\ w
ai The monitor m
r ' ’a
( ; P NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
' _ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
i $2.00 a Year—S Cent* a CopyOmaha, Nebraska, Friday, September 28, 1928Vol. XIV—No. 13 Whole Number 686
SONG RECITAL
!{ PROVIDES TREAT FOR
MUSIC LOVERS
Florence Cole-Talbert, Prima Donna
Soprano, Sustains Reputation
As Mistress of
Song
WINS FAVORABLE COMMENT
»
Renders Delightful Varied Program
Of Exacting Proportions, Which
Revealed Proficiency In
| Musical Art
A cultured anl appreciative audi
ence, numbering over 400 persons of
both races, welcomed Florence Cole
Talbert, who gave a recital at the
Strand theater, Monday night. All
who attended were fully repaid by
the excellent program rendered.
It v as five years since Madam Tal
bert had been heard in Omaha and
she, a favorite then, has improved
with the passing years. Her study
and work abroad and in grand opera,
has made her a finished artist of
L} song.
1 The recital was sponsored by a
committee of women under the chair
manship of Mrs. John Albert Wil
liams, and was given in a setting be
fitting such artists as Madam Talbert
I and her accomplished accompanist,
* Miss Edna Heard, graduate of the
College of Music of the University
of Southern California. The stage
was attractively decorated with
l' stands of flowers loaned by the Gae
f bel Flower Shop, and palms loaned by
Pleasant Green Baptist Church.
Mrs. Florentine F. Pinkston, the
well known pianist and music teach
er, herself a graduate of the New
England Conservatory, has written
the following review of the recital:
The musical season began with a
song recital of Mme. Cole-Talbert at
the Strand theater, Monday evening,
September 24. The concert has been
) much commented on for its excel
’ lence.
Mme. Talbert sang with great qual
ity of tone which strongly reflects an
active personality, and the inflections
of her singing have the valuable
“tang” of sincerity.
Without exaggeration, and with
. clear vivid tones, and excellent enun
j ciation she sang the whole program.
i Mozart’s Alleluia was especially
P finely sung, by reason of masterful,
clear tones, technique and expression.
“Aida” was sung with super-abund
ant vitality and dramatic expression.
< Haydn’s “With Verdure Clad” was
sung with delicate sense of melody,
charming and sincere expression.
MONITOR SEVEN
She sang the Folk Songs with great
tenderness of feeling.
Three encores were given with an
endearing charm of voice and person
I ality.
The request numbers were received
with great appreciation.
Edna Rosalyne Heard, the accom
panist, played with great understand
ing, excellent rhythm, good technique
keeping with the singer with notable
L precision.
Please allow me to add what a pity
it was that there were so many vacant
L seats. Try to do better when our
L next artist comes to Omaha. s*
» Much praise is due Mrs. Lucinda
* Williams, the chairman of the com
mittee, in sponsoring this, and other
recitals, that have been given in
Omaha. Without such women as
Mrs. Williams, and those who helped
V her, the artist could not succeed, as
it takes people of their timbre to
put “things over.”
FLORENTIE F. PINKSTON.
1 -
(The following appreciation of her
recital by August M. Borglum, the
well known music critic of the World
Herald, and Martin W. Bush of the
i Bee-News, were published in their re
V spective journals:
' Musical
The first concert of the season was
i given at the Strand theater on Mon
day evening when Florence Cole-Tal
| bert, prima donna soprano, was pre
sented in a song recital of interesting
numbers from the classic, operatic,
and romantic literature of music.
Winning her audience from the
first by her charming stage presence
F Madame Cole-Talbert fulfilled the ex
pectations of the flattering notices
that had preceded her. Her voice is
a lyric soprano, very brilliant and
well trained, capable of doing beau
tiful mezzo-voce and pianissimo
work, and exquisitely finished phras
H
|
PRISONERS RESENT
ALLEGED RAPIST’S
PRESENCE IN CELL
Elizabeth City, N. C.—Charleston
Boston, white, a patent medicine ven
dor, charged with criminal assault on
a 13-year-old girl, learned here last
week that even crime makes strange
bedfellows.
When Sheriff Charles Carmine at
tempted to put him in a cell with two
other white men charged with day
light bank robbery, they said, “We
may be damn common, but we don’t I
associate with cattle of his type.”
Boston had gone to the home of a
Calvert street family and persuaded
the little girl to come to his home un
der the pretext of employing her to
help his wife. Instead he carried her
to a stable on Selma street, forcing
her into a stall, and criminally as
saulted her.
Police were notified and Boston
was arrested. He is held for the com
ing term of Superior Court.
NORTH CAROLINIANS
ORGANIZE SMITH CLUB
Winston-Salem, N. C.—North Car
olina Negroes have organized in the
interest of Governor Smith for pres
ident. The Forsyth Colored Demo
cratic Club has established head
quarters in the Bruce building. The
officers are W. W. McGheen, presi
dent; James T. Mitchell, vice presi
dent; U. S. Anderson, secreary and
treasurer, and W. II. Copeland, chair
man of the Executive Committee.
ing. Madame Cole-Talbert’s singing
is made doubly enjoyable by her clear
enunciation, and she was heard in
four languages, much to her credit.
The program opened with two very
important aris, “With Verdure Clad”
by Haydn, and “Alleluia” by Mozart,
which showed the serious side of
Madame Talbert’s art and the sincer
ity of her conceptions. A lyric group
quite diversified in style, followed,
from which stands out the “Claire de
Lune” by Szule, Screnata by Leon
cavallo, and “A Vucchella” by Tosti.
With the celebrated “Ritornia Vin
citor” from “Aida,” Medame Cole
Talbert established herself as a sing
er with excellent dramatic and emo
tional qualities.
Then there was an English group
containing interesting lights of vocal
experience, followed by several Ne
gro spirituals, sung with exceptional
reverence and sincereity. The pro
gram closed with the spring song of
the “Robin Woman” from the Indian
opera “Shanewis” by Cadmon, which
Madame Cole-Talbert sang wearing
Indian head dress and ornaments.
Two encores were given as well as
the “Indian Love Call,” in response
to enthusiastic applause and beauti
ful baskets of flowers.
The accompaniments were played
in a very able manner by Miss Edna
Rosalyn Heard, who was asked to
share in the applause of the evening
by the amiable singer.
AUGUST M. BORGLUM.
ReveaU Rare Song Artiitry
An evening of admirable singing
was the reward of those in attend
ance at a recital by Florence Cole
Talbert, Negro soprano, under aus
pices of a committee under the chair
manship of Mrs. John Albert Wil
liams, at the Strand theater, Monday.
The program was one of most ex
acting proportions, requiring attri
butes of proficiency in such varying
styles as that of oratorio, lieder, op
era, ballad and Negro spiritual, and
the singer encompassed her self ap
pointed task with a degree of artistry
worthy of high commendation. The
voice was vibrant of timbre through
out a wide, evenly scaled range, and
so intelligently managed as to denote
a thorough understanding and appre
ciation of vocal truths. Interpreta
tively, Haydn’s “With Verdure Clad”
and Mozart’s “Alleluia” were out
standing by reason of finely cast
phases and clean vocalizing, the
“Aida” aria for its dramatic projec
tion, and the “spirituals” for their
fervor, sincereity of appeal and soft
work, while a clarity of enunciation
was reason for delight throughout.
Four encores were given in re
sponse to warm appreciation of a
rather small audience. The program
and its rendition were such as might
finely redound to the prestige of
the American singing world in gen
eral, and the Negro lyric talent in
particular, not overlooking such
names us Roland Hayes, Dett and
Burleigh.
MARTIN W. BUSH.
EDITORIAL
There is some apprehension in republican ranks over the
fact, which cannot be hid, that the usual enthusiasm shown by
members of our race in national campaigns is this year want
ing. Hitherto, we as a group have been “whooping it up” in
every campaign for the presidential nominee of the Republican
party. This year, despite the fact that one eminently prepared
for this high office is the nominee, indifference and lukewarm
ness have supplanted interest and enthusiasm. There must be
a reason for this radical change. What is it?
Well, as we see it, this indifference springs from unre
quited affection. It is a symptom of heart-ache directly trace
able to disappointment and disillusionment.
“It is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonor;
for then I could have borne it; neither was it mine adversary
that did magnify himself against me; for then peradventure I
would have hid myself from him, but it was even thou, my
companion, my guide and mine own familiar friend.”
The American Negro has regarded the Republican Party
as a “guide and a familiar friend,” not as an enemy or an ad
versary, and valuing that friendship, which for years was
genuine and sincere, he gave to it the full measure of his devo
tion. He is wounded and dazed to find it acting as an adver
sary. Open enmity he could have understood and borne; but
professed friendship proving false stupefies and bewilders him.
And so we find him now standing with reluctant feet hesitant
at the parting of the ways, doubting which were better, to go
or stay, and if to go, whither? Shall it be along the pathway
democratic, socialist, laborite, communistic, or independent?
Which? These are the thoughts which disturb him. He is
thinking, hence the absence of his wonted enthusiasm and
emotion. And it is well that it is so. Emotionalism and sen
timentalism are seldom safe guides. Sober thought and re
flection are always better.
Nor is it necessary here to repeat in full the story of those
things which have wounded him in the house of his friends.
The list is long, but chiefly these: artful, deliberate and per
sistent evasion and ignoring of the war amendments; wilful,
flagrant and continuous humiliation by segregation in the fed
eral departments; virtual elmination from civil service appoint-1
ments by photographic tests (persons whose racial identity
their photographs did not reveal having being ordered to re
port for duty, but not permitted to serve when found to belong
to the Negro race) ; elimination from positions of responsibility
and leadership in the party at the behest of Ku Klux Klan sen
timent which permeats and dominates lilywhiteism, largely di
rected and governed by southernized northerners, the most
rabid of the species. Let these suffice without lengthening the
list. These seem to be important factors in the undisguised
policy of the men in control of the national policies of the Re
publican Party.
Anyone, but an ignoramus, knave or fool, will admit that
these furnish adequate grounds for the justifiable racial dis
satisfaction, complaint and REVOLT, evidence of which is not
wanting.
Faced by this situation there are those of the race, who
not blindly but open-eyed, cherishing no delusions as to the
past or present attitude of the democratic party with the undis
guised and frankly-expressed hostility of the southern wing,
have decided to run the risk, whatever risk there may be, in
supporting the democratic nominee, despite whatever unfriend
ly forces or influences may be back of him or of any untoward
eventualities which may arise. Others, equally discontented
with present policies, begun by President Taft and continued
until now, conscientiously believe that the wiser course is to
remain with the party and support the republican nominee
Others, again, whose number is negligible, will decline to vote
lor either presidential candidate confining their votes to sena
torial, congressional, state and county tickets. How far the
changed orientation of the race vote on the presidential ticket
will affect State and County elections is problematical
The political situation, viewed radically, as we see is dis
closed by the race press, is as here stated.
Which are adopting the wiser and better course, they who
advocate staying and fighting it out where they have a his
torical party background, or they who David-like leave their
Israel the Republican Party, and go to Achish, the Demo
cratic Party, a well-know’n foe?
Misrepresentations by Republican Leaders
By Neval H. Thomas, Washington, D. C.
“All we have gotten has come
from the republican party,” is the
vociferous claim set forth by repub
lican politicians at every election,
but with dwindling ranks of gullible
voters among our black citizenry. I
know of no expression capable of
more harm. It is a dangerous half
truth which is worse than a whole
lie.
True, the real republican party was
the greatest political agency in the
history of our government, and one
of the greatest in the history of the
world, but IT IS DEAD. And I re
fuse to allow a crowd of oppressors
who are opposed to everything re
publican masquerade in its sacred
name. This aggregation now parad
ing in its name stands for everything
the republicanism condemned and de
stroyed. They are in solid compact
with the Bourbon South in their
wicked schemes against the Negro.
The republican party destroyed
slavery. Today, the so-called repub
lican group are silent upon peonage,
and the Department of Jusice with
its industrious feminine crusader, is
still. The republican party destroy
ed the Ku Klux under the mighty
Grant; while this modern aggrega
tion has embraced it, given it a wel
come home, and ridden to power
through its support. The republican
party enfranchised the Negro, and
made proper use of the army by send
ing detachments to the polls of the
South to prevent the rebels from pol
luting the springs of government;
while its illegitimate heir not only
smiles at the infamous violation of
our Constitution, but refuses to obey
its plain mandates by reducing South
ern representation, and has given the
all-powerful federal judiciary to the
Southern view. The republicans pass
ed the Civil Rights Bill, containing
the learning of Charles Sumner, Ros
coe Conkling, Benjamin Butler, and
Robert Brown Elliott; yet a modern
republican Supreme Court struck
down this precious safeguard, and
doomed twelve millions of black
'Americans to insult, and every other
kind of obstruction, from their
cradles to their graves.
The republican party opposed
[every kind of color caste, while the
I present-day group fosters it, even
[beyond the efforts of our ancient
enemies. For instance, Secretary
Work extended segregation to the
Pension Office where Woodrow Wil
son had failed, and tried rough tactics
upon our committee when we went
to lodge our protests. In the six
heated conferences we had with him
he finally yielded the Pension Office,
making his administration equal to
that of the democrats, but stubborn
ly and with loud voice, refused to
yield the General Land Office. In
color discrimination these modern re
publicans have outdone the demo
crats. The picture requirement still
remains in the Civil Service, and our
(Continued on Page Four)
MOORFIELD STOREY WILL
SUPPORT GOVERNOR SMITH
Served As Private Secretary for
Senator Charles Sumner in
Stormy Ante Bellum
Days
Boston, Mass.—Moorfield Storey,
since the early 70’s leader of the Bos
ton bar and a staunch friend of the
Negro, has written a letter to John
W. Davis, democratic candidate for
president in 1924, offering his sup
port to Governor Smith. Mr. Storey
is a lecturer of Harvard University
and a author of many monographs on
many political subjects. Since 1912
he has been president of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People.
NEWS OF SALEM
BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday school was opened by N.
Williams, acting superintendent.
Thirty minutes of instruction pre
ceded the lesson review, by Supt. T.
H. Gardner. Collection was $10.21.
At 11 a. m., the pastor, Rev. E. H.
Hilson, preached on “The Enemies of
Jesus Christ.” At 3 p. m., Pastor
Hilson preached and the. choir fur
nished the music at Pilgrim. His
subject was “The Failure of Jesus
Christ.” B. Y. P. U. services were
opened by the president at 5:30. A
splendid program was rendered by
Group No. 7, Mrs. E. H. Hilson, cap
tain. The finance banner was award
ed to the young men’s group, No. 4.
The sword drill champion is Miss
Nancy Jackson of Group No. 3. Col
lection, $8.69. Many visitors were
present.
At 8 p. m. a missionary offering
was taken, followed with appropriate
remarks and a sermon by the pastor
on “Jesus Wounded in the House of
His Friends.”. A large congregation
was present.
Sunday is mission day. A great
program will be rendered by differ- j
ent auxiliaries. At 11 a. m., the:
young women’s auxiliary will have
charge of services, with sermon by
Rev. E. Rhodes. At 3 p. m., Sunshine
Band, Versie May Thomas, president,
will have charge, with a program ren
dered by the children. At 8 p. m.,
devotional services will be conducted
by the mission sisters. A short, spicy
program will be rendered. The old
Reliable Sextette will give a selec
tion, made up out of the Elder mis
sion sisters, and a special sermon
will be preached by the pastor. Sub
ject, “A Mad Dog in Town.”
Collection for the week, $149,58.
METHODIST BISHOP
PREFERS TAMMANY TO
THE KU KLUX KLAN
Norfolk—In addressing 1,000 per
sons at St. John’s A. M. E. Church,
Bishop Reverdy C. Ransom stated
that thousands of Negroes in not
only Virginia but throughout the
country have prepared to turn away
from the republican party and go
over to Governor Smith and the
democratic party.
Bishop Ransom went into the
cause of the turn in Negro sentiment
and said “thousands are turning
away from the republican party be
cause the republican national conven
tion put every Negro leader off the
committee and put what is known as
the ‘Lily-White’ republicans in their
places in every state.
“Another reason for the turn in
the tide,” the Bishop said, “is that
republicans have received as a body
the Ku Klux Klan of America. Re
publicans cannot make political bed
fellows of the black people and the
Klan. The black people prefer the
Tammany Hall tiger to the hood and
gown of the Ku Klux Klan.
“Grover Cleveland of New York,
as president of the United States,
gave more political recognition to the
Negro in four years than Coolidge
has in eight,” he related.
CHINESE GIRLS COMBAT
BAN ON BINDING OF FEET
Cheng Chow, China—Foot binding
here is being stopped by force. Shop
keepers who were “urged” to paint
their doors and gates a “Nationalist
blue” do not resent the new reforms
nearly so much as the young women
and girls who have had their tightly
wound foot cloths forcibly removed
by the authorities in the street.
Mrs. William Murphy returned on
Monday from Chicago, where she had
spent a week visiting friends.
SEGREGATION RIFE
IN DEPARTMENTS
AT WASHINGTON
Pernicious Practices Begun Under
President Taft Continued and
Augmented Under Other
Administrations.
REPUBLICANS ARE BLAMEABLE
Presidential Executive Order All
Necessary for Abolition of
Segregation in De
partments
Washington, D. C.—There is more
segregation in Washington, today,
under President Coolidge, than there
has ever been since the Civil War.
The beginnings of the segregation
were under President Taft. It was
greatly extended under President
Wilson; increased, still further, un
der President Harding; and reached
its zenith under President Coolidge.
For instance, the largest of our
parks President Wilson never trou
bled, but the present administration
has found time and desire to intro
duce it even there.
To many people, segregation is a
democratic scheme of insult, but such
is not the case. President Taft in
troduced it in the bureau of engrav
ing. He segregated the census tak
ers in this city in 1910, restricting
white workers to white people, and
black to black, often duplicating work
as most blocks had white and black
residents. And, worst of all, he an
nounced in his official capacity that
Negroes should not hold office where
white people complained. Segrega
tion, then, is a republican institution
and not a democratic one. It was be
gun by republicans, and carried on to
its all-embrasing extent by republi
cans.
There is far more of it in the de
partments, today, than at any time
since the Negro first appeared, close
upon the close of the Civil War. The
picture requirement in the civil serv
ice, which makes it next to impos
sible for a colored lady or gentleman
to enter the civil service, since their
color is disclosed in their photo
graph, which must accompany their
papers, is tenaciously held on to by
our republican president. Some
months ago, a colored girl appeared
after having passed the best examin
ation, and after having been tele
graphed for by the department. The
photograph had failed to tell her
true color, and they flatly refused to
appoint her when she appeared and
they saw her complexion. Commis
sioner Blair of the internal revenue
bureau with thousands of clerks will
not appoint a Negro clerk, and his
word is law there, as he is the spe
cial favorite of Secretary Mellon and
President Coolidge. He hails from
North Carolina, the home of the
other favorites and leader of the seg
regation forces, the superintendent
of buildings and grounds. It is no
use to complain to either of these
southern gentlemen.
The colored people here who know
the President could destry segre
gate in the departments of the
government, and the photograph re
quirements in the civil service, by
the mere nod of his head, are at a
loss to understand why he does not
put his splendid declarations on
democracy into operation here, where
it would not even cost him a single
vote, and where he has full power
and absolutely no opposition. They
wonder if he is not a firm believer
in segregation, especially since seg
regation is one of the chief tenets of
the Ku Klux Klan which has found
its “welcome home” here and in the
republican party, and receives no
condemnation from the republican
president.
Washington, D. C.—From 22,540
employes in 1910, whose total yearly
salaries aggregated $12,466,760, to
j 51,882, on June 30, 1928, whose
yearly share of pay from the United
States treasury totals $64,483,133, is
the story of the Negro workers who
are at this time being carried on
Uncle Sam’s payroll as efficient and
well paid servants of the public trust
of governmental service. During the
interim, at the close of the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1928, the Negro
civil service personnel of the federal
government was surveyed and found
to number approximately 51,805
workers, with a total annual earning
capacity of $62,665,959.