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| NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
£. • THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
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$2.00 a ^ n —5 Cents a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, September 7, 1928 Vol. XIV—No. 10 Whole Number 683
JUDGE OVER-RIDES
BEN BESS REFEREE
AND HOLDS PRISONER
i
Man Sentenced for Thirty Years for
Alleged Criminal Assault and
Released After Thirteen
Years Again Held.
WOMAN RECANTS CONFESSION
New York City—A new and start
ling development in the case of Ben
Bess, a colored man imprisoned for
13 years on the confessedly perjured
testimony of a white woman, is the
refusal of a South Carolina judge to
abide by the report of a referee ap
pointed in the case. The referee was
appointed when the woman recanted
her confession, to determine whether
the woman’s confession of perjury at
the original trial had been obtained
improperly by ‘bribery.” The ref
eree reported that there was no evi
dence of fraud and that therefore
there was no reason for withdraw
ing the pardon which the governor of
South Carolina had accorded the
wronged Negro.
N. J. Frederick, colored attorney
of Columbia, S. C.t in charge of the
case, reports to the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of Colored
People that Judge W. H. Townsend
of the circuit court has refused to
abide by the findings of the referee
and has refused to release Ben Bess.
Judge Townsend’s decision, if allow
ed to stand, would mean that Bess
would have to serve 30 years—17
years more, besides the 13 he has al
ready served—in the penitentiary, de
spite the general feeling, supported
by a sworn confession, that he was
unjustly and wrongfully convicted.
“Of course,” writes Mr. Frederick
to the N. A. A. C. P., "we are going
to appeal the case to the supreme
court of South Carolina, and if pos
sible and necessary, to the United
States supreme court. Our draw
back, of course, is money. Bess has
nothing, but somehow the appeal is
going to be made. I have made up
my mind as to that, hoping that in
some way I may be able to raise
enough to cover the appeal. The gen
tleman that I have associated with
me, Mr. A. L. King, is with us to the
end. He thinks that the whole thing
is an outrage. We will not be want
ing in any legal assistance needed.
It is generally realized in this state
that this is one of the most important
cases that has ever been before the
courts and questions of great import
are involved."
Commenting on the case, after con
sulting with the association’s legal
committee, Robert W. Bagnall, acting
secertary of the N. A. A. C. P-, said,
“We are, of course, going to back Mr.
Frederick in his appeal of this case to
the higher courts. Just what the as
sociation can and will do will be an
nounced after the next meeting of its
board of directors. In the meantime,
we have assured Mr. Frederick that
we are with him and will assuredly
help. What is at stake is the ques- ;
tion whether a Negro can get justice
in a southern state where the facts1
are plain to everybody but where
there is a disposition to try to hide
them after they have been openly
confessed. The massed power of
southern intolerance and political
chicanery is set against this helpless
and wronged Negro. The National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People will do its utmost to
see whether law can prevail over big
otry, prejudice and what seems to be
a deliberate attempt to perpetuate in- i
justice. Those who wish to help in
this fight which concerns more than
the one unhappy man involved, may
do so by contributing to the legal
fund of the N. A. A. C. P. out of
which such fights as this are fi
nanced.”
WILLIAMS’ JUBILEE SINGERS
PLEASE LARGE AUDIENCE
—
The famous Williams’ Jubilee Sing
ers gave one of their delightful con
certs before a large and appreciative
audience Monday night in Salem Bap
tist church. The program was a rich
and varied one including not only the
usual spirituals and jubilee numbers,
always favorites, but several classical
numbers. The same artistry was dis- |
closed in all. The harmony of the
well trained voices was perfect and
the shading was excellent. The mem^
bers of the company are Charles B.
Williams, manager; Messrs. James B.
Maxwell, Oscar B. Plant and Carl J.
Turner and the Misses Ethel M.
Browner, Nellie Mae Dobson and
Lillian Lucky.
NATIVES ENSLAVED BY LAND
LAWS OF BRITISH KENYA
Cruaader News Service
London, Eng.—The native land
bill, in Kenya, East Africa, provides
that no native may own land except
on the enslaving condition that he
give 180 days labor at starvation
wages to the European landowner.
The total area reserved to the two
and a half million natives amount to
less than a quarter of the area of the
colony and comprises the most un
desirable sections. Their unselfish
“trustees,” the 13,000 Europeans of
the colony, have a strangle hold on
three-quarters of the fair colony.
RANSOM SAYS NEGRO MUST
BREAK POLITICAL TRADITION
Baltimore, Md.—The Negro must
go into new paths and break political
traditions, the Rt. Rev. Reverdy C.
Ransom, bishop of the A. M. E.
