The Houston Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 48, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 19, 1924 Page: 1 of 8
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“HOUSTON'S GOT 'EM'
VOL. V.
HOUSTON. TEXAS, SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1924
NO. 48
NORTH CAROLINA CO. PRAISED
THE.MIRROR
By C. F. RICHARDSON.
WILL THE COUNCIL ACT?
The city council has been petitioned
by the Inter-Racial Commission of
Houston to gravel several streets in
the colored residential sections in the
Third, Fourth and Fifth wards and to
permanently pave Dowling street from
Preston to Holman avenues.
General Jacob F. Wolters, chairman
of the local committee, made an earn-
est and impassioned plea for more
civic consideration for the colored
citizens, not as mere "colored people”
but as citizens and taxpayers.
Here are the streets the commis-
sion is asking the city fathers to
gravel:
Third Ward.
Paige street, McKinney to Bell;
Sampson street, Pierce to. Holman
avenue; Ennis street, McGowea
to Holman
street, Pierc
Dowling Str
avenue (per
avenue; Live Oak
Ito Holman avenue;
Preston to Holman
aanent paving); Hol-
man avenue, S. A. & A. P. track
to Dowling street; Tuam avenue,
S. A. & A. P. track to Scott street,
t Fourth Ward.
Cleveland street, Heiner to Ma-
son street; Sherman street, San
Felipe to Webster avenue; Bailey
street, San Felipe to McGowen
avenue.
Fifth Ward.
Clark street, Nance to Odin ave-
nue; Providence street, Hill to
Bringhurst street; Stevens Btreet,
Loraine to Quitman street.
This is a worthy appeal and if the
city council turns a deaf ear to this
petition, comipg as it does from sev-
eral of the leading white and colored
citizens, the case of the colored race
in Houston is practically hopeless.
Too long have the various munici-
pal administrations slighted and neg-
lected the colored citizens in this and
other respects, and too long have the
public-spirited white citizens been In-
different and apathetic regarding the
civic and social status of the colored
residents of this community.
We sincerely trust that^the city
council will not assume the attitude
taken by the state legislature of Mis-
sissippi and contend that such petition
is a demand for “social equality,”’
and as such must be denied and re-
fused.
We often fear that the reason Why
our people get such scant civic con-
sideration in the South is due largely
to two factors: first, the disposition
on the part of those in authority tj
merely look upon and regard us as
“colored people” Instead of “Ameri-
can citizens;” secondly, the type of
politicians who generally occupy of-
fices or the office-holders who must
dance at the politicians’ music.
The doctrine that “any old thing is
good enough for the ‘niggers’ is go-
ing to ultimately prove the South’s
uifdoing; for if conditions are wretch-
ed and horrible in the colored ghettos,
the palatial and luxurious mansions
In the exclusive white residential dis-
tricts are not immune from the rav-
ages of diseases and epidemics that
originate in such hovels and from such
insanitary and unhealthy conditions.
Neither maudlin sentimentality nor
racial prejudice' should determine the
course the city fathers take in tryiiig
to grant the request of these white
and colored petitioners; for such im-
provements are imperative and they
are an economic and social necessity.
Houston’s colored residential dis-
tricts are a disgrace to the human
race, and that these deplorable and
shameful conditions have obtained in
these sections so long, is an alfnost
unpardonable civic transgression.
The present city administration has
a splendid chance to perform a last-
ing and far-reaching service to the
community by graveling these streets
and improving the living conditions
generally in sections of the city occu-
pied by colored citizens.
Will the city council act, and that
favorably?
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COLORED VOTERS BIG FACTOR
White Examiners
Commend Strong
Colored Company
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Durham, N. C.—On the occasion of its 25th birthday anniver-
sary, April 1, 1924, the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance
Company received what is considered the finest testimonial of its
history. It came after a test check of the income and disburse-
ments of the company from the original vouchers to the journal
cash book, containing the entire financial transactions of the
company. The check and examination were made by examiners
of the states of North Carolina and Virginia.
The examiners reported in a brief summary that the North
Carolina Mutual is “A company efficiently managed, whose books
and records are very accurately kept, which is the only mutual
life organization in North Carolina of any size that is owned and
managed for its policy-holders.”
, The above statement . included not only Negro concerns, but
white as well.
The examiners further found that
the North Carolina Mutual had on
December 31, 1923, over forty-one mil-
lion dollars worth of insurance in
force. For the protection of the policy-
holders it maintains a reserve fund
of more than a million and a half dol-
lars. It paid to policyholders during
1923 more than a half million dollars.
