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% NEBRASKA'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
■ i THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
GROWING —
THANK YOU
$2.00 a Year—5 Cents a py Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, March 16, 1928 Vol. XIII—Number 37 Whole Number 658
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Race Man Enters Suit For Rich Oil Lands
EXTRADITION TO
MISSOURI STATE
DENIED DY CODRT
Ohio Governor Refuses to Return
Man Charged with Committing
Murder 14 Years Ago in
Sister State
IDENTIFICATION INCOMPLETE
National Advancement Association
Attorneys Active in Thwarting
Attempt to Imprison Na
tive of Ohio
New York, March 9—Extradition
of a Negro, Will Brown, known as
“Cornbread,” from Columbus, Ohio,
to Missouri, where it was feared he
would be lynched on charge of a mur
der committed 14 years ago, has been
defeated by Attorney W. S. Lyman,
with the co-operation of the legal aid
committee of the Columbus branch
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People. The
committee, composed of Attorneys B.
F. Hughes, A. J. Worsham, L. A. Ran
som and I. I). Ross, began an inves
tigation as soon as the arrest of Will
Brown was reported.
“Immediately after his arrest there
were numerous reports in circulation
in the city of Columbus to the effect
that citizens in New Madrid, Missouri,
would lynch Brown as soon as he was
returned to Missouri,” says a report
from Columbus to the National As
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People national office. “It
was reported that the Elks’ lodge and
the Ku Klux Klan of New Madrid had
raised a sum of money estimated at
$1,000 to bring Brown back to Mis
souri.
‘‘The attitude and conversation of
Lewis Hackett, deputy sheriff of New
Madrid county, sent here to receive
the custody of Brown, did much to
enhance this apprehension. Through
out the hearing on a writ of habeas
corpus he referred to Brown as ‘this
here nigger’ and ‘darky.’
“Upon investigation by the associ
ation attorneys, in co-operation with
Mr. Lyman, personal counsel for
Brown, it was found that the mur
derer of Henry Johnson was about
24 or 26 years of age at the time of
the killing. Therefore the murderer
would be approximately 40 years old
now.
“Brown stated that he was only 26
years of age now; that he was born
in Willard, Ohio, and that he had
never been in Missouri.”
The attorneys found several people
who had known Brown in his youth in
Columbus, Ohio, and the testimony
of these people at the hearing before
the Ohio governor’s secretary estab
lished Brown’s age as he had given it.
This would have made Brown only
12 years old at the time the murder
was committed. The report to the
N. A. A. C. P. continues:
“The claim of the state of Missouri
was founded upon personal identifi
cation by the deputy sheriff of New
Madrid county. He claimed to have
been able to remember Brown and
identify him after a lapse of 14 years.
This appeared doubtful in the light
of the fact that he could have seen
him only two or three times a week,
over a period of three months, among
two or three hundred other Negroes
at work on a levee camp where the
alleged killing took place.
“He further claimed that he had
been able to pick Brown out of 40
other prisoners in the morning ‘line
up’ at the city prison on the day after
his arrival. But this statement was
negatived on his cross-examination
when defense attorneys forced him
to admit that he had arrived in Col
umbus about midnight and had gone
directly to the prison, where an at
tendant had allowed him to go back
to ‘Cornbread’s’ cell and take a good
look at the defendant. Identification
the following morning was, of course,
a simple matter.
“Upon conclusion of the evidence,
the assistant prosecutor for Franklin
county, Ohio, refused to make any
plea for extradition. Mr. Lyman then
Bpoke briefly of the evidence and call
ed attention to the failure of the de
manding state to establish identity
and also commented on the various
names under which Missouri had at
tempted to extradite the defendant,
their warrants having been changed
from Jesse Jones to Jesse Smith, and
then to Jesse Brown. The only con
sistent name was the alias, ‘Corn
bread.’
“Mr. Hughes for the N. A. A. C. P.
reviewed all the evidence offered and
concluded with a plea for justice to
the defendant. Mr. Dunkle, secre
tary to the governor, announced that
he would report to the governor and
that the chief executive would render
his decision on the following Monday
at 10 o’clock, at which time Columbus
received the joyful news that extra
dition to Missouri had been denied.”
KEEN KENTUCKIAN
BEGINS LEGAL FIGHT
FOR MULTI MILLIONS
Tom Johnson Institutes Suit Against
Corporations for Valuable Oil
Lands in Oklahoma Which
Promise Princely Wealth
OF CREEK AND NEGRO DESCENT
Mayfield, Ky.— (Special)—A legal
battle for oil land worth millions of
dollars has been instituted by Tom
Johnson, who lives on a small farm
near this city with his wife and his
24-year-old son, John. The suit fol
lows the revealing of Johnson’s claim
to one of the largest oil producing
tracts in Oklahoma by Ben C. Axley j
(white) title expert. The land will
make Johnson worth somewhere be
tween $10,000,000 and $20,000,000'
and the wealthiest man of the race.
Johnson was born in Beggs, Okla
homa 54 years ago, the son of a j
Creek Indian and a colored mother. I
His father was allotted a quarter sec
tion of Oklahoma land by the govern
ment in what was then Indian ter
ritory. Now the section is being de
veloped by several big corporations
and is rich in petroleum producing.
Johnson, who came here many
years ago following the death of his
father, was ignorant of his vast
wealth until located last month by
Attorney Axley. Johnson had been
living on his small farm supporting
himself and family through his small
earnings from truck gardening and
doing odd jobs. Half a dozen attor
neys from this city and Tulsa, Okla
homa, are looking after his interests
now.
$25,000 PRIZE OFFERED
BEST WAR NOVELIST
All Races Are Invited to Enter Con
test Backed by American
Legion and Publishing
Concern
Boston, Mass.—The members of
every race are asked to participate in
a war novel competition for a prize
of $25,000. The contest was an
nounced Saturday by the American
Legion monthly and the Houghton
Mifiin company.
Five judges will consider the man
uscripts which will be received at the
Houghton Mifiin company’s office
here until May 1, when the contest
closes.
The judges will be Alice Duer
Miller, novelist; Major-General James
G. Harbord, U. S. A. (retired); Rich
ard Henry Little, Chicago columnist;
John T. Winterich, editor of the
American Legion monthly, and Ferris
Greenslet of the Houghton Mifiin
company.
A recent announcement says that
the competition is open to any author,
regardless of nationality, but tho
manuscripts must be submitted in the
English language. They must not be
less than 70,000 words in length.
COLORED GIRL ELECTED
BY SOUTHERN WHITES
Greensboro, N. C.—Miss Maggie
Simpson, a sophomore at Bennet col
lege, was elected to the executive
committee of the State Y. W. C. A.
Volunteer Conference which was held
at Duke university recently. This is
the first time that a colored student
has been elected to any office of the
convention which is controlled wholly
by white students.
EDITORIAL
February 12, 1926, over two years ago, The Monitor placed
under its masthead and carried it there for many months the
following declaration:
Our Choice for President
in 1928 is
WALTER W. HEAD
of Nebraska
An Astute, Able, Clear
headed Business
Man
This was followed, in subsequent issues, by editorials in
which we stated that Calvin Coolidge had no lead pipe cinch
on the nomination in 1928, the probability being that he would
not be nominated ; that the West would of necessity claim mark
ed attention in the next presidential campaign, and that Ne
braska had an ideal candidate for the presidency in the person
of Walter W. Head, of Omaha, who was not a politician, but a
shrewd, far-sighted, level-headed business man, of the type,
temperament and strength of character which the nation needs.
We claimed that his contact with the strong financial East and
his close touch with the agricultural West would make him
acceptable to the people of both sections. We urged the lead
ing republicans of Nebraska to get busy in pushing the candi
dacy of Walter W. Head for the republican nomination for
the presidency and contended that if they would do so Ne
braska stood an excellent chance of having as the next repub
lican president of these United States our distinguished and
useful fellow citizen, Walter W. Head.
The Monitor claims the honor and distinction of being the
first newspaper in the country to suggest the candidacy of
Walter W. Head for president.
He is still our choice as he was two years ago. We still
believe that he can be, and will be, the next republican nom
inee. Hoover provokes no enthusiasm, even in his own state
of California. Lowden is a possibility, but not a probability.
Willis and Longworth have small chance of making the grade.:
Borah is a dead duck. Dawes has the best chance of any of
those in the limelight. We hazard the prophecy that the con
test lies between Dawes and Head, and that Head will be the
winner.
Part of our prophecy made two years ago has been ful
filled. It has been proven that we were right when we said
in our issue of February 19, 1926, “Calvin Coolidge has no lead
pipe cinch on the nomination in 1928, and there is a strong
probability that he will not be nominated.” If part of our
prophecy came true why not all of it? We shall see.
Germane to The Monitor’s advocacy of the candidacy oi
Mr. Head, is the following editorial which was published in The
World-Herald, Monday, under the caption, “Speaking of Wal
ter Head”:
“ ‘Walter W. Head, of Omaha, nationally known banker
and president of the Boy Scout Council,” says a press report,
addressed the state Y. M. C. A. convention in Minneapolis re
cently.’
And that reminds us. A shrewd and experienced news
paper man, scouting about in the political field, stopped in
Omaha the other day. Naturally he was talking politics.
“Hoover isn’t going to be nominated,” he said in his breezy
way; “he lacks sex appeal, ft would be too much trouble to
elect him and the leaders have turned thumbs down on him.
Lowden hasn’t a chance, nor Dawes; Coolidge and Mellon
would never consent to either. The members of the senatorial
combine—Watson, Willis and Curtis—are impossibilities.
Coolidge won’t accept, although the leaders may engineer a
convention stampede to him, for tactical reasons. If that is
done he will decline the nomination, and the leaders will then
be in position to bring their candidate forward. It won’t be
Hughes, either. It will be an honest-to-goodness dark horse,
some man we aren’t thinking of, whose name has not yet been
mentioned.
“Who? I wish I could find out. I’ve tried, but the real in
siders are mum as oysters.
“But I’ve stopped in Omaha to get some dope on Walter
Head. .
“Did you read his article in the Review of Reviews this;
month? It struck me as almost an ideal personal platform for
the next republican nominee. And, in one connection or an
other, I’ve been noticing his name in the papers a good deal
lately. I’m wondering if Walter Head is to be the dark horse.
But I don’t suppose I can find that out here.”
Just a roving newspaper man, thinking out loud. Perhaps
his thoughts are only the stuff that dreams are made of. But
then again—possibly it is a keen nose on the trail of big game.
Anyhow, we may say of Walter Head, as General Dawes
is reported to have said of himself the other day: “They could
go further and do a lot worse than nominate me—and the
damned convention probably will.”
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
HERE FIFTEEN MINUTES
ON WAY TO WASHINGTON
The Hon. William C. Matthews of
Boston, Mass., special assistant to the
attorney general of the United States,
recently assigned to government cases
in Los Angeles, passed through Oma
ha en route to Washington, D. C.,
last Friday afternoon, spending only
15 minutes here at the Burlington
station.
In response to a wire from Mr.
Matthews, the editor of The Monitor
met the train and had a brief but
pleasant interview with him. Mr. Mat
thews, who headed the Negro national
campaign committee, which function
ed so efficiently during the last pres
idential campaign, will occupy a like
strategical position this year with
western headquarters in Chicago,
where it is proposed to hold a meet
ing of western race leaders at an
early date.
Mr. Matthews regretted that he
could not stop over in Omaha, but
hopes to visit the city at some sub
sequent time. He was looking well,
feeling fine and likes the west.
Philadelphia, Pa. — Prejudice was
held responsible for the defeat of Dr.
John P. Turner, prominent physician,
in his campaign for selection to fill
the vacancy on the board of educa
tion caused by the resignation of
Thomas S. Boyle to become city
treasurer.
WHAT AFRICANS AT HOME
AND ABROAD ARE LOSING
IN GOD’S GOOD COUNTRY
Unparalleled Diamond Eldorado Dis
covered in South Africa—$2,500
Worth of Diamond Picked Up
from Surface in One Hour
TO BE EXPLOITED BY WHITES
Capetown, South Africa—A dia
mond field in South Africa, which
was described in the Assembly re
cently by Minister of Mines F. W.
Beyers, as an “Eldorado unparalleled
in the history of South Africa,” and
by Sir David Harris, director of the
De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd.,
as the “richest ever discovered in this
or any other country,” is to be ex
ploited to a limited extent by the
South African government.
This wonderful discovery near Al
exander Bay at the mouth of the Or
ange River was first reported last
April. Subsequent reports confirmed
the fabulous wealth of the diamond
field, and last December the govern
ment received offers of £1,000,000
for the right to develop them.
Brought Up by Casual Question
On December 13, however, Mr.
Beyers announced that the field
would be worked in the interests of
the State. The debate in the Assem
bly arose over an item of £2,500 in
addition to the estimates under the
heading of “District Mining Develop
ments.”
j ms mignt nave passed unnoticed
but for an almost casual inquiry from
one member, who elicited from Mr.
Beyers that it was for the establish
ment of state diamond diggings at
Alexander Bay.
This information brought strong
objections from the opposition head
ed by General J. C. Smuts, on the
ground that it was a dangerous ex
ample of state socialism, while Sir
David Harris expressed fears of its
effect on the diamond output and de
manded that the government should
exercise strict control.
Picked Up £600 in Stone< in Hour
Mr. Beyers, in replying, pointed
out that the diamond field was on
Crown lands and that the diamonds
could be picked up on the surface.
During a visit of one hour he him
self picked up stones worth £600.
Dr. Merensky, who, with Dr. Haun
ing, discovered the fields, working
with eighteen men, had found in six
weeks diamonds valued at £160,000.
The area has now been placed under
guard.
The government plans to employ
sixty Namaqualand residents as dig
gers to work the field on behalf of
the government, and the profits will
be applied to the capital expenditure
of the South African Union.
The debate eventually petered out,
but the opposition remained skeptical
regarding the wisdom of the govern
ment’s action.
General Smuts declared that the
policy was unprecedented and that J
the government would find itself (
bombarded with demands to open
other state diggings.
MRS. LAURENCE JONES,
NATIONALLY KNOWN
FIGURE, PASSES AWAY
Piney Woods, Miss.—One of the
foremost women of the state, Mrs.
Laurence Jones, succumbed at her
home here recently. Mrs. Jones was
president of the State Negro Wo
men’s Federated clubs and was na
tionally known in the work of wo
men’s clubs.
Mrs. Jones was born 62 years ago
in Burlington, la. She was the wife!
! of Laurence Jones, principal and
founder of the Piney Woods school j
here.
Messages of condolence flooded
the home of the deceased.
SUES JIM CROW THEATER
Cincinnati, Ohio—Dr. L. R. Breed
love, prominent physician of this city,
has filed a suit against the Cino The
ater company for violating the Ohio
civil rights bill for ejecting him from
a theater on the grounds of color.
Attorney W. L. Ricks is representing
Dr. Breedlove in tbs case.
ALERT ARKANSAS
ACCOMPLISH DEFEAT
OF JUDGE TOWNSEND
Scipio Jones, Nationally Known Ne
gro Attorney, Successfully Op
poses Appointment of United
State Judge
SOLAR PLEXUS TO LILY WHITES
Little Rock, Ark.—Alert Negro re
publicans of Arkansas threw a “mon
key wrench” into the machinery of
the “lily white” faction here last
week. The defeat of Wallace Town
send, “lily white,” as Judge Triber’s
successor as federal judge was at
tributed directly to the colored
voters.
Colored G. O. P.*s Get Busy
Scipio Jones, widely known race
leader, led the movement to prevent
the success of the “lily white” re
publican. Mr. Jones and other Negro
leaders of Little Rock secured the
co-operation and help of colored re
publicans in Ohio, Indiana, and Illi
nois to fight Townsend immediately
after he had received the endorse
ment of the Republican State Central
committee for the position as fed
eral judge. Several delegations went
to Washington and filed protest
against his appointment with Attor
ney General Sargent and President
Coolidge.
Prove Their Strength
The oposition of the colored re
publicans to Townsend’s appointment
was caused by his activities with the
“lily white” movement in this state
six years ago, which resulted in al
most a total elimination of the Negro
from the councils of the republican
organization in Arkansas.
A prominent federal office holder,
whose name was not disclosed, stated
that when they heard some time ago
that the colored voters were fighting
Townsend’s appointment they felt
that the organization’s endorsement
would not secure the place for him.
Coolidge overrode the recommen
dations of the “lily white” republi
cans and chose a democrat as U. S.
judge for the eastern district of Ar
kansas, John E. Martineau. The
senate confirmed the nomination in
quick order.
BROTHERHOOD SLEEPING
CAR PORTERS LOSES
Interstate Commerce Commission
Rules It Has No Jurisdiction
in the Case as Presented
by Randolph
Washington, D. C.—The Interstate
Commerce Commission recently an
nounced its decision for want of juris
diction on complaint filed by the
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
asking for an investigation of tipping
practice and orders requiring Pull
man company to cease from permit
ting or encouraging tips. “We are
referred to no law which prohibits
tipping of Pullman porters,” the com
mission’s report says, “moreover a
consideration of the complaint in all
its aspects leads only to the conclu
sion that the real obligations sought
are increased wages. We have no
power to regulate wages and conse
quently no authority to inquire into
the justice of the complaints, how
ever meritorious they might prove to
be.” Commissioner Atkinson wrote
the dissenting opinion in which Com
missioners Eastman and Lewis joined.
A. Phillip Randolph, organizer of
the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car
Porters had the case presented to the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
JESSE STONE’S ORCHESTRA
FAILS TO APPEAR
Jese Stone’s Blue Serenaders, who
were to play a battle at Dreamland
hall, March 5th, failed to appear be
cause of financial reverses which
bankrupted the orchestra, causing it
to temporarily disband. It is under
stood that plans are on foot to re
organize the orchestra again and
Omaha will no doubt be able to enjoy
this popular jazz band in the near
future.