Church, told large gatherings at the
Trinity A. M. E. church and Bethel
A. M E. church.
Bishop Ransom explained that he
did not consider himself a “political
parson” if he discussed the 18th
amendment in the pulpits.
“The 18th amendment,’ ’he said,
“is not a fetish. It is no more sacred
than the 14th and 15th amendments,
the latter being the source of all gov
ernment.”
North Side Branch Has New Secretary
1
Mis Margie L. Danley, the new ex
ecutive secretary for the North Side
Branch of the Y. W. C. A., comes to
Omaha from a successful experience
of five years as executive secretary
of the Williams Avenue Branch, in
Portland, Ore., where, under her ad
ministration, a new branch building
was erected and left without indebt
edness.
Miss Danley was very active in
interracial work and was in much de
mand as a speaker before churches,
clubs, and student groups. She also
served as discussion leader for the
student, business, industrial and Girl
Reserve conference groups of the Y.
W. C. A. of the northwest; and served
as one of the recorders at the recent
national convention of the Y. W. C.
A., and as such, was a member of the
committee on the report of the na
tional board.
Miss Danley was also very active
in civic, social, service and club
groups. She was a member of the
■■ - - -
executive board of the Oregon Fed
eration of Colored Women’s Clubs
and of the executive board of the
National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People, and of
the Oregon Social Workers’ associ
ation.
Miss Danley is the daughter of
Rev. and Mrs. S. B. Danley of Pasa
dena, Cal., and received her element
ary and academic training in the
schools of that city and took her col
lege work at the Pasadena university
and the University of Southern Cal
ifornia. Prior to entering the associ
ation work, Miss Danley was connect
ed with the Los Angeles county staff
of social workers.
The committee of management of
the North Side Branch, held a recep
tion Tuesday night in honor of Miss
Danley, at which time only the mem
bers of the various committees were
present. An excellent session was
held, which promises to bring about
very definite results.
KENTUCKY NEGROES OPEN
REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS
Louisville, Ky.—The formal open
ing of the colored republican state
headquarters here recently marked
the initial step in the launching of an
aggressive campaign to get out a
large Negro vote for Hoover and
Curtis, the republican nominees, in
the state of Kentucky. The head
quarters are located on the third
floor of the new Mammoth Life
building and the offices and confer
ence rooms are well appointed and
furnished.
A full corps of workers is on duty
and the campaign plans will get under
way within the next few days. The
leaders plan to conduct a drive
among colored voters which is ex
pected to place Kentucky in the re
publican column in the national elec
tion. The state committee is com
posed of some of the leaders in bus
iness, professional and religious life.
SOUTH AFRICAN WORKERS
WIN BIG VICTORY
Crusader News Service
London, Eng.—A strike of clothing
workers in the Union of South Africa
has ended in victory for the workers.
The strike was remarkable by the
fact that it was carried out in solid
arity by white and Negro workers
and under the leadership of the com
munist party of South Africa. As a
result of its militant leadership in ;
this strike, the communist party is |
said to have attracted hundreds of
natives to its banner, while even be
fore this strike the majority of its
membership were natives.
—
FORMER MINISTER TO LIBERIA
LEADS OHIO DEMOCRATS
Columbus, Ohio.—Negro democrats
and independent voters have organ
ized to wage an intensive campaign
and have formed the “A1 Smith
League of Colored Voters of Ohio.”
Negroes from all sections of the
state attended a recent meeting which
was held to promote Governor
Smith’s candidacy, as well as support
“such other officials as may be con
sidered favorable to the progress and
advancement of the colored people.”
Dr. Joseph L. Johnson, of this city,
formerly United States minister to
Liberia, was elected president. Other
officers chosen were Dr. R. E. Petti
ford, Springfield, vice president, and
Albert T. Allen, Rendville, secretary.
OKLAHOMA MESSENGER
WILL KILL SENATOR’S VOTE
New York City—Jim Noble, one of
the best known Negroes in Oklahoma
and messenger to eveiy governor
since statehood, with the exception of
the present Governor Johnson, has
announced his intention of voting for
Alfred E. Smith.
In a telegram to former Senator
Robert L. Owen, who has come out
for Hoover, Noble wired:
“See by the press that you are
going to vote for Hoover. I’m gwine
to kill your vote.”
Jim Noble is known to all the poll’
ticians of Oklahoma. It is said thar
he was ousted from the messenger
ship at the capitol because of Ku
Klux influence.
