The Houston Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 1, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 24, 1924 Page: 1 of 8
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^Ibe Moueton ITnformer
South’s Greatest IHHeehlp newspaper
PRICE:
5 CENTS
VOL. VI.
HOUSTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY, MAV 24, 1924
NO. 1
THE MIRROR
By C. F. RICHARD80N.
“STAY WOKE.”
I
I
l
l
Have you heard the latest street
slang, “Stay Woke?”
While some of the slang expressions
do not have much meaning or signif-
icance, this recent one does.
It means that one should ever be
on the job; should be on the alert
and not rat or sleep at the post of
duty.
“Stay woke” may not be correct or
good English, but it certainly carries
a deal of weight and significance.
If people would stay awake and
not sleep so much, they could accom-
plish far more than they do.
By staying awake, we do not merely
mean the act of not falling a victim
to Morpheus (for many people figur-
atively sleep with their eyes open),
hut the act of being ever on the job
and permitting no opportunity to pass
/ to advance one’s cause and protect
/ one’s interests.
\ The man who is unconcerned about
"himself, his family, his race or the
human family, is asleep, whether he
ev$r closes his eyes in sweet repose
or not.
The person who is always trying
to run other people’s business and
failing to look after his own, is failing
to “stay woke.”
The person who continually runs
around, hunting up “mess” and cir-
culating rumors and gossip about
other people, while his or her own
house is in very bad order, is a “stay
woke” failure and bust.
We could recite and cite numerous
ways in which people fail to “stay
woke;” for there is a human prone-
ness these days to sleep entirely too
much, either with our eyes closed or
wide open.
The person that does not “stay
wol^” will soon find himself or her-
self not only bringing up the rear,
bud actually trailing even the rear.
Some people are always complaining
and whining about their sad and bitter
fate; about what a hard time they
are always having; how it appears
that everything goes against them ajrf
everybody has a pick at tljftsr? When,
in reality, they do JM<~“stay woke”
and their sad .plfeftt Is due largely to
the fjnv* that they sleep entirely too
*Sonle, people sleep so much that
when Opportunity knocks at their
door they are too sleepy-eyed or lazy
to even get up and ascertain who is
rapping at their chamber door, while
Miss Opportunity reluctantly departs,
often pathetically remarking to her-
self, “Nevermore!”
The poet was undoubtedly thinking
about this species of humanity when
he sang:
“Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.”
If we were to translate the above
verse and express it in its simplest
form, v.e would briefly state, “Stay
Woke!”
V
FIVE YEARS ON JOURNALISTIC SEAS
7
On Saturday, May 24, 1919, the first issue of The Houston In-
former appeared on the streets of this city and its death sentence
was immediately pronounced by the “know-alls” and “knockers.”
When The Informer set sail upon the journalistic seas, there
were four other weekly newspapers published in this city by our
group, and, perhaps, some of these prophets and seers were con-
scientious, logically concluding that Houston could not and would
not support five colored weekly newspapers.
While they reasoned logically and rationally, they erred in se-
lecting the wrong paper for the first obsequies, and thus The In-
former is still sailing upon the tempestuous seas of journalism af-
ter five years of a voyage that would have wrecked and run
aground the average journalistic barque; while two of its con-
temporaries of that early period have long since ceased to navigate
the journalistic seas.
This is said in no spirit of gloating or boasting, nor do we re-
joice in the demise of other colored publications (for all have a
distinct place and play an important part in our racial activity
and progress), but we merely mentioned this matter to show that
The Informer has unquestionably justified its existence.
During these five years this paper has been bitterly, insidiously
and maliciously fought and opposed, both within and without, but
it has never “trimmed its sails to catch the passing breeze” and
it has never raised the white flag or shown the yellow streak.
It has persistently and consistently opposed and fought wrong,
both in high and low places; fighting for principles rather than
making personal attacks and fighting at all times in the open.
This paper’s policy has not pleased everybody and the paper that
tries to please and satisfy everybody, in the final outcome will
please nobody.
If The Informer has made enemies during its five years of
existence, they were made because their faults, sins and shqrt-
the uncompromising position of this paper against the evils and
ills of our day and generation.
The Informer has not prostituted its editorial columns with per-
sonal calumny, nor has it indulged in mudslinging and slimy filth.
Instead of playing up and ever parading to the world the person-
al misconduct and misbehavior of individual members of our race
and other races, this paper has always assumed the higher ground
of attacking and condemning the practices, endeavoring to make
such as constructive criticism.
