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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 1928)
Thc Monitor m | s NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS L* ' Q THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. "" % —i—..—.—.... v.:-- ' .. ■ ■ I $2.00 a Ye 2- Cents a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, October 5, 1928 Vol. XIV—No. 14 Whole Number 687 iY o - - -——— .. ROUSING MA £ ETING HELD BY ? BLICANS IN D —rtMLAND HALL Zimman and Mitchell Contrait Senti ment and Policies of Republicans and Democrats Towards Race. Tuesday night a rousing mass meet ing with a targe attendance held in Dreamland hall, Twenty-fourth and Grant street, opened the active and aggressive campaign to be waged by Republicans among our race in the northern section of the city. The meeting was sponsored by the County Republican committee but was in di rect charge of the executive commit tee of the North End Republican headquarters, the members of which are George H. Hibbler, chairman; Rev. David McQueen, vice chairman; Mrs. Ada Hill Smith, secretary; Ed. W. Killingsworth, treasurer; Rev. Z. E. McGee and James G. Jewell. The hall was decorated with the ! American colors and Hoover and Cur tis pictures and pennants. Music was furnished by Dcsdunes’ band. On the platform were seated not only the V speakers of the evening, but several ladies who are taking an active part in the campaign; several candidates, among them being F. L. Barnett, and Dr. A. M. McMillan, race candidates for the state legislature; Dr. John A. Singleton, present representative in the legislature from the Ninth dis trict; Harry O. Palmer, county chair man; Fred Shotwell, secretary; Wil : liam Burton, chairman of the speak | ers’ bureau; A. V. Shotwell, chairman * of the executive committee; Rev. John Adams, member of the state committee; Mrs. Ada Hill Smith, sec retary, and George H. Hibbler, chair man. Chairmna Hibbler called the meet ing to order shortly after 8 o’clock, stated the object of the most impor tant campaign in the history of our country because of the many issues ^ involved. He briefly introduced the } • members of the central committee, seated on the platform, the candi i dates, none of whom spoke, except I Dr. McMillan candidate from the Ninth district, who spoke briefly; and Dr. John A. Singleton, whom the chairman requested to “set at rest the rumors that he would not support I his former opponent.” Dr. Singleton forcefully stated that “the hatchet k had been buried” and that all were ' going to work unitedly for the elec tion of the whole Republican ticket.” The chairman introduced as the first speaker of the evening, Harry B. Zimman, former city commission er, but now occupying a managerial position with the Brandeis store. During his whole career, Mr. Zimman, who is a Jew, has been a sincere and consistent friend of the colored peo ple. It was their vote which elected f him as the only republican among 12 * councilmen some years ago during Omaha’s first political Democratic | landslide which placed James C. J Dahlman and ten other Democrats in office. His own people and ours stood by him end he won, while 11 other Republican colleagues on the ticket were defeated. Mr. Zimman urged support of the Republican party, stating that despite l its sins of commission in late years [ of which many of our race are com plaining, and justly so, it ought not be forgotten that it was the party of emancipation and that whatever rights and privileges had been obtain ed had been obtained through the Re publican party. Things undone ought V not blind us to things that have been done. He discussed at length the in tolerance of the south, which consti tutes the very backbone and chief strength of the Democratic party and maintained that tolerance, which guarantees a square deal to every man cannot be given by “any party dominated by the intolerant south.” £ Rev. John Adams was called upon ■ by the chairman to introduce the principal speaker of the evening, Ar thur W. Mitchell of Washington, D. C. This Mr. Adams did in elo quent words which did him credit. Mr. Mitchell delivered a forceful address characterized by convincing candor and directness. He stated that what was needed in this campaign was telling the truth and leaving the voters to degide. He believed that the Republican party had adopted a K platform and presented a candidate that was best calculated to help hu |' manity and guarantee a united na tion. He confined himself to the dis cussion of questions which directly af fect the Negro race in America, “of which,” said he, “I am a part. I (Continued on Page Four) K YOUNG WOMAN WINS SENIOR LAW AWARD First Negro Co-Ed to Study Law at University of Nebraska Ranks High in Scholarship. Lincoln, Neb.—Miss Zanzye H. Hill, a senior in the law school at the University of Nebraska, has recently been notified that she was winner of the senior law school award, a schol arship which is given to the three seniors with highest scholarship rat ings. The scholarship entitles the stu dent to one year’s tuition in that' school. Miss Hill was also the winner of the freshman law school award. She is the first Negro co-ed to study law at the University of Nebraska and is the only co-ed in her class. Miss Hill, who is also a graduate of the arts and sciences college with an A. B. degree, is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. M. E. Hill of this city. I FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR REV. DR. JOHN H. GRANT A farewell reception was given by about 600 members and friends of the Rev. Dr. John H. Grant, retiring pastor of St. John’s A. M. E. church, October 1st, at St. John’s A. M. E. church. Speeches of appreciation for the religious and community service rendered by Dr. John H. Grant, dup ing his two year pastorate in Omaha, were made by Reverends J. C. Brew er, John Albert Williams, A. F. Mar tin, and Dr. John A. Singleton, Mrs. Kate Wilson, Mr. Harry Anderson, and Mrs. M. L. Rhone. Musical numbers, both vocal and instrumental, were rendered by Mrs. Venus Parker, Mrs. Martha Taylor Smith, Mr. Lester Carter, Mrs. T. L. Mayo and the audience. The addresses were all in praise and appreciation of the church and community service performed by Rev. Dr. Grant. Mrs. H. R. Greenfield, clerk of St. John’s A. M. E. church, introduced Dr. Grant and presented to him a fountain pen which was the gift of the Steward Board, assisted by the Stewardess Board. In a short ad dress, Dr. Grant expressed his appre ciation of the support given him by the Christian men and women of St. John’s A. M. E. church and the com munity. And he expressed sincere re gret because of his leaving Omaha. Refreshments were served to the six hundred members and friends who assembled to pay their respects to Dr. Grant. The program and reception were arranged by the Steward Board. The invocation was given by Rev. O. J. Burckhart and the benediction was pronounced by Rev. I. S. Wilson, pas tor of St. John’s A. M. E. church. Mr. H. J. Pinkett presided. PROMINENT OMAHA WOMAN MARRIES WEALTHY FARMER z - Mrs. Lavinia Cooper-Warren, 4709 Erskine street, was married Sunday, September 30, to Mr. J. R. Johnson of Lamont, Pettis county, Missouri, at the Baptist church in Sedalia, Mo. Mrs. Warren h one of Omaha's best and most prominent women and stands high in her circle of friends. She is a member of Zion Baptist church, and a faithful member of Mission Circle of her church. Mr. Johnson is one of the most successful farmers of Lamont, Mo., operating the largest apple orchard in that sec tion of the state. A reception at the 1 home of her brother, Mr. C. W. Lolles of Sedalia, Mo., followed the wedding ceremony. GOOD CONGREGATIONS ATTEND ST. PHILIP’S A large congregation was present at the 11 o’clock service at the Epis copal church of St. Philip the Deacon, when the rector preached a helpful and instructive sermon stressing "In dividual responsibility for the ad vancement of God’s Kingdom. Show ing that the Greek word translated “minister” in several places in the New Testament, means a rower or oar-puller, Father Williams emphasiz ed the truth that every one who lays claim, by virtue of his baptism and confirmation, being a Christian, must pull his full weight on his own oar under the eye of the Governor of the galley or ship, if it is to be propelled over the troubled waters of this world. A brief after-meeting was held at which suggestions for more aggres sive Christian work were outlined. Race, Rum and Religion By Kelly Miller Howard University, Washington, D. C. Mr. Norman Thomas, the Socialist candidate for the presidency, has said that race, religion and rum will con stitute the chief issues of the cam paign- The genuine advocates of pro hibition regret this unholy alliance. Race intolerance and religious bigot ry are obvious vices while temper ance is universally extolled as a vir tue. The propagandists of race ha tred and religious bigotry are insid uously stealing the livery of heaven in which to serve the devil. The evil genius of these evil issues is embodied in the Ku Klux Klan. The basic clause in the creed of this un-Ameri can order is that a one hundred per cent American must be all white and all Protestant. The Negro American meets the full measure of the second requirement but cannot possibly qual ify under the first. His only salva tion, therefore, is to change the def inition since he can never answer to its terms. Strange Transpositions Strange transpositions take place in political history. The Ku Klux Klan of the elder day was pledged to the undoing of the works of the re publican party. In turn the G. O. P. was committed to its utter destruc tion. This constituted its boasted achievement in the days of recon struction. It was thought that this dragon of un-Americanism was de stroyed root and branch. But it sprung up again from the root of race hatred which was not wholly extir pated. Just as the original Ku Klux Klan arose after the Civil War for the express purpose of keeping the Negro in his putative place; so its re juvenescence after the World War had precisely the same objective. But in addition to its main feature it took on the collateral purpose of properly subordinating non-Protestants and foreigners. This extension of the brackets so as to include the Catholic and the Jew lightened the pressure upon the Negro. Indeed, it was soon found that a rejuvenescence of the nefarious order was not necessary to handle the Negro. As the basis of operation shifted from south to north, religious bigotry has received the chief stress of emphasis. Very little has been said or done concerning the brother in black. But nevertheless, the basic principle remains, the Negro race is held in deepest despite. The Klan Anti-Negro The Klan is anti-Negro, and the Negro who allows himself to ignore or overlook this basic fact is what Solomon or any other wise man would call a fool. As the movement has shifted from north to south, its poli tical allegiance has turned from the democratic to the republican party. The triumph of tolerance over bigot ry in Madison Square Garden 4 years ago drove the Klan out of the demo cratic party, whence it sought hospi tality in the party of its former ene mies and destroyers. Here it was given asylum, if not welcome. John W. Davis and Robert LaFollette, can didates of the democratic and pro gressive parties for the presidency, both denounced the order by name in | scathing and unmistakable terms, while president and candidate Coo lidge observed the silence of the sphinx. When General Dawes sought to give the Klan his playful endorse ment, Mr. Coolidge forthwith put a padlock on the lips of his running mate. According to his political cun ning, he cautioned neither approval nor disavowal, but votes. The Klan now controls the republican party in Indiana with one governor in the pen itentiary and another out. In other midwestern states the wizards of wickedness are so influential within the fold of the G. O. P. that the lead ers and rulers dare not utter one condemnatory word. Governor Smith in his Oklahoma address, boldly as is his wont, de nounced the Ku Klux Klan in terms as clear and unmistakable as the Smith language usually is. But not one condemnatory word has escaped the prudent lips of President Coo lidge, candidate Hoover, Manager Work, or any other ruler in the ranks (Continued to Page Four) Prohibition and the Men By Geo. H. W. Bullock Graduate of Lincoln University I - “The serpent beguiled me and I did eat.” The politician is gifted in finding the weakness of the voter. It is upon this ability he subsists. Finding this weakness, he concentrates all his elo quence and fervor upon it until he spellbinds the sap-voter into believ ing that there is some truth in what he says—which in itself is no easy job. In this campagn this practice of deception is used more than ever, due, I suppose, to the closeness of the presidential race, which in turn is caused by the unsual exercise of in dependence on the part of the voter. The old sob-stuff, for ages employed by the professional politician, does not work at all in this campaign. For this election, so far as it concerns the presidential candidates, will be decided on such highly technical is sues; issues which require such great intelligence on the part of all who will make good use of their suffrage, that even the politician himself is puz zled as to just what argument to make to his subjects. The more careless and, incidental ly, less trained of them tell the voter that “All wat he gotta do is” vote for this candidate or that candidate; this issue or that issue, and if suc cessful at the polls, he will at once be lifted up into a seventh heaven, there to revel in the glories of all that he desires, with everything he opposes being banished, as with the simple wave of the wand, from off the face of the earth by the victorious party. And, notwithstanding, these same wool-pulling tactics have been used over and over again on the same victim, said sap-voter is being victim ized right and left now by this tom foolishness. And it is right upon this condition the success or failure of the proper candidate and issues will be determined. It is therefore en cumbent on every intelligent, pa triotic citizen, organization, pulpit, and press, to join in an intensive edu cational campaign to see to it that the less enlightened voter is saved from mistakes and the country saved from the serious consequences of a wrong decision November 6. It will be too late, to see on November 7, or thereafter, that you have made a sad mistake and to turn in remorse and say, “The serpent beguilded me and I did eat.” I shall strive from time to time through these columns to open up some of the more technical phases of some of the most confusing issues in volved in this campaign. Prohibition By far the most susceptible of misunderstanding and deceptive of all the many issues involved in this campaign is that of prohibition or the Volstead act, put on the statute books in the form of a constitutional amendment which was enacted as a war time measure during the closing years of the Wilson administration. It prohibits—or is supposed to pro hibit—the manufacture and sale of distilled beverages beyond the alco holic content of 14 of 1 per cent. It is the Eighteenth amendment to our constitution, there being only one amendment later, the Nineteenth, granting women the right of suffrage. Notwithstanding the objection on the part of both political parties, the democratic party in general, and its presidential candidate in particular, forced it in the campaign as an issue, and it promises to be the deciding factor in the election. For it is on this question more than all others, that party lines have been broken and the final result placed in doubt. The republican candidate, Mr. Hoover, stands pledged to the en forcement of the Eighteenth amend ment as it is on the ground that, not withstanding its many imperfections, it has proved to be an economic and moral benefit to the country. He of fers, in substantiation, that the old saloon was an economic and social curse to the home and family life of the nation. That the use of food (Continued to Page Four) PUBLICITY MAN PAYS OMAHA HURRIED VISIT Claude A. Barnett, Prominent News paper Man, Member Publicity Committee, Spends Day Here. Claude A. Barnett, of the Associat ed Negro Press, Chicago, member of the publicity committee of the color ed voters’ division, republican nation al committee, arrived in Omaha, Mon day looming from Kansas City, spending the day and leaving for Chi cago Monday night. Mr. Barnett, who is one of the best known and ablest of our newspaper men, has been on an extensive trip arranging for publicity and making contracts for political advertising in race news papers. That was his business in Omaha. DR. PEEBLES IS APPOINTED STATE ORGANIZER Dr. W. W. Peebles was called to Kansas City, Mo., last week, to attend a conference called by Dr. William J. Tompkins, regional' director of the A1 Smith-for-President Colored league. There was a large attendance of en thusiastic Smith boosters from the region which includes the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas, Mis souri, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. En couraging reports, indicating hearty support of Governor Smith, were brought by those who attended the conference. Dr. Peebles was com missioned as state representative of the league for Nebraska. It is pro posed to bring some of their strong est Negro democratic speakers into the state within a few weeks for cam paign speeches. WILL HOLD SACRIFICE AND RUMMAGE SALE The Catholic Home for Aged asso ciation will hold a sacrifice and rum mage sale, Friday and Saturday, Oc tober 12th and 13th, at 1309 Farnam street. Exceptional values, including men’s brand new, as well as used, ar ticles of wearing apparel, furniture, furnishings, etc., will be available at ridiculously low prices. Mrs. William Foran, Mrs. Gene Melady, Mrs. Mary B. Porter and Miss Ella J. Brown are the committee in charge. NORTH END REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS OPENED Attractively appointed headquar- | ters known as the North End Repub- j lican headquarters, have been opened at 2120 North Twenty-fourth street, with George W. Hibbler, in charge as chairman, and Mrs. Ada Hill Smith as secretary. Literature and infor mation bearing upon the campaign from the republican standpoint can be obtained here as well as from the central headquarters downtown at the Rome hotel. Public meetings will also be held from time to time in the North End headquarters. ■ SMITH-FOR-PRESIDENT COLORED LEAGUE HAS OPENED HEADQUARTERS Headquarters for the A1 Smith-for President Colored league were recent ly opened at 2016 North Twenty fourth street with neatly appointed furniture. The headquarters are in charge of Harry Leland, Dr. W. W. Peebles and Mrs. Lydia Owen, secre tary. Democratic literature in abun dance and information bearing upon the campaign from the democratic standpoint is cherfully supplied. A radio installed at the headquarters makes it a favorite rendezvous for those who desire to listen in on po litical speeches. JUDGE HOWELL TO ADDRESS WOMAN’S CLUB Judge Frank S. Howell of the state supreme court, will address the Amer ican citizenship department of the Omaha Woman’s club on the subject of “Courts, Juries and Citizens” at the first regular meeting of this de partment at the club house on Mon day, October 8th, at 2 p. m. Judge Howell will also speak on “Medical Jurisprudence” before the Omaha-Douglas County Medical asso ciation at the Medical Arts auditor ium on the evening of Tuesday, Oc tober 9th. Last Thursday Judge Howell ad dressed the Noonday club, an organi zation of prominent Swedish-Ameri can citizens. SPEAKERS’ BUREAU OF WESTERN DIVISION FUNCTIONING FINE Reaching the West’s Million and a Quarter Negro Voters Through Printed Page and Spoken Word. (By Cary B. Lewis) Chicago, 111., Oct. 3—One of the departments of the republican nation al committee of the western division that is functioning with ease and ra pidity is that of the speaker’s bureau, headed by Roscoe Conkling Simmons. This and the organization depart ments are two of the biggest depart ments of the headquarters. Since Mr. Simmons has taken charge, his office is crowded daily with those who are eligible to talk “Hoover and Curtis.” Then too, his mail is very heavy and telegrams come in every minute. It is from those who are of fering their services to take the stump. It is a great big job for Sim mons but he is handling it with in telligence and diplomacy. Every “neck of the woods” wants to hear Simmons but it is impossible for it is his duty to remain at the bureau and direct speakers. West Has Many Votes In the western division, there are 1,248,100 Negro votes and these must be reached through organization, speakers and literature. The voters want to hear speakers for it is they who are able to convince one how to vote and who to vote for. Not only Bishop A. J. Carey, Bishop W. T. Vernon, Dr. L. G. Jordan, Senator Adelbert H. Roberts, Attorney C. H. Calloway, Rev. J. E. Wood and oth ers of this caliber, but orators in their native states will be called to the “huskin’s” by Col. Simmons. The month of October will see nearly every church and hall packed with voters to hear the principles of the republican party enunciated by speak ers selected by the head of the speak ers’ bureau. The headquarters here in all departments is a “bee-hive” of activity, working for the success of the G. O. P. Miss Nannie H. Bur roughs and Willem D. Pickens are scheduled to speak in Chicago at an early date. REPRESENTATIVE OF NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE VISITOR Attorney Arthur J. Mitchell, Member Intelligence Bureau, Spend* Week in State Doing Effective Work for Party. Arthur W. Mitchell of Washington, D. C., a member of the Intelligence bureau of the national republican committee, arrived in the city last Wednesday and spent several days here and at Lincoln in the interests of the presidential campaign and, inci dentally, in the interest of the whole republican ticket. Mr. Mitchell’s par ticular job is that of fact finding as to the sentiment and progress of the campaign among Negroes and, con comitantly, a trouble fixer, that is to say, a reconciler of difference or a harmonizer. Mr. Mitchell held conferences with political leaders here and at Lincoln, effecting, it is reported, a complete entente cordiale between different factions insuring, upon their part, whole-hearted and united support of the entire republican ticket. As one result of this harmonization, Rev. John Adams was made a member of the state central republican commit tee with a desk and stenographer in the committee rooms at the Lindell hotel, Lincoln, which is recognized as an advance step in state political af fairs as they directly affect our ra cial group. Other tangible recogni tion was obtained. Mr. Mitchell delivered two ad dresses during his visit to Nebraska, one at Lincoln Friday night and an other in Dreamland hall Tuesday night. Preceding his address Tues day night a dinner was given in his honor at Bell's De Luxe cafe by the executive committee of the North Side republican headquarters at 6 o’clock, attended by 30 guests. He left for Chicago early Wednesday morning. Dr. W. W. Peebles, state organizer, and Harry Leland, president of the local A1 Smith-for-President Colored legaue, visited Lincoln Tuesday and organized a branch of the league in that city. They report that they found Smith sentiment quite strong there.
