The Montana plaindealer. [volume], March 16, 1906, Image 1

About The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
THE, ONTANA PLAINDEALER
'ol. . 0 7 0 Helena, Montana, Friday, March r6, Igo6. A. i.
THE 1MONTANA FLAINEALEK.
publitised Weekly by The Montana
u plaindealer Company.
Si ASS, . . . EDITOR.
hbsCriptl. $2.00 per year, Strictly in Ad
vance Advertising Rates on Application.
Applic u.n made for entering the Helena
Po - ()lfic: as Second Class Mail Matter.
\ddrc .il Csommunicalions to The Montana
'lii .-aler, 21 South Main Street,
Helena, Montana.
Republicar Primaries ad -overtion.
The Republican Primaries of the
C(,ty of Helena, Montana. will be held
Tu,sJ8::, evening, March 20, 1900, at
s (,clhotk, for the purpose ofn minat
ing a a"and date for A'derman from
the i'irst, Second, Third, Fourth Fifth
Sixth al.d Stventh wards respectively,
and etecting the following number f
delegastes and Alternates to the Repub
lican city convention, to wit:
Delegates. Alternates.
First Ward 18 18
Second Ward * 7 7
Third Ward 9 9
Fourth Ward 8 8
Fifih Ward 7 7
sixth Ward 8 8
Seventh Ward 17 17
Said City Cony ntion will be held
Friday, March 23, 1900, at the Audi
toriumn, for the purpose of nominating
candidates for Mayor, City Treasurer
and Politc Judge.
let Ward, City Hall, 2nd Ward Ma
sonic Temple, Srd Ward, Grand Cenct
ral Annex, 4th Ward. Aditorium, 5th
Ward, School House, Oth Ward, Fire
Station, 7th Ward, Fire Station.
By order of the Itepublican City Cen
tral Committee.
EDWARD HORSKY, Chairman.
WM. B McCLATCHY. Sect
Dated March 14, 1900.
With this issue we make our in
itial bow to the public in the field
of journalism. We do not claim
that a newspaper in this particular
community to be a long felt want,
nor do we aspire to leadership; our
only aim shall be for the progress
and uplifting of a race with which
our destiny is linked forever.
It should be a'source of pride to
the colored citizens of this section
of the country to know, that they
have right here in Helena, proba
bly the best equipped printing es
tablishment west of the Mississippi
river.
We shall at all times advocate
the principles of PEACE, PROSPERI
TY and UNION. Shall stand up for
the righ and denounce the wrong.
Our mission shall be at no time
to stir up strife, but rather to pour
oil on the troubled waters.
We beleive that as a race we
must, if we keep pace with the
mighty procession of progress, ac
cumalate something and to a great
er extent than ever become active
in the business world. We realize
that in the past, valuable time has
been lost in frivolities and the les
ser things of life, and now if we
keep pace with this mighty pro
gress of a nation, we must redouble
our efforts along the above lines.
In this section of the country
there are great opportunities for
the frugal and thrifty in mining,
agriculture and ether pursuits. We
shall advocate a developement a
long these lines, the infusion of
new blood, and encouragement
will no doubt bring gratifying re
sults to the colored race in the
great Northwest.
We shall advocate a greater
Heler,a and present to the world
the inexhaustible resources of Mon
tana, anl in doing so we shall en
deovoJ to attract some of best tal
ent:al:i citizenship to this great
Eldoiado of the Northwest.
i'9litic. shall always be surbor
diiat.: to the interests and welfare
of our people. While shall always
take a definite and dectded stand
on all the political questions which
may arise, w_ shalldo so having iin
Vtew th'e benefits which it is possi
blr for our people to gain.
While we are conservative and
We belive in the doctrine of that
justice wSich exalteth a nation, we
unhesitatingly subscribe to the
principle of republicanism as repre
sented by our present strenous
Chief Executive and we shall advo
cate those priciples in the columns
of this paper.
We can relied upon at all times
to advocate such principles and
measures as will redound the great
est amount of good to the greatest
number of our people.
Passing of Mias Susan B. Anthony.
On last Tuesday Another of the
earth born saviors of mankind in
the person of Miss Susan B. An
thony, the great advocate of woman
suffrage, passed away at 12:40 a. m
n Rorchester, N. Y.
The colored people will always
rever the memory of this great
woman; who when this country
was a slaxe ridden one, did her
part along with the Phillips, Lun
dys, Garrisons, Sumners, Stowes
and other great abolutionist te de
stroy the institution ofslavery. She
has ever since the emancipat on of
thk race, been one of the staunch
friends for their uplift and advance
ment
We know of our own presonal
knowledge several* colored institu
tions in which she has always taken
a kindly interes and helped with
an annual endowmdnt.