The report of the examiners states
that these assets are intact and in-
vested in first mortgage loans on real
estate, government, state, county and
municipal bonds, bank and utilities
stocks. Every cent was in its place.
The North Carolina Mutual did not
attain this position like Topsy. It did
not just aimlessly grow. It has taken
exactly twenty-five years of unselfish
labor to make his institution; April 1,
1924, marked its first milestone. The
report of the examiners that did not
overlook the- man who has been be-
hind the” helm for every year and day
of these twenty-five years and his
faithful colleague, who shouldered the
burden with him for twenty-five
years, to C. C. Spaulding, president
WILEY-PRAIRIE VIEW FIA8CO.
If education can not help us in iron-
ing out and settling our little differ-
ence; if teams representing our lead-
ing institutions of higher learning for
colored youths can not agree on such
small matters as the selection of um-
pires, referees and arbiters, then we
should close up our schools, lock the
doors and throw the keys away for
ninety years and one dark day.
All of which brings us to our sub-
ject: The Prairie Vlew-Wiley fiasco
of Tuesday, April 16, staged on the
diamond at the state school.
WHey and Prairie View had clashed
on the diamond the previous day and
Prairie View won 6 to 1, completely
outplaying the East Texans.
When the hour arrived for the Tues-
day game, a big argument arose over
the umpire or umpires, and an agree-
ment was never reached and, despite
the fact that there were spectators
series (having paid their admission
in good faith), the game was not play-
ed, Wiley forfeiting the same rather
than play with one umpire that P.
V. insisted upon employing.
Life is a game of give and take,
and our young people need to learn
this lesson within the classical walls
of our institutions of learning.
The idea that any team can have
its way in toto, even in the selection
of officials, is rather preposterous,
and many are of the Opinion that it
was not so much a matter of umpire
that caused the teams to stage that
fiasco at Prairie View Tuesday.
To walk off the field agd refuse to
play a game even before the umpires
selected had had a chance to render
decisions and function, looks quite
flukey to the conductor of tljis depart-
ment, who believes in clean and man-
ly sports and holds to the opinion
that teams, in Imminent danger of
defeat or tynplete rout, should not
disappoint the spectators, disgrace
their schools and reflect discreditably
upon their race, by trotting out some
alibi or excuse for their unwarranted
and premeditated action in refusing
to play a scheduled game.
If the conference has no method it
punishing teams that are guilty of
such unsportsmanlike practices, then
the organization is a complete failure
and the sooner it “closes shop,’’ the
better it will be for all concerned.
Organizations, rules and regulations
do not mean very much to some of
our people, if they can not have their
way; and often their demands are un-
reasonable and inconsistent. *
We are not twtag to sit in judg-
ment in this matter, but there was a
big blunder made at Prairie View
Tuesday and such a disgraceful inci-
dent should never happen again on a
college diamond in Texas, ox. the
South.
The officials of the conference
should take cognizance of and inves-
tigate this fiasco and inflict punish-
ment where it rightfully belongs; to
do otherwise will defeat the purpose
for which 'the Organization was per-
of the North Carolina Mutual, and
J. M. Avery, vice-president and sec
retary. Of these two men the exam-
iners say in their written report,
“these men,especially the president,
who was with the company from the
beginning, are the active officials,
who should be given credit for its
efflciant management.” Negro men
women of America should take cour-
age when they see an institution
pwned and managed by Negroes for
whom such praises are sung, after
twenty-five years of, existence, by the
official examiners of the National
Convention of Insurance Commission-
ers.
SOCIAL WORKERS’
COUNCIL AWARDS
POSTER PRIZES
Through the assistance of the
health department and supervisor of
intermediate grades, the Council of
Negro Workers was successful in stag-
ing a contest for the best health pos-
ters made by children in the fifth,
sixth and seventh grades at the Car-
negie Library Monday night, April 14
Nine schools entered and, consider-
ing that drawing is not supervised in
colored schools, the work of the chil-
dren was highly commendable.
The prizes were awarded as fol-
lows: Seventh grade: First prize,
Robert Chiles, Dunbar; second, G. W.
Gale, Douglas; third, Johnnie Myers,
Blackshear. Sixth grade: Bernice
James, Gregory, won first; Corine
Richards, Blackshear, second, and
Carey Jackson, Gregory, third. Fifth
grade: Lloyd Hemphill, Gregory, won
first; Vera Burr, Doglas, second, and
Lois Johnson, Blackshear, third.
Aside from these, several came in
for honorable mention.
The Council of Negro Workers ap-
preciates highly the co-operation given
them in this undertaking.
