is overwhelmingly in favor 'of the commutation. There are no protests.” Had Hunch Wesley7 r,hoif?h he'Tias been sullen and unwilling to talk for several years, must have had a hunch Satur day afternoon that he was on the verge of escaping the chair. He seemed even anxious to answer all questions put to him by members of the board. And once a broad grin spread over his dark countenance. At all other times % however, except when directly questioned, he sat stooped far over, nervously clasping and unclasping his hands. His face was expressionless, but his blinking eyes roved continually about the room. Governor Quizzes In response to questions put to him by Attorney General Spillman, Wes ley said he had been born in Okla homa and that he had reached about the third grade in school. Answering questions regarding his life in Omaha, he told the board that he had worked in several packing houses, receiving $2 a day, and later worked several months washing dishes on a dining car. Governor McMullen asked him if he had quit the dining car job or had been “fired.” At that Sol grinned profusely and answered, “I quit.” Justice Goss Speaks Supreme Justice Goss told the board that in his opinion too much time had elapsed since W'esley was first sentenced. It is now nearly five years since the crime was committed,” he said, “and I believe it would leave a bad taste in the mouths of the people of the state to convict him now. “If the law was such that the exe cution could be carried out within one year perhaps after the sentence, I believe it would have the effect of deterring others from committing crimes,” he said. Mental Condition Judge Goss pointed out that Wes ley’s attorney had not brought out any evidence to indicate the mental condition of Wesley at the time of the trial. He expressed the opinion that if such evidence had been presented at the trial, a death sentence would not have been recommended by the jury. He also expressed the opinion that the supreme court would have com muted the sentence if Wesley’s men tal condition had been brought to its attention. He said he had learned, though not authoritatively, that two of Wesley’s sisters, his father, and his grand father had been insane or feeble minded. “Every day is a holiday for the man who likes his work."