Her life has been a long and e
ventful one, well svent on a mission
of goodness. She like an angel
was always a welcome visitor where
ever she went, and all mankind
has lost a true friend in the cause
of humanity and iustice.
Anent the newspaper discussion
just now as to exorbant rail road
and express rates, from personal
experience since locating THE
PLAINDEALER w. can say there is
something radically wrong, .ald a
R. R. Commission, extra session or
something else is in ordes to bring
the people releif.
The best way to refute and at
the same time discredit such plays
as the 'Clansman,' 'Leopard Spots,'
etc., is not to mention them; thec,
have been given entirely too i .,.n
attention, which has only enriched
the unprincipled Author, Thamas
Dixon.
While we have always been a
staunch admirer of the Rt. Rev.
Bishop Turner, senior Bishop of
the A. M. E. church, and a man of
tremendous intellect and power
we cannot indorse his recent ut
terances in reference to America
and the flag.
For the ambitious and thrifty
young man or woman, no state in
the union offers more pomising ad
than Montanan. But there is no
room for the shiftless or moral
leper.
With the state convention in
Topeka, the Kansas Lincoln Day
Club should take advantage of the
opportunity and accomplish results
for tne race.
Our ideal of living is to BE SOME
TEING, HAVE SOMETHING and DO
SOMETHING.
Must Kill Plesident Roosevelt,
Will Lose Her Life If She Doesn't Is
Woman's Hallucination.
New Orleans, La. Mar , 7.-Declaring that
her life wil? be taken unless she assassinates
President Roosevelt, a woman who gave her
name as Mrs. W. B. I.ewaller of Philadel
phia, applied at police headquarters for pro
tection today. She spoke rationally on all
general subjects, bvt it was decided to detain
her for an examination. Mrs. Lewaiicr said
she fell in with a porty of Socilalst in l'htl
adelphia and that she was taken to a room
there and made to take an oath again.t the
president, being toll rhat she ssould be de
stroyed if it was not executed. She said she
fled to Houston, Texas, but the men followed
her there and that she had then cume to
New Orleans.
SRace News.
William Harden of Quihcy, Fla. is tht
only colored man in the South who owns and
>perates an electric and abe plant for lighting
the town and supplying ice.
The Italian Brotherhood of Newport, R. I
it their nnual meeting elected as their physi.
:ian for ae year 19o6 Dr. Marcus F. Wheat
and, a colored man, who won so much fame
ome months ago through a delicate operation
)erformed upon Miss Walsh, daughter of the
nulti-millionaire.
To the colored people of Georgia, Missis
ippi, Louisana, Alabama mid other southern
states:
We are in receipt of a communication from
Kr. W. G Byrd, 675 Hood St. Portland,
)re., who says that excellent opportunities
ire now ofered for progressive colored men
and wom who wish to improve their oppor
unitiea. There is great demand for them,
is the white people of that section of the
:ountry are getting tired of Japs and China
nen; they do not want anything but progress
ve and industrious colored men add women.
No loafer or those who idle the year around
teed look towards Oregon, as the laws are
rery strict against that class and are rigidly
:nforced.
It strikes us very forcibly the colored peo.
ile of these states who wish to better their
:ondition shotld go to a state like Oregon,
where the laws are more equally interpaetcd.
The schools are mixed, the laws are admin
stered according to justice, and seldom, if
:xer, do the people judge by the color when
tcomes to business. Take advantage of the
>pportunity and scatter oxer the great North
west.-Topeka Plaindealet.
The above applies to Montana
ilso and all information desired
:an be secured by addressing The
Mosntana Plaindealcr, 21 S. Main
street, Helena, Mont.
On January roth, the Pekin Vaudeville
Theatre of Chicago, Ill., was destroyed by
ire. The Pekin was the only theatre owned
)y colored people in th; West. Robt. Motts
he proprietor, states that he will immediately
ebuild a $i5.ooo tneatre on the old site.
Mrs. Dora Leonard, a white woman was
fned ten dollars in Court of Criminal Correc
ion of St Louis a few days ago for refusing
o pnswer the questions of a Negro attorney.
the engaged in a colloquy with the presiding
udge and was severely reprimanded. She
was prosecuting Mrs. Phoebe McElroy, form
rly employed by her as a servant, whom she
accused of stealing a pillow slip and towels.