COLORED CITY LEAGUE
BEGINS SEASON MAY 3
NORTH SIDE LITERARY
ART AND CIVIC CLUB
A pleasant affair of recent date was
the birthday party given by Mrs. Ed-
gar Talimore for members of the club
at her hom4 on Friday afternoon,
April 4. After the opening, Mrs. E.
C. Scott gave a health talk, which was
discussed by other members of the
club. This being election day for new
officers, the ladies decided that the
present officers had served well and
the “old state” was re-elected. At the
conclusion of the program the hostess
served a tempting two-course lunch-
eon consisting of: First course—Ham
sandwich with nuts and colonial
punch. Second course—Ice cream in"
various forms of fruit. A birthday
cake decorated with two candles was
presented the club. The next meet-
ing of the club will be with Mrs. Ran-
dolph Mitchell, 2119 Stevens street,
Friday, April 18.—Mrs. Van H. Mc-
Kinney, reporter.
JUNE 19TH MASS MEET
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 30
J. H. Matthews, chairman of the
board of directors of Emancipation
Park, has asked The Informer to pub-
lish the fact that there will be a mas3
meeting of the colored citizens of
Houston and Harris County at the
Colored Carnegie Library, Wednesday
night, April 30, 8 o’clock. The pur-
pose of this meeting is to take some
definite action on the “Juneteenth”
celebration for this year, and the park
director are anxious that a large
and representative number of citizens
be present on said occasion.
The first games **f the Houston Col-
ored Amateur Baseb'.ll League will be
played Saturday, May 3' (opening day
of the association’s season), according
to schedule published elsewhere in
The Informer.
Opening day clashes are as follows:
P. O. Carriers vs. Colored Commercial
Club; Lincoln Theater Stars vs. T. &
N. O. Shops; S. P. Office vs. Climax
Pharmacy; S. P. Freight House vs.
Orgen Barber Shop Athletics.
Homer E. McCoy, umpire-in-chief of
the loop, is busy selecting his staff
of arbiters for the season. The
grounds for playing these games will
be announced from time to time.
Officers of the league: O. P. De-
Walt, president; Presley Griffin, first
vice; Sam L. Ayers, second vice; J.
M. Burr, secretary; Ben H. Smith, as-
sistant; Dr. W. J. Howard, treasurer;
H. M. Middleton, statistician; C. F.
Richardson, business manager.
HOUSTON TEACHER HONORED.
Prof. P. H. Holden, head of depart-
ment of history, Houston colored high
school, has been invited to deliver
the annual address of the alumni as-
sociation at Alcorn A. and M. Col-
lege, Alcorn, Miss., at the annual re-
union, May 22, 1924. The local teach-
er is an alumnus of this school.
EASTER PROGRAMS
PLANNED BY MANY
LOCAL CHURCHES
Virtually all of the local colored
churches will have some special Eas-
ter service Sunday and several choirs
have prepared cantatas and special
music for this occasion, which cele-
brates the triumph of Jesus Christ
over death and the grave.
Houstonians, especially those who
love music, are In for a treat, If prep-
arations and advance notices count
for aught.
The Antioch choir will sing a can-
tata, “Jesus Lives,” Sunday night, aug-
mented with numbers by the orches-
tra.
Bethel Sunday school choir will sing
special Easter music Sunday morn-
ing and at night the youngsters will
hold forth with a program.
The choir of St. John Baptist
Church (DowUng) will sing “The Res-
urrection” Sunday night.
Wesley Chapel African Methodist
Episcopal Church choir will sing "Jo-
seph’s Bondage” Sunday night.
Several other local church choirs
will sing special music both morning
and night, and all the churches are
expecting large audiences.
C. C. C.-P. V. FACULTY
GAME HOLIDAY EVENT
All local interest Is being centered
in the baseball game between the
teams of the Houston Colored Com-
mercial Club and Prairie View College
faculty, which will be played at
Prairie View Monday, April 21 (San
Jacinto Day), at 3 p.m.
Already virtually every local owner
of an automobile has made plans to
carry a party to the game, and it is
confidently expected (being a state
holiday) that a larger crowd will ac-
company the local team than went
last summer.
I The result of the game last summer
j (the C. C. C. winning 11-6) has not set
I so well on the P. V. pedagogues and
they have sworn vengeance and re-
taliation upon the local entry.
Both teams have been considerably
strengthened and a hectic battle is
anticipated. Neither team has an-
nounced its complete lineup yet and
the slab selections will hardly be an-
nounced until the umpire calls “Play
ball!”
Political Contest
Leaves Chicago
Rubbing Optics
• (By thf* Associated Negro Press.)
Chicago, 111.—Chicago has just gone through one of the most
spectacular and spirited political primary campaigns in its his-
tory. In this battle the Negroes of the city played a conspicuous
part. Strange as it may seem, Negroes grouped as they are, hold
the balance of power in this great municipality. No candidate is
strong enough to ignore the Negro vote. It is normally solid re-
publican. It has elected a mayor. It might elect a man to any
office.
The interest of Negro voters in the primary just ended was
centered on the candidates for governor, United States senator,
and representative in congress. For the gubernatorial nomination
the aspirants were the present chief executive of the state, Len
Small and Thurlow G. Essington, a state senator. The chief candi-
dates for the position in the United States senate were the present
incumbent, Medill McCormick and former Governor Charles.,^
Deneen. warlin R. Madden- 4white), and--Nathan S. -Tayfhry(col-
ored) ran the race for congress.
Small was nominated governor, Deneen, according to lates re-
I turns, senator, and Madden, representative.
on Taylor's fitness for the office as
his most vunerable point. More aad
PERRY RETURNS TO ATLANTA.
Walter * H. Perry, president of the
Universal Furniture Co., Atlanta, Ga.,
after a local stay covering about a
fortnight, left last Saturday night for
the metropolis of the Cracker State.
His many friends in the “‘olde home
towne” vied with each other in so-
cial events and courtesies to make
his stay here pleasant, and Mr. Perry
stated before departing that he was
indeed grateful to all who contributed
in any way to entertaining him while
in Houston.
present from various sections of the — _ .
state, cottng purposely to witnees the | footed spd promoted.
JUST US SOCIAL CLUB
The Just Us Club met at the T.
W. C. A. center, with Miss Jones as
hostess, on Friday evening, April 11,
1924. Mr. Thurmond of the Y. M.
C. A. talked on some very witty and
interesting topics. Miss Jonerf also
made a short talk. Quite a few mem-
bers were present. On next Friday
evening the club will meet with Miss
Georgia French, 1206 Cleveland street.
All members are requested to be pres-
ent Jack Perry, president; (Miss)
Avia B. Andrews, secretary-reporter.
P. V. PRINCIPAL HONORED.
Governor Pat Neff has appointed
Dr. John Granville Osborne, principal
of Prairie View State Normal and In
duertrlal College, a delegate to the Ne-
gro National Educational Congress,
which meets in Philadelphia, Pa.,
June 16-21. It is quite likely that Dr.
Osborne will attend this gathering.
SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE
DREW MANY LEADERS
Plymouth Congregational Confer-
ence of Texas closed a very success-
ful meeting Sunday night at Pilgrim
Congregational Church, Wilson and
Cleveland. National representatives
of the denominaUon were here from
Atlanta, Ga., Denver, Colo., New York
City and New Orleans, La. Tillotson
College night (Friday) was one of
the Important features of the confer-
ence. A fine musical program was
rendered under the lead of Mrs. Irene
Bowers Taylor, with a female quartet
from Tillotson. Dr. E. H. Wllllsford
of the First Congregational Church
(white) said that he believed in giv-
ing the Negro race a fair chance in
their economic, religions and educa-
tional development. The conference
went on record Sunday night favoring
the enactment by the national govern-
ment of the autl-lynch law.
SURVEY IS BEING MADE
BY COMMERCIAL CLUB
In order to do an effective and far-
reaching work amon£ the business
men and women of the city, the Hous-
ton Colored Commercial Club is now
busy making a citywide survey of the
various business establishments con-
ducted by our people in this city.
Several committees have been ap-
pointed and assigned to the different
wards and environs, and much valu-
able informatlln is being gathered for
the archives of the local commercial
body.
All committeemen are urged to
make a complete or partial report at
the meeting of the executive commit-
tee this (Friday) afternoon at the
club quarters, 419% Milam street, 6
o’clock.
Small was attacked by all the larg-
er Interests, the metropolitan press
and big business. He was called a
grafter and all the other things in the
category of bad. Essington was
picked by the Chicago Tribune to run
against Small. Many people credit
Small’s renomlnatlon to the persist-
ant persecution of the Tribune direct-
ed against him. Negro sentiment In
favor of Small was marshalled by
Edward H. Wright, Negro member of
the state commerce commission at
$7,500 a year. Many Negroes, about
a third, voted for Essington, led on by
the indomitable Oscar De PrelsL
McCormick’s defeat, probably the
the biggest surprise of the election,
was due in large measure to the fear
of Tribune comination which exists
among the. common people of the
state. The present senator had an ex-
pensive and thorough campaign
waged in 'his honor. Deneen, twice
governor, twice state’s attorney of
Cook County, and out of public since
1912 was the only man to relieve or
rescue the masses from their fear
of what the Tribune might do if pow-
er were given to It. Early returns
gave him a wide lead. Later unofficial
returns cut this lead to 4,000. An of-
ficial canvass will be necessary to de-
termine the actual winner. Deneen
has gained votes in those counties
where the official canvass has been
completed.
