Newspaper Page Text
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ALL THE NEWS
FEARLESS DEFENDER
OF THE RACE
ALL THE TIME
VOLUME VI. NUMBER 45.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOUKj; SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1914.
PRICE, 5c.
These Prominent Colored Men Urge Every Negro to Vote For the Franchise
- HERMAN L. KINSLE-R,
' RENTAL AND REAL ESTATE AGENT.
Office at 918 East 21st St. .Phones, Bell, Grand 2303 H; Home, Main 6516,
Mr. Klnsler Is one of the shrewdest and most prosperous young busi
ness men in'Kansas City. By his safe investments ho has accumulated
quite a deal of real estate in Kansas City. He is a member ot the Kansas .
City. Negro Business League and a Master Mason of none Lodge No. 25.
He Is an ardent supporter of the Metropolitan Franchise and believes
every colored man should vote for It.
Editor of the Kansas City Sun:
This is an appeal to all Negroes
through your paper to give the com
ing Franchise election an unbiased
and practical consideration. As you
are no doubt aware the Kansas City
Star is urging a better campaign
against this franchise and many of us
will no doubt, let The Stop think for
us and be influenced by It. There is
In my humble opinion no politics in
this franchise or should not bo at
least, but Instead is just a business
matter between a corporation and
each Individual citizen; each citizen
should be -his own judge In this mat
ter. I am not going to ask anyone to
vote as I am, for I've told no one how
I shall vote, but before voting or
rather before reaching a conclusion I
would (llke to present to you for con
sideration a few facts. As a race of
people, it matters little what kind of
a franchise Is accepted, since our so
cial status remains the same. At
present, the enemies of the Metropol
itan are using the future as a club to
fight with, and If we couldfeel assured
ot a mans, consideration.' in the affairs
of ; the future, Instead of . a Negro's
consideration, mere la not better
ground for opposition to this fran
chise than that thirty years added to
the present unexpired term Is too
long, and too much of a burden on our
children's shoulders. But as matters
now stand, I should see no reason for
dissatisfaction In the present condi
tion of affairs so far as regards .our
street car system. Nowhere In the
country can we get more liberal trans
fers (stopovers) than we get in Kan
sas City, or ride farther for a nickel,
no matter who runs the cars. It me jns
to us a nickel a ride. But.my strong
est reason for being in favor ot the
franchise lies in the fact that the very
strongest enemies of this franchise
are also the enemies of the Negro.
Read the Star for the list of those op
posed to It and' you will see very few
who are large employers of Negroes;
those who are strongest in favor of
municipal ownership, would be the
first ones to dispose ot all Negro help
and put Mexicans or Greeks exclusive
ly In the places. As matters now
stand, the Metropolitan hires hundreds
of Negroes in various capacities,
three or them live In the block in
which I live. "What does this mean to
us as a race of people? It means In
my opinion a reduction In tho number
of idle Negroes, a reduction In the
number of distressed and otherwise
suffering Negroes; 60 per cent ot the
men now employed on the streets by
the Metropolitan are fit for no other
kind of work. During the past winter,
many of them would no doubt have
been on the mercies of the people and
charitable Institutions but for the tact
that the Metropolitan gave them work
and I think, that to the able bodied,
the giving of employment Is the best
form of charity. So la view of the
fact' that they have proven their
friendship for us by giving numbers
ot our race work and we cannot swear
that any other corporation would. Let
us protect a certainty by expressing
our approval of this franchise, since
anyone who helps one Negro, no mat
ter how slight, helps all the Negroes,
Now,, Mr. Editor, please don't brand
.mo as a Met. hireling or .henchman or
any other ugly name for bo it far
from the fact. I am Just as big a.
nickel wayer as you and can prove be
yond a doubt that I have suffered as
much as any and more than a whole
lot, as a result of poor street car ser
vice, 2-3 of tho time I walk from 25tli
and Vine to 18th and Vine waiting for
a Vine street car to take me to work.
Hundreds of times I stand and watt
at 25th and Vine while friends of mine
race mo down down town. The walk
to Troost or Brooklyn and they beat
me every time, but I am willing to
tolerate all this, provided they do no
worse, as long as they employ Iron.
dreds ot my race, because if I don t
care to wait for a car, walking Is BtlU
In order. Another thing Is this; The
poor white man Is never a friend to
the Negro., I don't mean to say the
Met. loves us more , than It does any
other body of men, but I do mean to
say that as a rule the very element
of people who fight corporations fight
us and were it not for the open shop
corporations around Kansas City
what would It mean to us as wage
earners with every avenuo of employ
ment unionized against us. The Met.
is an open shop concern, let's help
them out.
O. U. GUESS IT;
2512 Vine.
Mr. GEO. W. TEETERS,
for twenty-live years a Bank Messen
ger who Is enthusiastically supporting
the Franchise.
A' STAG IN HONOR OF MR. OS-
BORN CREWS.
By Chas. A. Starks.
A soft Italian night with the rich
est blue sky, brilliant with stars
twinkling and sparkling a quiet
with peoplo of coir automobiles go
fctreet though generously Inhabited
ing and coming, passing and repass
ing a lawn the length of two front
yards dotted here and there with ta
bles for cards and refreshments
near three score men seated at these
tables, talking and laughing and eat
ing and drinking (punch) convers
ing about those things that business
men, lawyers, doctors and other pro
fessionals would likely discuss. Such
was the case at 2G24 Highland avenue.
It was Indeed a representative body
of Kansas Citlans who liad been In
formally gathered by our 'esteemetj
editor Nelson C. Crews, to meet In
a social hour or two and forget for a
brief spell the weightier questions of
(lie day and partake of; tho rich and
bountiful hospitality of the genial
host. The real occasion was given In
honor of Osborne Crews, son of Mr.
James H. Crews, the veteran Mall
Carrier of this city, and worthy citi
zen. The young man appears to good
advantago- himself, and we are told
that he also is employed, in the mail
service and enjoys the profitable dis
tinction of being in the very first division-
of the line of clerks. Add to
this the Important fact that this
young gentleman was soon to be mar
ried and you have the WHY to the
whole affair. Certainly, anyone could
have felt good, receiving the congrat
ulations and encouragements of so
many broad-gauged public men. The
young benedict will take away a beau
tiful and lovely bride, a girl who no
doubt is very dear to those who have
been responsible for, the rlghtv blos
soming of her youth Into, the" now
glorious womanhood.
Wo spoke of the generous hospital
ity of the host In serving a well or
dered repast This was snjclly sea
soned with music furnished by a
unique Trio ,'of Musicians who were
stationed on the veranda whch was
Highly Illuminated with electric
lights , The music entortalned not
only the "Stags" but the entire neigh
borhood ot Tesldonts. The beautiful
night we 8 poke of seemed to enhance
every charm Indeed, one could -Imag
ine himself ;: floating down the river'
as the excellent singers gaVo us such
poetic songs, as "Whon It's Apple Blos
som 'Time' In Normandy' , "Beautiful
Dream Days of Yore," and "On My
Way to Mandalay." Perhaps the dex
terity of the Bass Violinist In his
manipulation ot his Instrument amus
ed the men most, any vaudeville per
former could have gained many
points by watching this eccentric but
Justly musical person. The following
gentlemen (wero present: r
- Sir. .Osborne Cr.ews, , vi
. Prof. II. O. Cook,
Mr. Raymond Knox,
(Dr. C. V. Lowe, ,
Mr. A. alaBS, ,
Prof. J. E. Itfrrlford, r
Mr.' T. II. Wattklniv
Mr. Jas. A, Lee,
Mr. Jno. Hone,
Prof. P.. T. Coles,
Mr. S. II. P. Edwards,
Mr. a. W. K. Love,
1'rof. JVm. II. Dawley, Jr.,
Mr. Itobt. DcFrnntz, ,
Mr. Edward Baker,
Dr. Paul Crosthwalt,
Mr. David Crosthwalt,
Mr. Shannon Drumrh,
Mr. J. E. Carpenter, '
Mr. w. v. uouwin.
Dr. Tlieo. Smith,
Mr. I. B. Johnson,
Mr.. Felix II. Payne,
Prof. G. A. Page,
Mr. Root. Bennett.
. Dr. B. C. Bunch,
ur. vm. .j . iiiuiuimms,
Dr. T. C. Chapman,
Dr. Bass of Mexico City,
Dr. E. B. Ramsey,
Dr. McQueen Carrion,
Dar. W. Herbert Bruce,
Mr. L. A. Knox,.
Mr. V. C. Hueston,
Mr. C. II Calloway,
Mr. E. Spurrlll,
Mr. Theo. Clay.
Dr. II. M. Smith, 1 -Mr.
Jno, M. Day.
Dn J. F. Shannon,
Mr. J. C. Hobbs,
. Dr. J. E. Dibble,
Mr. Jas. Baker,
Dr. E. J. McCampbell, ,
Mr. F. J, Weaver,
Mr. C. A. Franklin,
Prof. R. G. Jackson,
Mr. F. W. Dabner.
Dr M. G. Brooklns,
Dr. T. C. Unthank, (
Mr. Lewis Woods,
Mr. Jas. II. Crews,
Dr. J. E. Pern'.
Dr. II. S. Gillespie.
Rev. Dr. Wm. II. Thomas,
Mr. Chas. A. Starks.
Mr. A. W. Harris,
Dr. J. E. Perry,
PROF. J. SILAS HARRIS,
Prnnlrlfint of the National Negro Edu
cational Congress and for thirty
years a teacher In'Kansas City, who
urges every Negro who has the inter
est of his race and city at heart, to
vote on July 7 for the Metropolitan
Franchise.
MAGNETIC EFFECT BY VOLUN
TEER MEETING.
Ti..M....nti Auditorium Aud-
lence Appreciative and Attentive.
PLAUSIBLE -ARGUMENTS CREAT
ING. Aggregative Drift of Afro-American
Minds.
"Lest We Forget: United We Stand."
SECULAR AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS
COMPOUNDED. "
professor G. C. Hughes, Hon. C. A.
Franklin and the Secretary Speak.
Dr. G, McNeal In the same large
auditorium where-he had just preach
ed the Annual Masonic sermon, raised
$161.63 in the collection and Miss
Buelah Douglass played some of the
sweetest music we ever heard from
such an instrument as she played;
the volunteer 'band of the Business
League enjoyed an Impressing, con
victing and winning meeting last Sun
day evening, June 27.
Or. McNeal lent abls assistance and
also Btamped upon ourmlnds the fact
that his church is a pioneer for Ne
gro thrift and business progress.
Mr. "Wiley Hyde, president of tiie
B. Y. P. U, requested Prof, G. C.
Hushes and the secretary to talk to
the young people. Hon. C. A. Frank
lin sppoke eloquently as usual. Tne
meeting was at once commanding, In
structing and elovatlng.
Phyllis Whoatley, Ida Wells Bar-
nott, Mrs. Silcme Yates and many
other noble women were mentioned
as sterling examples of merit among
us of worthy womanhood, to whom a
glowing tribute was paid of undying
honor and lasting fame and glory;
which will ever bless the grand wo
men of the Afro-American raco when
ever related or read. As he has been,
Is being and will be hung apart, the
black men by sheer force of necessity
should as the opltome of , common
sense learn to hang together. AVhite
men of principle want to see us
united. We must read Negro papers,
Negro periodicals, 'Negro magazines,
and Negro books to be In accord wit
the onward and upward march ot the
race and also to roallze the Import ot
that impregnablo, uncompromising, ir
resistible, slow but sure God-given
slogan, "On, Men of Ethopla, On."
Ethics, logical reason and valid facts
lead us on to truo Ideal standards.
'Let us Intelligently mold such thought
as will eventually Insure ' a proper
destiny for the Afro-American In any
and all fields Of honest endeavor.
Lift -up your heads! And with
courage in your hearts, move on to
certain victory; 1
Next Sunday night there will be a
volunteer meeting of the Negro Busi
ness League for the commercial and
Industrial uplift ot tho race, in the
C. m. B. Church between Fourth and
Fifth on Oakland avenuo.
Yours for Negro enterprise,
B. A. ROBINSON.
Chief Grand Mentor A. R. Chlnn of
the Knights of Tabor, will be In the
city July 4-7,' making his annual visit
He desires to meet all members July
6th, , . .
MR. F. J. WEAVER,
President ot the Afro-American Realty
and Investment Co., who "predicts that
the Franchise will carry with 5,000
majority. ' .-n
- v'Kead tho Commercial Club'
Report as it appears in full
"i 'Sun and if. you have confi- Z
(IfillfW intliftilriiKliiPSs lonrl. .
4 ers of this community, Vote
for the Francnke. t
PROF. T. W. H. WILLIAMS
one of the race's fjomriSt scholars,
who believes tho Franchise will over
whelmlngly carry.
HON. S. H. P. EDWARDS, I
One of the most nromlnent Nearo
Masons In this country' and the owner
of several pieces of .valuable property
In this city who believes every Negro
in Kansas City should vote for the
franchise.
C. H. Calloway and W. C.
Hueston, attorneys-at-law, de
sire to announce that they have
moved their law offices from
117 West Cth street, to C01 Delaware-
street, where they are
prepared to meet their clients
and friends. Home phone Main
53.
MR. THOS. A. RICE,
a leading Contractor who Is unreserv
edly for the- adoption ot the Fran
chise. The new Ward Hall at Western Uni
versity Is to be dedicated today at 1
o'clock by tho presiding bishop, It. B.
Parks, D. D., and tho ministers ot the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
of the fifth Episcopal district. A large
crowd is expected to be In attendance.
r
ROBERT HARRIS ACQUITTED OF MURDER
Man Who Killed Two Police Officers in Protecting His Aged
Father and Mother Acquitted at 5 O'clock Last Satur
day by a Jury of Honorable, Fair Minded White Men
ONCE SENTENCED TO HANG
Masons Deserve Much Praise
Which They Rallied to His Defense, ggj
Denver, Colo. "Robert Harris, for
merly of Kansas City, and a member
ot R. T. Coles Lodge No. 8G, A. F. &
A. M., Kansas City, Mo., was acquit
ted today."
These few lines flashed over the
telegraph wires contained a world of
meaning to those men who have
watched carefully the progress of this
case which Is probably familiar to
o'very member of the Negro Masonic
fraternity in this country. Much
credit Is due Hon. Titus S. Rector,
Grand Master of Colorado, E. J. Haw
kins,, Grand Master of Kansas, the
Grand Master of Missouri, and Past
Grand Master R. T. Coles, as well as
a number of Negroe newspapers for
the raising of the funds to secure the
new trial.
As many of our readers may not be
familiar with the facts we reproduce
the following appeal that was sent out
by Robert Harris several' months ago
and that has been published contin
uously in the Sun:
FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
Father and Son, Because the Latter
Tried to Protect His Aged Parents
Let Us All Help Financially.
Colorado State Penitentiary.
Hon. N. C. Crews, Dear Sir: I am
enclosing herewith a copy of a decis
ion handed down by the supreme court
of Colorado in regard to my case,
which was hastily tried in district
court of Otero county at La Junta,
Colo., In July, 1911, where I was In
stantly convicted and sentenced to
death and my aged father, a man ot
near S3 years, was also convicted as
an accomplice, and sentenced from 30
to 50 years at hard labor In state pen
itentiary. I was sentenced to death
for protecting my aged father and
mother, In their own home, and my
life at the cost of the lives of the two
brutal, inhuman, prejudiced, Negro
hating, lawless policemen -who were
assaulting my mother and father, and
seeking to murder me.
But after being denied a new trial
by the judge trying my case, my at
torney, Ex-Judge Lyman I. Henry of
Pueblo, Colo., assisted by W. B. Town
send, attorney-at-law ot Denver, Colo.,
aided at great expense by good citi
zens ot both races and members of
my lodge, the R. T. Coles lodge. No.
86, A. F. and A. JL, Kansas City, Mo.,
and my father's, Prudent lodge, No. 6,
A, F. and A. M., Kansas City, Kas.,
I succeeded In getting our case to the
MR. A. T. MOORE,
Kansas City's leading and popular
Undertaker, who says "that which
helps Kansas City helps the Negro
and every Negro should help Kansas
City by voting for tho Franchise.
MASS MEETING
In the Interest of the
Federated Colored Charities
ALLEN CHAPEL, SUNDAY, July 12, at 3:30 p. m.
Prominent Speakers of Both Races.
All are Invited.
The Poro Club met with Mrs. Ja
cobs, 120 Mill street, Rosedale, Kans.,
Friday, June 20, and will meet with
Mrs. Thomas, 1022 W. Thirtieth
street, July 24. Those present were;
Mrs, Jacobs,
Mrs. Thomas,
Mrs. Gibson,
Miss Baldwin,
Mrs. Smith,
Mrs. Franklin,
Mrs. Johnson,
Mrs. Bets,
Mrs. Wiley.
MRS. THOMAS, Pres.
MRS. FRANKLIN, Secy.
Mrs. Alice Roland has arrived home
from Los Angeles, after a nine months
visit, with her health much Improved,
-ICS)
for the Splendid Manner in
supremo court, which readily reversed
the 'judgment of the lower court, and
granted mo a new trial which will
soon come.
Now, dear sir, the fight has Just
commenced as the prejudiced class in
that community are determined that
the sentence Imposed on. my father
and myself be carried out, and they
will use every means In their power
to gain their hellish ends, and to
thwart all In their desire to see me
get justice. I appeal to you for finan
cial aid, if you can assist me in any
way through the columns of your pa
per, or otherwise, to meet the finan
cial demands Involved, It will be great
ly appreciated. My reason for sending
you a copy of the supreme court's de
cision, and comments, Is for you to see
clearly It was not an act trying or at
tempting to defy the law in any way,
but one of protecting my parents and
my life. I again beg to state that I
am a worthy member of R T. Coles
lodge. No. 86, Kansas City, Mo., and
my father, Joseph Harris, of Prudent
lodge, No. 6, Kansas City, Kas., being
a 32 degree man and a 33 degree gen
tleman. So I appeal to you most ear
nestly', that you may do for us what
you can. You may refer to your re
spective lodges as to our standing.
Should you feel disposed to aid us,
.forward same to my mother, Mrs.
Clara Harris, No. 1319 River street,
Canon City, Colo., as she Is striving
to gain us justice and every one looks
to her to be paid for any expense in
curred in helping father and me.
Please acknowledge receipt to me.
Hoping for your assistance, I am,
Yours respectfully and fraternally
In A. F. and A. M
ROBERT HARRIS,
No. 8180, Colorado State Prison,
"Canon City, Colorado,
Much credit is also due Judge Ly
man I Henry, the attorney who so
ably handled the case from beginning
to end, and the Colored people not
only ot Colorado, but of the entire
country will ever hold him In high
esteem. Judge Henry says that a
writ ot habeas corpus will be Issued
at once asking for the release of the
father, and doubtless ere thl3 time
he has also been given Iris freedom.
The Kansas City lodges contributed
more than $250 In the trial of the two
cases and It Is needless to say they
are pleased with tho outcome. Full
particulars with the history of the
case and the incidents ot the trial
will be given In our next Issue.
DR. LLOYD E. BAILER,
one of Kansas City's most prominent
physicians, and editor of the famous
Health Hints that have' appeared from
time to time In The Sun, who says
every Negro owes It to the commun
ity to support the Franchise.
MR. HOMER B. ROBERTS,
proprietor of the New Theatre, who is
a staunch supporter ot the Franchise.
Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Mitchell. 3417
E. 21st, -entertained sixteen guests at
whist last Wednesday.
FRANCHISE MEANS BIGGER TER
RITORY. '
End of Met. Receivership Will Give
Impetus to Interurban Lines.
BUSINESS WILL FOLLOW,
New Contract Will Benefit Working
men Most, Says W. B. Strang.
With the election but a week off,' I
feel confident that tho franchise will
pass by a vote of two to one. I make
this prediction, not as an Idle boast,
but from coming In contact with peo
ple In every walk, of life.
The banking and business Interests
want it because it will mean an end to
the Metropolitan receivership and a
renewal of confidence ot the outside
worlld In Kansas City as a business
center; the retail merchants want it
because it will not only mean better
service on tho city lines, but will be
an added Impetus to the development
of Interurban lines and the construc
tion of an interurban terminal station,
which will naturally mean a broaden
ing of tho territory from which their
trnde will come; and last, but not
least, the worklngmen want It, because
they are beginning to realize that in
lighting the transportation lines they
are only hurting themselves, for
transportation is the life of trade and
when trade slackens they are the first
to fell Its effects.
The petition of over 300,000 em-
pltyes and ex-employes of railroads
to congress for a let-up on antl- rail
road legislation tells better than
words what this fight on the transpor
tation facilities of our country has
meant to the laboring man.
With the people in this spirt the at
tempt to convert Kansas City to the
radicalism of Cleveland, Toledo and
Detroit, with Its disorganized service
and a dissatisfied public Is destined to
fall, despite all the efforts of the
"knockers."
Knocker Has Easy Time.
The knocker has an easy time ot It,
as he has nothing to prove. On the
other hand, he never accomplishes
anything. With a few blows of his
hammer he can kill a worthy enter
prise, but he never can create one.
The knocker was against the frana
chlse for tho Terminal company. Had
he succeeded, wo would never have
had a Union station. The knocker
never believed in parks and boule
vards. Had he his way, Kansas City
would be an unsightly rock pile In
stead of the beautiful city It Is; the
knocker said It was useless to try for
a regional bank, St. Louis would get
It anyway. But he was mistaken.
DR. WM. J. THOMPKINS,
One of Kansas City's most eminent
physicians and surgeons white or
black, who gives In this Issue of The
Sun many valid reasons why the Col
ored people of this city should sup
port the Metropolitan franchise.
Result Will Be Wide.
A verdict for the franchise will not
only be a great thing for Kansas City,
but It will be of greater Importance to
the general field of transportation all
over the world. Where In days gone
by the people realized the need ot ad
equate transportation facilities and
furthered their development, in late
years there has arisen a class of. re
formers that have looked upon rail
roads as creatures of the evil one,
and with a zeal worthy of the days ot
wltch-burnlng, they have sought to
destroy them, and they have nearly
succeeded.
But this fanatical feeling Is dying
.out and the people are coming back
to the days when they assisted rather
than fought our transportation lines.
And so the country Is awaiting our
verdict on Tuesday noxt. If tho fran
chise wins, as I know it will, it will
mean a turning back of the wave that
has wrecked transportation facilities
wherever It has reached, throwing
thousands out of employment and
stagnating business, and with the 10-
cedtng of the wave will come a re
newed confidence In the stability of
transportation securities; money now
being hoarded up will be seeking In
vestment, and a general boom in bus
iness will result. ,
Let Kansas City flash this verdict to
tho world and It will .have accom
plished more for its own prosperity
&nd growth and for the general pros
perity of tho country than a hundred
Union depots and ail tho regional
banks, tor It Mil have marked the
turning point ot the tide against tho
transit lines of our cities, and will
bUzo the way for. a new ora of co
operation between the people and Its
transportation facilities so necessary
for the development and prosperity of
our country. W, B. STRANG.