I. H. Hofer, counsel for the defense, en
leavored to get Mrs. Leonard to ell how she
dentified the articles. She refused to reply
o his questioo, saying: "I don't have to
answer a nigger." Judge Moore imposed the
line and ordered her in custody of the sheriff
antil it was paid. She paid, still insisting
that she would not answer the "nigger."
l.ike a ray of sunshine through clouds of
threatening darkness came the news from
Kalamazoo Thursday last that Bert Burton,
colored, charged with criminal assault, has
been acquitted of the charge. Mr. Burton
and Miss Daugherty a pretty white girl, be
came loxers in the town of Three Rivers, last
year and, decidingto marry, they eloped to
Kalamazoo to have the ceremony performed.
In this they were frustrated, as they could not
ind any one to marry them, and they stopped
over night at a hotel. Burton was arrested
the next morning and the girl's father swore
out a warrant against him, charging criminal
assault. Not only was Burton acquitted of
the charge, but the browd of white people in
the court room applauded the verdict. Miss
Daugherty was a witnes in thetcase and was
as true as steel to her afliamced husband, her
te-timony being entirely in his javor.
At Batun Rouge, La., a ferw days ago dur
ing the anuual conference of the African
Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. Thcmas
)ixon and his boods were censured. Bishop
1I. B. Saltar of South Carolina, said: "Thom
as Dixon who wrote "The Leopard Spots'
and "The Clansman," is an agent of the
devil, and when he said there is no virtue
among the Negroes he promulgated a false
hood as black a, hell. I thank God he does
not represent the thought of the best white
people of the country. He is worse than a
murderer."
Members of the "Alyssinia" company,
headed by W\Vliams and Walker, have sent
to Mrs, Mrs. Alice Roosevelt l.ongworth, a
hand.ome ilsxer punch bowl, lined with gold.
Its cost was estimated at about ,Soo, paid for
by contributions of company. There is an
allegorical sketch engraved on the bowl pic
turing the progress of the Afro-American
people, while a faithful likeness of President
Roosevelt smile, Ienign approval. The card
acccompanying the bowl bore this legend.
-From -ome colored New fork admirers,
witn their re.,ectful wishes for your future
happiness."
Cornehu- J. Jones, a Negro prominent in
business circles of Guthrie. has turnchased the
town site of Chase, which is eight miles wes
of Muscogee, for 14.ooo. Mr. Jones intend
to make of Chase an exclusively Negro town
le also desires to make it an educational an:
industrial centre similar to Tuskeges. If he
succeeds Chase will be the most famcus towr
in the west.
A New Enterprise
SPE AKS FOR ITSELF.
The doubting Thomas's when
this issue is offthe press will doubt
take up another cue and begin
prophesying just how long we shall
live, as all aspersions as to our
ability to put in operation a news
paper have been hurled back in
their teeth; but we have no time to
.arley with this class of citizens as
they are the weights upon the pro
rTess of the race. We have this
:lass in far too great a number, but
they are our and we must bear
with them; tell them the right way
io live and set living examples be
rtre them as a part of our duty.
The Emancipation Proclamation
:ould not suddenly rid us of all
that centuries of slavery and bar
barism had left. Ours must be a
growth, and those who are guided
by superstition and ignorancc will,
f necessity, be overlooked as we
proceed to take our station in the
Front ranks of this mighty progress.
Those to whom enterprise and
thrift appeal, we shall ask co-opera
ion for a greater spirit of activity
along DusheICs lens.
We have, at a large cost, put in
operation a complete newspaper
and job office and are prepared to
do any kind of work in our line,
guarranteeing satisfaction. In our
efforts to do business along these
lines, we have an abiding faith that
we shall have the support of all
progressive citizens of all races and
c'rea., and that we shall obtain our
share of the business in our partic
ular line.
Our offices are located in the
Novelty Block, No. 2 South Main
Street and we welcome the public
to visit us and form our acquaint
ance and see in realty a complete
Negro Newspaper and Job Office.
Our genial foreman, Joseph H.
Tucker, who is one of tho pioneer
Negro printers and has worked for
many of our leading race, is in
charge of the composing and press
rooms and will tdke great pleasure
in showing yau around"
Later on when we shall have got
ten straightened out a little better
we expect to have several more
employke3 in the different, depart
ments of this publication. We shall
immediately place correspondents
in Butte, Billings, Anaconda, Great
Falls, Havre, Missoula and other
Montana points; in fact we shall be
newsgatherers from all parts of th.
continent.
This enterprise shall at all times
strive for a greater Helena and i,:
a mutual prhgress of all the people
of the community, and for a greater
activtty of iur people in thL busi
ness wor5d.
With these purposes arnd the
support of the progressive peolle
of all classes, we have no fears but
that the people will be beneftted
and that another spoke in the
wheel for the progress of the race
is an accomplished fact.
Therewill be, sp-ci,ai nt.titi i
of the Lincoln I)aV Clui .lt .1 '
Parlors on Mondi. , t, . ,
19, at 8-3o o'clock .', mn, L -
arc requestrd to bl ;l,-, nt t ,
i- much busince's it ..." ;
One of the very l't .' :
gentlemen's Cltu1s in r t.
is the Ma;nhait;an, undet r t :
t ,n of Gus Mas.on nml .A. 1',.al; '
Subscribe for The P!aitdr;icr.
Paul t4, Dunbar.
Comment from the Denver Post or
this Remarkable Genius.
Dayton, O., Feb. 9-Paul Lawrence
Dunbar, the Negro poet, died at his
home here this afternoon of consump
tion. For three years he had been ser
iously ill, and for a year critically ill,
but he kept at his work intermittently
and wrote his last poem for his Christ
mas book, "howdy, llowdy, hIowdy,"
just before Christmas.
Mr. Dunbar was born in Dayton, June
27, 1872, and was first a newsboy, and
then an elevator boy, and in his ups and
downs for a living practiced writing.
His first poem was written when he
was writing for the Steele High School
in 1891. His first of a total of 21 books
was "Oak and Ivy."
His poem best known was "When
Malindy Sings," which was written to
his mother whose name is Malinda.
Mr. Dunbar is survived by his mother,
his wife and two half brothers, who re
side in Chicago. Hle will be buried in
Woodland cemetery, this city, next
week, many persons of note being ex
pected to attend.
The deceased was the first poet to
arise out of the African race in Amer
ica, and his status among the literary
men of the East is more than a sufli
cient answer to the argument of the
ignorant bigot who is ever pestering the
world with queries as to "What we shall
do with the race question ?" Paul Dun
bar's books and poetry will tell if he
consults them-the question will settle
itself if he will only let the Negro enjoy
the opportunities opened up to him by
the abolition of slavery in the United
States. lie was born 34 years ago in
Dayton, O., and was educated in the
public schools of that town. Thirteen
years ago he was an elevator boy in a
big building in Dayton, and, like most
of his race, he seemed to be marked for
a life of uneventful toil. Yet since
that time he published many books,
contributed to the best magazines and
newspapers, established a solid reputa
tion and recited his verses to many au
diences of the highest culture. At 25,
with the encouraging plaudits of his
first success ringing in his ears he went
abroad for new conquests. In England
Mr. Dunbar was received by the most
highly cultured and aristocratic people
it, the land, because he had genius-the
key that utlocklb alh doors that bar the
way to rasnsonaoie or ciutsvauea soci
ety abroad.
The love of rhythm that character
izes the Negro manifested itself early
in young Dunbar. Like Pope he listed
in numbers. His father died when
Paul was a lad of 12, and the future
poet contributed to the support of his
widowed mother and his brothers and
sisters with what he earned as a news
boy. Between times he mowed lawns,
ran upon errands, was faithful, kind
and gentle. HIls lirst verses, childish,
it is true, but of good promise, were
written on the Ilyleaf of an old spelling
book, and were entitled "An Eastern
hymn." At 14, lie had already broken
into print, and a few of his poems and
shorts stories had been published in the
Dayton Herald and in other local news
papers.
H is small successes gratified his
mother beyond expression. She believ
ed that her son had a great future in
store for him, and encouraged by her,
lie wrote a story in Western dialect
which he called 'The Tenderfoot" The
story was copied widely. It was the
first literary production of its kind to
be published from the pen of a Negro
Many other stories were sold by D1)n
bar, and the way began to grow brighter
for the :truiggling author. Iinbar at
tracted the attention of Fred l)ouglass
and the colored statesman looked him
iup. Biy this tinme the public beg:m to,
become interested in the personality of
the young ()hioan and his futurce w\as
assured. lie secured admntissionl to til't
highest literary cnlches every',.h lere and
becamte a pi,] ul:tr lect.,rer, w il-. ins
revetnue I r' 1Ii his a I ings stit'adil)
ircreasetl.
Iti, i N'., (r DI- \Tril.
Storlli an, d strift tl d Strf:Is.
L.st in :i \! l io t :n
Groping t, uili t a aty
Forth to 11.- I tint: !, tiv
>udlni- a tt itir l,, ',
(hit ol' the t rgl' ' n ,' "
Only ti poluit - It ay
lHut at ti- r',d Is 1ayi
IDark is 'ti n i i ,i",i nti .I,
Night :n, ' t, tuit b:e't ,
IDay ron I " " if denti.
i' rn tt i . t :" t '. : ii" -"i,
t,:7 u, t!i r c,,. t i t lti t, r ',W in "i 1in
1[- It-ganu to edtarnl l ,L ill rVIn.g -II
t- \ts' 11 or 12 ;tyears ld. hI e d. t at
a biuotblack and graduated into at, :.
vator boy in a middle west city. One
day he sat in the corner of his elevator,
when the office building was closed,
and wrote a piece of verse. The next
day he read the verse to a man who had
an office in the building and who took
a kindly interest in the black boy.
The man told the buy that the verse
he had written was good, he spoke to
someone else about it, and finally, in
some roundabout way or other,it was
published.
It was not very long before someone
else was running the elevator, and Dun
bar, the black boy, was writing poems
and songs, and stories for a living-and
making a good living too.
Ilis poems were published in the best
magazines in America.
Hle went abroad and titled men and
,'omen made a great fuss over him.
lie wrote songs and librettos and he
sang and told stories and laughed and
was sick and suffered after the manner
)f his race, and then he went home to
lis mother and died-still a young man.
Black as ever, and as simple hearted
mnd kindly and simple mannered as
ie was the day he sat in an elevator and
wrote his verses on a torn scrap of
raper with an old stub of a pencil.
Who is there who dares, in the face of
uinch evidence as this, to say: "I would
lave been someone if I had had a
-hance."
What chance did that black boy have
)ut the chance he made for himself?
What chance do you want, young man,
rith the red blood of the great white
-ace leaping in your joyous veins.
You are no;prisoner within the cruel
all of color and of race.
The best in the world is none too
good for you if your hands are strong
snough to grasp it.
What chance do you need-but the
chance you take for yourself? If you
cannot take the chance be content.
The grass does not grow as high as the
pine tree, but the world needs the grass,
'ust as much as it needs the forest.
Smile at the world serenely and say
"I have never had much ability, but
I've done the best I could," and you
won't need anyone's pity. But don't
lay the blame of your humble lot in
life and the humble achievements you
are modest enough to make, on chance.
You were not as home when chanee
knocked at your door, or, if yon were
you were asleep, and did not answer.
Paul ILawrence Dunbar, the black ele
vator boy, heard opportAnity dlipping
by in the night and he ran out into the
cold and the dark and caught him, and
chance turned and smiled at the blank
Lev.
PFORT HARRISONNVEWS
The LIterary, Mmsical and Amuse
'euntClub will give a St. Patrack Day
lance on Saturday, evening, March
17, 'O% The dance Is given entirely
55 the enlested men of the 7th laft..
whose object st to open up social later
ourse between tho citisensof Helena
nd the members of the Port and to
establish a friendly-Neighborly feel
Lnu between tbem. It is strictly an
invitation affair and only invited par
ties or guest will attend. It is inten
tion of the committee haying the
maatter in charge to make it the
social event of the season.
Owing to the fine days we have had
in the past week, our boys in blue
'were to be seen on the gtneral parade
4rounds 'accompanied with short
hikes over the Helena Mountains, but
1the "Hoodoo" or ground hog, must
have seen their shadow and the boys
food looks fell when they were taken
Ito the Post Gymnasium daily, where
tthey had to hustle or loose their
name.
Word has reached this post that
Lt. Alderdlce, 7th Inft., left Columbus
-Barracks, Ohio. with 22 recruits for
'this station on the llth inst., and is
tdlsly expected to arrive.
in begining of our ;a;'.er in the
Ijourna;listic fichl here. we ask the
hearty co-operation of all the peo
Iple. While th!s mournal will repre
sent theu color. J people, wt: will do
soonly in ; way which will pro
nmot h.lr:uiyv aindi progress bc
tWcti :l r.ice, We th-Trefore cx
plct tih hicarty support from all
p'tiplC r'-gardlcss of race and sh:ll
solicit r.aditrs from everybody.
So wc want our pattons to line up
with us. W\' shall keep our- optics
)penl t all times for your interest
and iti reciprocatc. \We want you
to help us i., tira.!ing with the firms
that place their ,ad., in h:i paper.
These lines convey a greait deal; a
hint to the wise is sufficicrt. Scel