When other newspapers were silent on the peculiar evils of the
day, The Informer thundered out in no uncertain tone against
these modern sins and “isms” and many that originally excoriated,
condemned, criticised and anathematized this paper for its atti-
tude in those days, have lived to see the day arrive when they are
now found in the same band wagon with The Informer—with this
difference, however: The Informer opposed such practices when
its opposition meant boycott, intimidation, duress and almost com-
plete isolation, while the later day opponents of these practices
only assumed their attitude when it became apparent that their
revenue would be increased by pursuing such a course.
The Informer was actuated by principle and this paper has never
taken any middle ground when the rights of the people (and par-
ticularly our own race) were at stake or in jeopardy.
During the brief space of five years The Informer has won
many notable battles, and yet during this period no one has ever
had to hazard a guess as to where this paper stood on any issue.
As the vox populi (voice of the people), The Informer enjoys
a wide and large circulation and ranks with the leading papers of
the country in volume of local and foreign advertising; leading
virtually all race journals in Texas and the Southwest in the latter
respect.
Today The Informer stands second among the papers of Texas
was a full-grown newspaper when the editor of The Informer was
wrapped in swaddling clothes.
comings were ruthlessly attacked and their hypocrisy laid hire t\y in circulation, being exceeded only by the Dallas Express, which
During the past five years The Informer has always sought to
publish only reliable and worthwhile news, endeavoring at all times
to print the news while it is news, and to give our readers not only
a well edited publication, but a paper that stacks up mechanically
with the best in the country, regardless of race.
The tone artd calibre of this paper’s editorials can be attested
by the fact that no colored newspaper in the South (if, indeed, in
America) has been quoted in other newspapers as much as The
Informer; and one national publicist says that of the five papers
that are favorites of the various race editors irf America, The
Informer is included among any five that these editors personally
read each week.
This is a record that not only we (editorially speaking) should
feel proud of, but every member of the colored race should take
unusual delight in this remarkable high standing and rating of
one of their own publications, and should support such paper both
morally and financially, to the end that ere long the paper can
Possess its own facilities and, along with publishing its own news-
paper, do work for others and give employment, printing and jour-
nalistic training to the youths of our race.
The Informer, upon the occasion of its fifth birthday, takes
this occasion to express its profound gratitude and deepest ap-
preciation to the thousands of readers and numbers of advertisers,
who have helped to make this journey and record possible; and,
with your continued assistance and good will, we hope to continue
our sail upon the journalistic seas and to broadcast to the world
the hopes, aims, ambitions, achievements and aspirations of the
colored race, and to contend with every vestige of manhood at our
command for the speedy advent of the era when genuine democ-
racy and true Americanism will cover and compass the entire
American commonwealth as the waters that cover the deep.
Selah!
BRYANT VICTOR ANTi-ifflCH BILL*
IN AM. Flfflr CAUSED HOT TILT
EXPOSED GRAFT
AT M. E. SESSION
ent
dist
ARE WE INTERESTED?
On Tuesday, June 10, 1924, the vot-
ers will either approve or defeat two
bond issues, one for civic improve-
ments amounting to about $1,500,000
and another for school purposes total-
ing $3,000,000.
We wonder if the colored voters of
Houston and the Independent School
-District are the least concerned and
interested in these bond issues?
We wonder if they will take any
concerted action prior to election day
and thereby endeavor to at least se-
cure some pre-election promises, even
if they are broken -as soon as the
election is over?
The colored citizens and residents
of Houston are a most peculiar and
unusual people, especially when it
comes to organizing and working for
their own interests and welfare, and
the result is that we get very little
consideration from those in authority.
Those of our race who should take
the most interest in such matters, are
generally the ones given most to leth-
j argy, indifferences and sheer stupidity.
Heavy colored tax payers, who will
(be the hardest hit- among our group
if such issues carry at the polls, are
too stupid,' cowardly or indifferent to
even make inquiry regarding the ex-
penditure of such bond issues, and
usually these so-called “big Negroes”
will not feven vote at such elections—
they are always too busy on election
• day to even go to ballot boxes and
cast a vote.
As long as the colored people of
Houston manifest such little interest
in themselves and their offspring, just
so long will they fare their present
fate when it comes to civic improve-
ments and school facilities.
We again suggest that some organi-
zation of voters be perfected here and
efforts made to find out from those
in authority what consideration will
be given our people out of these two
forthcoming bond issues.
If we fail to do this, we should
go off somewhere and hide.
Friends, are we interested?
C. C. C.-CLIMAX GAME MAY 23.
The postponed game between the
Climax Pharmacy and Colored Com-
mercial Club teams will be played at
Scott Street Park Friday (today), May
23, beginning-at 4:15 p.m. Free gates
will prevail.
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Louisville, Ky.—Ira T. Bryant, pres-
secretary of the African Metho-
Episcopal Sunday School union,
won in his fight against the bishops
of the church when he was re-elected
by a large majority at the 27th quad-
rennial conference of the church now
In session here.
The balloting was spirited and there
are promises on contests over the
election of Mr. Bryant, Bishop Jones
declaring it void because of irregu-
larity.
Others elected are Dr. John R.
Hawkins, financial secretary, Prof. A.
S. Jackson, Texas, secretary of edu-
cation; Dr. R. R. Wright, editor of
the Christian Recorder; Dr. D. M.
Baxter, manager of the A. M. E. Book
Concern; the Rev. J. E. Coit, secretary
of missions; Rev. C. J. Robinson, new
editor of the A. M. E. Church Review,
and Dr. S. E. Chqrchstone Lord, offi-
cial stenographer for the conference.
The election of the Rev. A. L.
Gaines to the bishopric marks the
fourth successive time that episcopal
honors have been given to a repre-
sentative of the Baltimore Conference,
the others being Bishops Albert John-
son, John Hurst, and W. Sampson
Brooks.
The remainder of the conference will
be devoted to legislation. It is be-
lieved action will be taken against
dancing,” card-playing and other sun-
dry ills. Senator Watson of Indiana
was denounced this week for endors-
ing Edward Jackson, Ku Klux Klan
republican candidate for governor of
the state.
MUSICAL FESTIVAL,
CITY AUDITORIUM,
TUESDAY NIGHT, 27
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Springfield, Mass.—One of the feost
spirited discussions in the course of
the long conference of the Me(hodist
Episcopal Church being held here
came up in connection with the passage
of a resolution endorsing the Dyer
anti-lynching bill. Proponents of the
resolution which was introduced by
the Rev. Gammon Morris of Gastoria,
North Carolina, plead for its passage
on the ground of law enforcement.
Opponents held that such legislation
was an invasion of state’s right. This
latter view was most effectively pre-
sented by Judge Henry Wade Rogers
of the New York East conference, for-
mer dean of the Yale Law School and
now judge of the circuit court of ap-
peals of the state of Connecticut.
Among those to speak for the reso-
lution were the Revs. A. R. Howard
of South Carolina and A. J. Mitchell
of Annapolis, Md., Dr. Elmer L. Kid-
ney of the Pittsburgh conference
joined Judge Wade in the opposition.
Discussion was closed by Dr. F. H.
Butler, of the Delaware Conference
and secretary of the Epworth League
work for colored conferences, who
called particular attention to the points
anent state’s rights advanced by Judge
Wade. Dr. Butler reminded the con-
ference that in all its action thus far
it had hewed close to the line of law
enforcement, deploring in various ways
the laxity of enforcement seen in the
prohibition law and reminded the
conference’that the failure of the 18th
amendment could in large measure be
traced to the indifference shown to-
ward the 14th and 15th amendments.
He won the conference over to law
enforcement, no matter whom it might
hurt. The resolution was passed,
which means the appointment of a
commission of five members to work
for the passage of anti-lynching legis-
lation.
Reduce Prison Sentences
v
•V
i
Of Every Houston
Black Soldiers, Serving
Time At Federal Prison,
Eligible For Clemency
(By N. A. A. C. P. Press Service.)
New York.—The National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, 69 Fifth Avenue, has made public a letter from
John W*. Weeks, U. S. secretary of war, reporting that the prison
sentences of every former member of the 24th Infantry, still im-
prisoned for alleged participation in the Houston riot of 1917, had
been reduced, and that, according to the present revisions of sen-
tence, every one of the men will have been eligible for relase over
a period from now until 3 years and 7 months from now. The
letter from the secretary of war to the N. A. A. C. P. is as follows:
LOCAL CHURCHES
HELPING TO EQUIP
ROOMS AT Y.M.C.A.
The colored Young Men's Christian
Association’s three-story building, cor-
ner Prairie avenue and Smith ^street,
which was recently thrown open to the
public, formally, hag been furnished
DALLAS PYTHIANS
ENDORSED WILLIS’
ADMINISTRATION
On Thursday night, May 15, at one
of the most enthusiastic joint meet-
ings ever held in Dalas by the Knights
of Pythias, the following resolutions
were presented by Hon. W. H. Griggs,
j attorney-at-law,' and were unanimously
from the first to third floor at a cost I adopted:
y'
■rr
of more than $2,000. The directors are |
indeed grateful to a number of j
churches and their progressive and
public-spirited pastors for their co-op-1
eration and financial assistance in as-!
suming the obligations to pay for the |
Whereas, there has been for the past
few months considerable agitation and
propaganda by certain parties In Dal-
las against Grand Chancellor W. S.
Willis, and
Whereas, this agitation is being fos-
j tered and carried on by persons who
furnishings in one room; for the pur- j are not even members of the order
pose of this organization is to improve j of the Colored Knights of Pythias, and
the religious, sorial, moral, physical cannot become members of it; and is
and intellectual condition of our young j occasioned by nothing that is dis-
men and boys. i creditable, dishonorable or unworthy
that the Grand Chancellor has said or
done, and
Whereas, the charge brought against
l?
Music, sung and rendered as only
our people can and do, will be the
chief offering at the City Auditorium
Tuesday night, May 27, when the big
musical festival will be sponsored for
the benefit of Union Hospital.
Prof. I. M. TerrelJ, superintendent
of the hospital, who is laboring un-
tiringly to put over a big program at
this" local eleemosynary institution,
states that the best voices of the city
will appear on this program and that
tickets are selling rapidly for this
musical festival.
Several of the local white pastors
have asked for a batch of tickets to
sell to members of their various con-
gregations and a large attendance of
white is anticipated.
There will be selections rendered by
choruses, quartets, trios, duets, while
Antioch's orchestra will render sev-
eral selections. All in all, this event
promise? to be a stellar affair and
the promoters are anxious that our
people attend In large numbers, enjoy
an excellent program and materially
aid a worthy cause.
The program will begin at 8 o’clock
p.m. Tickets are now selling.
HOUSEWIVES PROGRAM
UNUSUAL OCCASION
Under the auspices of the McNorton
Young Married Women’s Auxiliary of
the Bethel Baptist Woman's Mission-
ary Society, a very unique and novel
program was rendered last Monday
night at Bethel Baptist Church.
Mrs. M. L. Thomas, one of the teach-
ers in the auxiliary, has been highly
commended for the most excellent and
praiseworthy entertainment.
Several young wives, neatly and ap-
propriately attired, appeared on the
program and discussed the different
phases of home life.
The male.of the specie was repre-
sented on the program by L. C. Hanes,
who very ably and pleasingly discuss-
ed “Yard and Plant Life.”
This entertainment closed a brief
rally of one week, in which these faith-
ful sisters raised $76.95, with others
still to report. Mrs. Jennie Perkins
carried off first honors In the rally,
having raised the highest amount over
five dollars and was presented
Gertrude Marshall making the pre-
sentation speech in a manner becom-
ing one of more mature years.
May the good work continue.
(Signed) A WELL WISHER.
Mr. Walter White, Assistant Secre-,
tary, National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, 69
Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.
War Department, Washington, May
13, 1924.-Dear Sir: In harmony!
with the understanding with you, I !
am furnishing you the following infor-
mation relative to the so-called Hous-
ton rioters:
Of the fifty-four of these men who j
were in confinement in the peniten-1
tiary when the board of officers visit-
ed that institution, thirty were serving
life sentences. As/'frie result of the
recommendations c/f the board of of-
ficers, made after a most careful and
exhaustive investigation and consid-
eration of each case on its individual
merits, ten of the thirty men under
life sentences have received reduc-
tions in their sentences that will make
them eligible for release on home pa-
role during the calendar year 1925;
and the remaining twenty have re-
ceived reductions from life to thirty
years, which will make sixteen of
them eligible for home parole in 1927,
and four of them eligible for home pa-
role in 1928.
In passing upon these cases great
weight was laid upon the evidence
presented, at the trial and the con-
duct in confinement of the prisoners
concerned; and the investigation
showed that the men whose sentences
were reduced to thirty years were the
more deeply involved in the affair,
and had the poorer records of conduct
In confinement. Of the other twenty-
four prisoners involved in the Hous-
ton riot, serving sentence? of less than
life at the time of the investigation
of the board, eighteen a^e eligible for
parole during the calendar year 1924,
and six will be eligible for home pa-
role in 1925.
As this recent investigation has re-
sulted in reductions in sentences in
every case of the so-called Houston
rioters, with the exception of six who
are eligible for parole not later than
August, 1924, and as the latest date
(under the modified sentences) on
which any prisoner will become eligi-
ble for home parole is August, 1928,
it is considered that the war depart-
ment has been most liberal in its treat-
ment of the prisoners.
Under a rule of the war department
\ The following churches, through
! their pastors, have pledged $80 to fur-
nish the smaller bed rooms: Bethel
j Baptist, Rev. .1 R. Burdett, pastor;
| Antioch Baptist, Rev. E. I.. Harrison,
I pastor; St. John Baptist, Rev. H. R.
! Johnson, pastor; Mt. Zion Baptist, Rev.
j T. D, Hawkins, pastor; Mt. Vernon .\f
| E., Rev. G. E. I). Belcher, pastor; total
| pledges from this source, $400.
According to President J. J. Harde-
! way of the board, $80 will pay the cost
of furnishing one of the smaller be<j
the Grand Chancellor by these said
persons that he is not a “race man”
is unjust and untrue, and
Whereas, some persons living in
other parts of the state, and not know-
ing the true conditions, have been led
to believe that this agitation and
propaganda against the Grand Chan-
cellor here, have the backing and
rooms and the names of all churches, j sympathy of the members of the order
lodges, organizations, institutions and I in this city, therefore be it
Resolved, by the Knights of Pythias
persons, who have given or will con
tribute $10 or more for this purpose,
will be published from time to time,
while the board wishes to thank pres-
governing the subject, the case of i ent and prospective donors to this
every military prisoner is considered
for clemency at least once each year;
and neither the recent investigation
by the board of officers, nor any ac-
tion taken upon its recommendation,
will preclude the consideration annual-
ly of the case of each one of the pris-
oners involved. Very truly yours,
fund.
BACK FROM LOUISVILLE.
(Signed)
JOHN W. WEEKS,
Secretary of War.
public this report, the
P. made the following
In making
N. A. A. C.
statement:
“To summarize the above letter the
facts, in brief, are: Eighteen of the
Houston martyrs are eligible for im-
mediate release; 16 of them—10 serv-
ing life sentences and aix long terma—
...ill La A I ■ A ! LI a 4a a a a I a A ■ A I .11 t h i M A
Dr. Theodore E. Bryant, one of our
leading physicians, who attended the
quadrennial conference of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, now in
session at Louisville, Ky., returned
home this week and reports a glowing
session and very inspirational and ed-
ucational trip. -The fact that his broth-
er, Ira T. Bryant, was unanimously re-
elected head of the A. M. E. publish-
ing house at Nashville, Tenn., cheered
our local medico considerably.
HIGH SCHOOL SERMON.
will be .eligible for release within a
year; 16 will be eligible for release
early in 4927, and the remaining four
early in 1928, or three years and seven
months from now. The men were
committed to Leavenworth prison in
December, 1917, and have thus served
six years and five months.
“While the results obtained thus far
are not all for which the N. A. A. C.
P. and co-operating agencies hoped
and worked for, nevertheless there is
cause for rejoicing in that those who
have the longest sentences yet to serve
The baccalaureate sermon for the
colored high school graduates will be
preached by Dr. J. R. Burdette, at
Bethel Baptist Church, Sunday, May
24, at 10:45 a. m. The Bethel choir
will render several special selections.
have only three years and seven
months.
“The N. A. A. C. P. and those agen-
cies which worked so faithfully in this
effort yet feel that full pardon which
was asked for should have been grant-
ed these men. It will be noted from
Secretary Weeks’ letter that these
lodges of Dallas here assembled in
joint meeting, that we do denounce,
repudiate and most severely censure
and condemn the unjust agitation
against our Grand Chancellor. We do
hereby express in the Grand Chancel-
lor our highest confidence and our
greatest esteem for him personally as
a citizen of Dallas, and as the match-
less leader of our great fraternity.
His record in making the Texas Juris-
diction the biggest Pythian jurisdic-
j tion in the world of finance and in
j membership, and his using our sur-
plus money for the benefit of our
j people show him to be the right man
in the right place. We hereby express
to the world our greatest confidence
in his leadership, and we want it
widely broadcasted and understood
that the Knights of Pythias of Dallas
have no part or sympathy in the agi-
tation that is being waged, on account
of private grudge, against our most
worthy Grand Chancellor.
Resolved, that these resolutions be
published in the press of the state
so that the public might know our
attitude in the matter, and the real
source of this unwarranted agitation.
I,
.Ji
cases are to be reviewed annually.
The N. A. A. C. P. is gratified at the
results secured. At the same time It
will continue ite efforts for further re-
ductions of sentence.”
am
W
.L-vi
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Richardson, Clifton F. The Houston Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 1, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 24, 1924, newspaper, May 24, 1924; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth523753/m1/1/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .