The Denver Star has the Largest Circulation among Colored People. Get Wise am' I "™ l '"'*' • o#uw
The papers formerly known as The Statesman and The Independent, have been merged into The Denver Star
TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR Number 36
Interesting News
Concerning the Race.
GOLD MEDAL FOR
AFRO-AMERICAN
WHO STOPS
LYNGHING
jf irst Year Medal i* to be Award
ed and There is Great Curiosity
as to the Probable Choice of
Committee—Pr actically No
Restriction Upon the Award.
New York. April 25 —Ex-
President Wm. H. Taft has
accepted membership on the
committee which is to award
the Spingarn medal this year
for the highest and noblest
achievement by an Afro-
American man or woman dur
ing the year just past. This
* medal, which is given annual
ly by Dr. Joel E. Spingarn,
chairman of the board of di
rectors of the National Asso
ciation for the Advancement
ot Colored People, will be
awarded at the sixth annual
conference of that association
which takes place in Balti
more on the 3d, 4th and sth
of May. The donor has made
practically no restrictions
upon the award, merely auth
orizing it to be bestowed,
"with appropriate ceremonies,
upon the man or woman citi
zen of the United States who
shall have made the finest
achievement during the pre
ceding year in any field of ele
vation or honorable human
endeavor." The committee
is authorized to decide for
itself what particular
act deserves , the highest
acclaim, and it may choose
any field, whether "intellect
ual, spiritual, physical, scien
tific, commercial, educational,
or any either.”
This is the first year the
is to be awarded and
there is great curosity as to
the probable choice of the
committee. A clause in the
deed of gift provides that the
committee may withhold the
medal in any given year if no
achievement seems to merit
an award. In that event it is
permitted to use the money,
amounting to tioo, for the
creation of medals for second
and third prizes in succeding
years.
The Committee on Award,
which is appointed by direct
ors of the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of
Colored People, consists this
year of William H. Taft, Os
wald Garrison Villard, editor
rd the New York Evening
Post, Dr. James H. Dillard
of the Jeanes. and Slater
Funds; President John Hope
of Morehouse College, Atlan
ta. and Bishop John Hurst of
Ihe A. M. E. Church. Balt.-
more, who ts Chairman. The
Chicago Defender.
The Denver Star
ATTEMPT TO SCARE
DEARFIELD SETTLERS.
State Land Board to the Re
scue. Everything Legal
and O. K. Dearfield is
Flourishing.
Offices of the State Board of
Land Commissioners, Capi
tol building.
Denver, April 28. 1914.
To whom it may concern: —
A recent article published in
a Denver paper to the effect
that the lands below described
located in Weld county which
were sold by the Slate, during
the present year were, in fact
not State lands, but were
still the property of the Fed
eral Government. The land
referred to is described as fol
lows: E. 1-2 nw i-4, e 1-2 sw
i-4 and se 1-4 and lots 1 -2-3-
4 of sec. 30, tv.-p. 4, nr 61 w.
The facts in connection
with this transaction are as
follows: These lands were
selected by the State under
the act of Congress, approved
March 3. 187$ in Denver list
No. 392. hied October 10,
1907. The selection was ap
proved by the Department of
the Interior under date of
May, 1908 in Denver clear
list No. 10. The clear list re
ferred to, being the document
of conveyance issued by the
Government to the State; the
same equivalent to a deed,
legal title, therefore this prop
erty was in the State up to
the time of the sale some two
nfonths, which sale was legal
ly advertised in accordance
with the law governing the
sale of State lands and was
sold &s advertised. Portions
of this tract was surveyed in
to a townsite and the patent
for said lots will issue out of
this department just as prom
ptly as the business of the
office will permit. The pay
ment in full having hereto
fore been made to the State
by the purchaser.
V. T. HOGGATT.
Register.
Let the skeptical and doubt
ful minded read, digest the
above letter from the Regis
ter’s office and then let them
vote in our Deerfield contest.
Our ballot box at 2561 Wash
ington Ave., Denver, Colo.
Be not atraid the State of
Colorado has received all
your money and not any sin
gle individual and the State
of Colorado will stand by all
of the transactions of the
Land Board. Even if that
condition did obtain, could
not the same be adjusted at
the expense of the State, so
why worry, agitate, confuse
and confound the facts to
suit some whims or desires of
or some prejudices of some
people who are opposing the
Deerfield colony.
Don’t take anybody's word
for this, but write, call, phone
or investigate by attorney and
learn for yourself before vou
criticise or condemn. The
patent was not filed for rea
sons which Weld county offi
cials feared might result in
the loss to the county, certain
taxes, if filed after a certain
period. And by Tuesday of
next week the patent will be
on record,
DENVER, COLORADO, SATURDAY, MAY 2, «9«4
Grand Master of Masons Appeals To
The Craft of Masonry In Defense
Of Robert Harris and His
Family’s Lives.
Let Everybody Give Something Even Let The Children
Give Their Pennies For The Defense Of Their Future.
When Robert Harris, after being horribly beaten and
mistreated, shot and killed in self defense the police offi
cers. ( unlawful intruders into his home, in the eyes of the law)
he put one more rivet in the security of the Negroes’ liberty
in Colorado and cemented a bond of affection, which in the
years to come, young Colorado Negroes will be proud to re
late. He willingly offered his life tor the defense of his old
mother and father and for his sacred home. For that he had
to kill two unlawful intruders and now he needs money to
pay for his second trial. The honest and upright judges of
our State Supreme Court have said that he did not have a fair
trial and that error was committed in the trial of the case-
They even hinted that it was a doubt in their minds whether
at any time (.as shown by the evidence) that any misdemeanor
had been committed that day.
Let us celebrate the 4th of July by sacrificing for this
worthy cau.e. The union men of this state (every craft) is
taxing itself to maintain and win the coal strike: countless
sacrifices are being made for their cause by them. That is
the cause of bread and butter. Will the Negro of Colorado
say by his indifferent and unsupported action, a valuable life,
which has been laid upon the altar of public opinion apd trial,
is less to him than a mere existence? MEN who have fami
lies and love them; who are property owners, citizens and
Christians, help in this cause. Women of Colorado. God's
chosen vessels of life, purity and {)«rtection of our homes, our
lives, our all, you too help in this righteous cause. Little
children, even upon you, we depend, in this our latest hour,
to make some sacrifice and give your pennies, so that your
homes may not be invaded by irresponsible persons and
may remain inviolate. Especially to the ministers of the
gospel are we directing this appeal. Will not you allow one
Sunday morning's or afternoon'scollection to go and assist
this imprisioned brother, who has suffered for all of Colora
do; that our liberty may be more secure? The money is
needed to do the second time what they did the Ist time; see
that he can get a fair trial, if not, go to the Supreme Court
again. We are only paying the ptice of our liberty and just
what is due us. Hear what Grand Master Rector says in his
appeal to the Craft and to the public:
Dear Brethern: —
Some several months ago, your attention was called to
the urgent need of rendering aid to Robert Harris, who was
to be tried on the charge of murder. Our Grand Lodge and
several lodges, after a thorough investigation of the circum
stances of the homicides with which Bro. Harris and his
father were charged, decided that they were within their fra
ternal rights and donated various sums of money to help in
defraying the expenses of the trial. After the conviction of
Bro. Harris and his father, a second appeal reached the pub
lic for tunds which was to make an appeal to the Supreme
Court of Colorado, Some weeks ago the Supreme Court
An Appeal To The
Craft.
T. S. RECTOR.
passed upon the Robt. Harris appeal and in a lengthy deci
sion the court held that error had been permitted in the trial
and remanded the case for retrial.
I received a letter from the mother of Robt. Harris in
which she states that there must be raised SSOO to be ex
pended in the trial that comes up in a few weeks. Efforts are
now made to raise the SSOO by the Ist of May.
bro. Harris was sentenced to hang. The Supreme Court
decided that he did not have a fair trial. He must soon face
another trial, and I have the belief that this trial will re
sult in his acquittal. His attorney has been faithful and has
stood by him like a brother. Now I want you to read a part
of the Court's decision and remember we are brethern and
members of a race that rarely gets a “square deal, ' think
well of yourselves, your obligations, your race pride and the
needs of a man who has no reason to be ashamed of the
courageous defense of his home, his kindred, and his own
honor as a son and as a man. We take especial pride in the
fact that the Supreme Bourt of our own state, Colorado, has
declared itself in favor of a new trial. We must, in main
taining our own self respect, hear the cry of this broken
hearted wife and mother and give liberally toward the ex
pense of the coming trial.
Says the Supreme Court: “If the evidence of the defen
dant and his witnesses is to be believed, it shows circumstan.
ces tending to excite a sudden heat of passion occasioned by
the alleged unjustifiable and unlawful act of the officers.
Whether it is to be believed was not for the Court to deter
mine, but was a question of fact to be passed upon by the
jury. The fact the defendant may have claimed that he was
acting through fear of the danger, not only to his own life
but to that of his father and mother is not incompatible with
the defense of manslaughter, nor inconsistent with the posi
tion that if his testimony and that of his witnesses is true
that the actions of the officers were sufficient to instill within
him a sudden heat of passion, irresistable or involuntarily
sufficient to cause him to commit the crimes alleged.''
We believe that justice will be done brother Robert Har
ris. His father is in the penitentiary at Canon City, serving
practically a life sentence for the part he took in defending
his home, his wife and his son. May justice be done.
Send your contribution tome. DO NOT DELAY
will give you a receipt. I will show you at the Grand Lodge
the receipts that 1 shall receive from the mother or father,
or from the attorney in the case. Fraternally yours,
TITUS S. RECTOR,
Grand Master.
2716 Welton Street.
The following donations were received:
Rocky Mt., No. 1 Masons, $5, Taka Art Club Denver,
$5. Rocky Mt. Court, No. 3, $5.00, Pike's Peak Lodge, No!
5, F. and A. M„ Colorado Springs, $5.00, Arapahoe Lodge,
No. 2936, G. U. O. of F., Denver, SIO.OO, Household of Ruth,
No. 376, Denver, $5.00, Centennial Lodge, No. 4. F. and a!
M.. Denver, SIO.OO, Rising Sun Lodge No. 3, p. and A. M.,
Pueblo, SIO.OO, Chas. Miller, Denver, $3.00.
Victor Herbert’s four part
arrangement of J. Rosamonc 1
Johnson’s dialect song, “Since
You Went Away," which is
being used by the choral
classes of colleges in the
South is both effective and
beautiful. —The Crisis.
Mr. 1. Rosamond lohnson,
song writer and pianist, has
returned from England.where
he lately appeared in a new
musical comedy act at the
London Pavilion. Mr. John
son’s first appearance since
his return was at the New
Standard Theatre. Philadel
phia, Pa., during the week of
March 16. He was assisted
by Mr. Thomas Brown.
—The Crisis.
Announcement has been
made of plans to erect a the
atre, with a seating capacity
af 1,000, for the use of color
ed people of Norfolk. Va.
The theatae is to cost $50,000
and will be used fdr vaude
ville and moving picture at
tractions. —The Crisis.
Five Cents a Copv.
Mrs. Maud Cuney Hare and
Mr. W. R. Richardson are
engaged in joint recitals and
lecture recitals at colleges and
In the principal city of the
Southwest.
George W. Castone. a col
■ ored waiter in St. Paul,
; Minn., is attracting attention
to his painting, which he does
in spare time. \Y hile he dees
some creditable work in water
1 colors, his oil paintings are
his best efforts. Castone has
had only three or four lessons
: and at present is unable to
I study further because of lack
of means.—The Crisis.
J. H. Cobb, a sale sman
i the St. Louis (Mo.) seed Com
pany, and many other em
■ ployes, when pinioned under
a wall which collapsed and
. took down a part of the seed
, buiiding, were rescued with
. great difficulty by a Negro
. whose name is not known.—
The Crisis.