Taylor, the Negro canaiuate depend-
ed upon the oust Martin B. Madden
from congress, suffered to the tune of
11,000 to 6,000. It is the concensus
of opinion that Taylor lost his own
battle aided and abetted by incompet-
ent campaign managers. Two weeks
prior to the primary election day the
Taylor hosts were legion. It was ex-
pected that friends of the present con-
gressman would begin to bear down
PARENTS RELENT AFTER
ROMANTIC M A R RIAGE;
NEWLYWEDS NOW HAPPY
The old adage that Love laughs at
locksmiths, received another verifica-
tion last week, Wednesday, April 8,
at 4 p.m., to be more exact, when Miss
Lucile Johnson, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Henry J. Johnson, 2514 Pierce
avenue, and Mr. Andrew Watkins, as-
sistant steward at the University
Club, evaded papa and mamma, and
a host of friends, slipped quietly out
of the city and hied themselves to
Galveston, where the nuptial knot was
tied by a wise old justice of the peace,
who no doubt had played the role of
Cdpid’s assistant on various and sun-
dry occasions of this nature, and
could be counted on to keep mum.
Everything is now quiet at the
bride’s home, papa and mamma have
given their belated consent and the
couple are now ready to receive the
congratulations from their many
friends who have been kept in the
dart up to now.
more persons began to express their
desire for a Negro in congress but
to question the ability of Taylor who
handled figures and history in his
fashion.
He is credited with killing him-
self when during the last days of
the campaign he had published a fake
picture purported to be a masa meet-
ing in his honor. The crowd was
actually that which attended the Y.
W. C. A. fashion show. Taylor’s
managers appear to have doctored It
up. Later he put on the streets a
huge van bearing the life size and
lifelike figures of Negroes being
lynched and burned. This van was
driven around the poorer sections of
Negrodom until checked by the po-
lice and Taylor was arrested. Of
course voters learned of this. It was
necessary on primary day to convince
the people that the Negro candidate
was out of Jail. They did not mind
voting for Taylor if he was in Jail..
Nevertheless, to have bucked both the
regular organizations and T>olled 6,-
000 votes was no inconsequential
feat.
Illinois now has a Negro member
of the state senate In the person of
Adelbert H. Roberts, for several years
a member of the state legislature. He
was unopposed for the nomination.
His nomination assures his election.
Albert B. George, colored, attorney for
the Chicago Defender was nominated
for judge of the Municipal Court, a
position which under the new budget
pays $12,000 a year. He will be elect-
ed in November if white republicans
do not knife him. Negro members of
the state legislature nominated at the
primary were Warren B. Douglas, a
former member, Sheadrlck Turner
and George Kersey, present lnumb-
ents and Charles Griffin, a newcomer.
BECK CALLS REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
IN DALLAS, TEXAS, FOR TUESDAY, MAY 27
To the Republican Electors of Texas:
Beaumont, Texas, April 10, 1924,—
Pursuant to the call of the republican
national committee issued at Wash-
ington, D. C., December 12, 1923, and
by authority veated In me by the re-
publican state central committee of
Texas, a delegated republican state
convention la hereby called to meet on
the 27th day of May In the city of
Dallas, Texas, at 12 o’clock, under the
state election law for the purpose of
electing four delegates and four alter-
nate delegates from state at large to
the national republican convention to
convene In Cleveland, Ohio, June 10,
1924, to nominate all presidential elec-
tors and to elect one delegate and one
alternate delegate from eaeh congres-
sional district of the state, and to
transact such other business as may
properly come before said convention.
The voters of the several counties
of the state who are in accord with
the principles of the republican party,
who believe in its declarations of prin-
ciples and are in sympathy with the
aims and purposes are cordially In-
vited to unite under this call In the
delegates to this ’convention. The
basis of representation from each
county shall be one vote for the re-
publican organization and one addi-
tional vote for every one hundred
votes cast for President Harding in
the last presidential election.
Only legal and qualified persona,
men or women, who possess a poll tax
receipt shall participate In republican
primaries, mass conventions, precinct
or county convention! hold for the pur-
pose of selecting delegates to the said
state convention.
HARRY RECK, Chalfpen.
L. D. LYONS, Secretary.
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Richardson, Clifton F. The Houston Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 48, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 19, 1924, newspaper, April 19, 1924; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth523870/m1/1/: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .