AN IMPORTANT WORD TO SUBSCRIBERS We, as publishers, MUST comply with the law or ;: pay the penalty. -;; o < » EDITOR’S ADIEU With this issue closes my connection with The Monitor. In relinquishing my editorship of nearly fourteen years I desire to express my sincere gratitude to m'y indulgent subscribers and readers, scores of whom have from time to time sent me messages of appreciation and good will; to advertisers whose support and patronage has made publication possible; to the Waters-Barnhart Printing Company whose generous co-opera tion and indulgence has permitted its regular appearance, and to all who have in any way contributed to the success of the publication. The need for a publication of this kind led me to establish The Monitor and issue the first number on July 3. 1915. It was a neat and attractive eight-page, four-column paper, “devoted to the interests of the eight thousand colored people in Omaha and vicinity and to the good of the community.” The associate editors were Lucile Skaggs Edwards, William Garnett Haynes and Ellsworth W. Pryor. “Our Women and Children” was a department ably conducted by Mrs. Edwards. "Science Notes” were contributed by Mr. Haynes, and “Culinary Hints and Recipes” by Mr. Pryor, the then famous steward of the Omaha Commercial Club. The following week, Joseph B. LaCour, a high school boy, now on the Kansas City Call, and recognized as the premier advertising man of the race, became circulation manager. He got his start and first experience on The Moni tor, as did also George Wells Parker, the brilliant columnist and aufhor of “The Children of the Sun.” Others to whom The Monitor furnished an opportunity for development might be named.' ... . • Fifty cash subscribers began our subscription list, the first subscriber being Dr. W. W. Peebles. Let’s name nine more in their order: E. W. Pryor, Joseph Carr, J. W. Headley, Dr. C. H. Singleton, Dr. L. E. Britt, William Walker, General Scott, Rev. W. T. Osborne, H. J. Pinkett. Elsew’here is published our first editorial to which atten tion is invited and I feel sure that the standard there set has been maintained. It is with the satisfaction of having at least tried to render helpful service to the race and the community that The Monitor is relinquished into the hands of one who has the ability and the will to serve the community devotedly and unselfishly. The need for a strong race publication in this community and every other where our people are found in numbers must be apparent. Several publications, lured by the prospect of untold wealth to be earned in the journalistic field, have sprung up in the community since The Monitor started. The editors quickly retired upon their wealth. The editor of The Monitor unable to acquire their wealth has struggled on hoping against hope that his ship laden with golden argosies would soon come to port. It is with great sitisfaction that I turn The Monitor over to George H. W. Bullock, for whom I bespeak the continued support of ali those who have remained its friends and patrons through the years that have gone and I hope that they will assist him in every way they can to make it an efficient agency for good in the community. Gratefully yours, JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. THE FIRST This is the first issue of The Moni tor, a weekly newspaper published primarily in the interests of the 8,000 colored Americans in Omaha and vicinity, to chronicle their social and religious activities and to discuss matters of peculiar importance to them as touching their civic and eco nomic rights, duties, opportunities and privileges. Further than this, it has as its general aim and purpose the contributing of something to the upbuilding and good of the commu nity, to the dissemination of infor mation bearing on race progress throughout the country and to the formation of a sound and righteous The first editorial in the first issue of The Monitor gives opportunity for explanation and forecast. We take it to tell WHY we have come TO BE and WHAT we hope TO BECOME. The Monitor has come into being to satisfy a popular demand, to meet an urgent need, namely, that of a special publication and mouthpiece for the colored people of this commu nity. And this need, it is only fair to point out, is the result of educa tion along this line on the part of others, to whom full credit should be given for their laudable endeavors. We have been educated to appreciate the value and usefulness of a pub lication of our own by The Progress, a pioneer in this field, published for some years by F. L. Barnett; and The Enterprise, founded by the late G. F. Franklin, and continued, until a few months ago, by T. P. Mahammitt; not forgetting two or three other later and shorter-lived publications like the Afro-American Sentinel, published by Cyrus D. Bell, and The Progres sive Age, by G. Wade Obee. All these publications, whatever their faults or limitations may have been, have had their influence in educating our people to appreciate the useful ness and need of such race journals. This is especially true of the two first named. Moreover, it may be just as well to point out, in passing, that these publications, limited in re sources though they were, gave em ployment to some of our boys and girls who otherwise might have been unemployed. Let us remember this. The necessity for a local weekly, such as The Monitor aims to be, is due to the fact that colored Ameri cans, like other race groups in our polygenous, or many raced nation— which is still in the process of na tionalization—form a distinct and well-defined social group, having their classes and gradations, with their separate social and religious ac tivities. Their standards and ideals, in corresponding classes, are those of the communities in which they live, PROVIDED that they are permitted to come into helpful contact with those standards and ideals; but at the same time, there is a large inner cir cle of activities which belongs exclu sively to themselves. These need to be n.'.'ted, discussed, directed and en couraged or reproved, as the case may be. This is the province of the newspaper of the special group. The larger daily, and we in this communi ty are favored with a fair-minded and friendly press, thinks and speaks in the terms of the whole community— not of any particular class. The spe cial group, the special interest, must have its special organ. Then, again, there may arise mat ters affecting the rights of a particu lar class which, in the larger com munity life the daily serves, may be overlooked. Then it becomes the duty of the special organ to speak. The peculiar place unfortunately assigned to the colored American, even in the most favored communi ties where he is found in any appre ciable number, makes it expedient that he shall have a newspaper of his own, devoted especially to his inter ests. It has its educational value for him and also for his white neighbor, if he will read it. Papers of this class can be of good service in a com munity. The Monitor hopes to fill an honor able and useful place in its chosen field in this community, full of splen did possibilities. It will strive to gather news of interest, local and general; it will give from time to time illustrated articles of our homes and people; it will publish articles from special writers to make its read ers think; it will welcome short let ters on timely topics from its read ers. Its editorial policy will be in dependent, frank and fearless, cour teous and kind, sane and conserva tive. We shall strive to make it a paper of such a high standard that it can be read with pleasure and profit in any home in the land.—Editorial, July 3, 1915. NORTH SIDE Y. M. C. A. All employed girls who are inter ested in forming a club are invited to meet at the North Side Branch on December 5th, at 7:30. Membership Mrs. J. A. Williams, acting mem bership chairman, is asking that all members ■who are delinquent become financial during December. This is “Home Coming” month for members. The hospitality committee is hav ing an “Evening of Fun” for every body on December 13th. This is younr invitation to f ome and bring five cents with you. Save the date, you will miss a grand time if you fail to come. ! Have you paid your membership? This is home coming month at the “Y.” Girl Reserve* The Blue Ribbon Club (grade school Reserves) made and presented to the Old Folks Home a box of fudge. It shows a splendid spirit when our girls will bring the ingredi ents and money from home to make the candy and then carry it to those less fortunate than themselves. The Girl Reserves find happiness by mak ing others happy. The Up-to-Date Club is preparing (to gladden hearts during the Christ mas season. The Athletic Gem Club (High School Reserves) will have charge of the Christmas Vespers on December 23rd. Watch for the date of “The Hang ing of the Greens.” You can not afford to miss this event under the auspices of the hospitality commit tee. V open Sixty-five people enjoyed the ex cellent and inspirational program rendered at the Vespers last Sunday. | Mrs. I. S. Wilson gave a picturesque interpretation of the Y. W. C. A. She held her audience with intense interest, and in the language of her distinguished husband gave a “won | derful sermonette.” The musical numbers and the reading were good for the soul, especially the reading, “The Crucifixion,” by Mrs. Walter Craig, who is one of Omaha’s out standing women in efficiency. A great number enjoyed the hospitality of the religious and general educa tion committee. The unusual fea ture of the Vespers was the period of worship conducted by Miss Margie L. Danley, our executive secretary, who brought to the audience the solemnity and beauty of devotionals which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Don’t fail to attend the next “Y” Vespers when “The Story of the Orient” will be presented by fourteen girls of the Zion Baptist Church un der the direction of Mrs. Lena Dal las. The date will be December 9th. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the Christmas Vespers when our own Girl Reserves will have charge. De cember 23, 1928, is the date. Mrs. Carrie Vinegar, a former res ident of Omaha, died Sunday even ing, in Los Angeles, where she and j her daughter have been residing for ! the past two years. Mrs. Vinegar j was the sister of Mrs. Alfred Jones, I this city. CULTURAL CENTER NOTES The women’s dressmaking classes are completing the first period of work, and will begin the second per iod after the holidays. New regis trations will be accepted anytime be for January 7th. The Boys’ Brotherhood staged a club-supper Saturday evening. The boys prepared and served the meal. The rummage sale Friday, auspices P. T. A., was a success. The Christmas Gift class meets every Thursday at 1:30 p. m. Our High School Club meets week ly. Miss Mildred Alston is the presi dent. The following program will be rendered at this week’s meeting: Vocal solo, Miss Berthell Taylor. President’s Thanksgiving Procla mation, Miss Daisy Webster. Reading, “The Monkey’s Feast,” Miss Hallie Johnson. Violin duet, Messrs. George Staines and Valreen Johnson. Musical selection, Franklin sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Bernie B. Cowan re turned Saturday from Portland, Ore., where they were called by the death of Mr. Cowan’s aunt, Mrs. Julia Bel ton. I I THE CHICAGO RESTAURANT $ Formerly Chinaman Sam’s Place ? 107 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET £ Open Under New Management J Fresh Substantial Home Cooked Food and Quick Service J Will Be Our Motto At All Times Ij Open Daily from 6 a. m. Till 12 p. m. Midnight S Prices the Lowest S MR. and MRS. BENJ. F. BURTON, Proprietors £ Jackson 9946 >scribe for 9 MONITOR | 5 Old Reliable 9 « Weekly 9 1th Year 9 it Circulation 9 0 a Year a ❖_ ■■■■■■■I X Bring the Kiddies to Hayden’s ♦♦♦ | Toyland on Third Floor f t TOYLAND IS NOW OPEN . . displaying hundreds and hundreds of new and dif- V ♦♦♦ ferent Toys . . that will gladden the hearts of every good little girl and boy. It & would be mighty convenient to parents to make selections now while stocks are com t plete . . a small deposit will reserve the selections until desired. 1 X Y i Free Candy to the Kiddies * ❖