LIVE WIRE COMMITTEE
TALBERT CONCERT SPONSOR
Mrs. John Albert Williams, who is
chairman of the committee sponsor
ing the appearance of Madam Flor
ence Cole-Talbert in recital at the
Strand theater, is being ably assisted
by the following women: Mesdames
H. R. Greenfield, Z. E. McGee,
George Ashby, Minnie Dixon, Price
Terrill, Bertha Bailey, T. P. Maham
mitt, H. J. Pinkett, Frank Gray, R. K.
Lawry, Sarah B. Canty, Walter Craig,
and Leroy Porter.
Mr. M. M. Marshall of Culpepper,
Va., brother-in-law of Mr. and Mrs.
E. R. West, is house guest at their
home, 2916 Decatur street.
TNSKEGEE PRINCIPAL
COMMENDS HOOVER
Tuskegee, Ala.—Dr. R. R. Moton,
principal of Tuskegee institute, suc
cessor to the late Booker T. Wash
ington, commends Herbert Hoover’s
efforts “in behalf of all classes” in a
statement praising Mr. Hoover’s ac
ceptance speech.
Dr. Moton in a message to A. L.
Holsey, secretary of the colored vot
ers’ division of the republican na
tional committee, said:
“After listening to the acceptance
speech of Mr. Hoover, I felt that here
was the spokesman of the finest and
best in American life. He spoke as
one familiar with the problems dis
cussed, w'hether sectional, national or
international. His grasp was firm
and sure; his outlook statesmanlike,
controlled and directed by strong hu
man sympathies.
“Associated with him on the work
of the Mississippi flood relief com
mittee I had ample opportunity to
know the earnestness and sincerity of
his efforts in behalf of all classes.
No man in America is better qualified
to serve this country in strong, virile,
high-minded leadership tha nik Her
bert Hoover.”
ENTERTAIN AT BARN DANCE
Messrs. Gerald and Alger Adams
entertained with a “Country Barn
Dance,” at their home, 2870 Pinkney
street, Friday evening, honoring the
Misses Jennie Blackwell of Baltimore,
Md., Denise Lacey of Pasadena,
Cal., and Miss Marion Smallwood of
Washington, D. C., who have been
house guests of Mr. and Mrs. T. P.
Mahammitt. There were so many
lovely country maidens and farmer
boys that it was difficult for the
judges to select the most typical
country boy and girl. Drawing straws
Jennie Blackwell and Theodore Bell
won the prizes. The bam was artis
tically decorated with asparagus fern,
com stalks and tree branches. The
beautiful spacious lawn was illumi
nated by many lights. The hostess
was assisted by Mesdames A .Hicks,
ilorentine Pinkston, J. S. LaCour, G.
Gordon, J. H. Smith and Miss Lena
Paul. Several out-of-town guests
were present.
THEATER PARTY LUNCHEON
AND SIGHTSEEING DRIVE
Mesdames William Rose and M. L.
Myers were joint hostesses at a
theater party to the Riviera last Sat
urday afternoon, honoring the fol
lowing visitors: Mrs. W. O. King,
Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. M. A. Lewis,
Haninbal, Mo.; Madame J. Ernestine
Wyatt, Waterloo, la.; Misses Esther
Jones, Cincinnati, O.; Willette Em
bry, Richmond, Ky. There were 12
ladies in the party. A delicious
lunch and delightful drive concluded
the enjoyable affair.
Mrs. Marie New, 1817 North 23rd
street, met with a serious accident,
resulting in the cutting of her right
hand.
I *™ 1 ___
REPUBLICAN CHIEFTAINS MEET
Washinarton, D. C.—The members
of the executive committee are shown
above, flanked by officers and work
ers of the several divisions. Read
ing left to right are W T. Andrews,
Baltimore; Walter A. Foster, Boston;
Col. West A. Hamilton, Washington,
D. C.; State Senator Adelbert H.
Roberts, Chicago; John T. Risher,
Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Addie W.
Hunton, New York City; Claude A.
Barnett, Chicago; Secretary Albion
L. Holsey, Tuskegee; Mrs. Daisy B.
Lampkin, Pittsburgh; John R. Hawk
ins, Washington, D. C., chairman of
the colored voters division; Attorney
R. R. Horner, Washington, D. C.;
Mrs. Myrtle Foster Cook, Kansas
City; Joseph Johnson, Washington,
D. C.; Dr. Emmett J. Scott, Wash
ington, D. C.; Robert L. Vann, Pitts
burgh; Mrs. George S. Williams,
Georgia; George W. Harris, New
York City; Raymond Pace Alexander,
Philadelphia; Clarence R. Vena, To
ledo; John Campbell, Tennessee;
Fred R. Moore, New York; Ernest T.
Atwell, Philadelphia; and Charles E.
Mitchell, West Virginia.