PARAGRAPHICS CURRENT NEWS AND OPINION (By X. Mabie Wright) Being First. Negro, First Patent Holder. Childology. The Leading Movie Picture. "The Birth of a Nation." "Some kind of a newspaper should be found in every home in the land." There's a peculiar satisfaction in being the first. And more or less pronounced manifestation of appreciation of being the first is not proof positive of egotism. Folks ransack old manuscript, thread jungles, interview "old citizens," weigh every semblance of evidence to find out who was the first to do this or that. Sometimes these investigators get the truth, and sometimes of coourse they do not; and folks who do not deserve the honor of being first wear it nevertheless. What we have juts said proves the way to pass on this piece of information: Henry Blair, a Negro, was the first person to receive a patent from the United States government. In 1834 he was granted a patent on a corn harvester. we hear so much now-a-days about the Negro in art and literature that it's relieving to come down out of the clouds and touch the soil for awhile. No cold water on art and literature. No. Let us continue to have songs and books and paintings. All kinds of good things; for the beauty of it is, our brains can produce them. Somebody's always saying something good and true in a "catchy" way. Succinct and parabolic, if you please. Pellets of truth. Things worth knowing, thinking about, remembering, doing, so worded as to catch the attention and stick in the skull. Here for instance: "Some children are like cream; the more they are whipped, the harder they get." Don't know who said it, but he knew this much about childology. What this fellow says is true; but the main thing is not the reason why, but the application of the truth in our dealing with children. They are studying the nature of children intensively now. It is very good. They must be devoting all the time to studying childhood and very little time to applying the results of their studies; for children don't seem to be growing better. Here's a situation assuredly where Practice cannot wait too long on Theory. There's a big picture on the National Screen. It's an all-star cast. Denby, Daugherty, Sinclair, Doheny, McLean, Langley, McAdoo and others oblige the spectators by frequent and conspicuous appearances. Confidential telegrams, personal letters, secret business transactions are revealed both in ordinary hand-writing and mysterious government code. The stars appear in conservative cuts and in full dress, splotched with oil, tainted with "gifts and loans," disgraced by clandestine efforts to release liquor without government permits. The spectators never lose sight of the official investigators. They sit continuously and probe unmercifully. A long, black, foul path winds like a labyrinth over the country, sparing no one but the poorest and meanest on one end and the White House on the other. The aim of the picture seems to be to leave the President without a Cabinet, the country without any honorable public servants, and the people without any confidence in anybody. Chicago had to see "The Birth of a Nation." Strenuous efforts to the contrary failed absolutely. "The Birth of A Nation" represents the Negro at his worst. In parts it lies and slanders. But after all and of a truth, how much harm has this picture done? Folks, white and black, are more intelligent now than the used to be' They know some of the facts for history, enough forsooth to tell where "The Birth of A Nation" goes off on a tangent. And folks go to the movies and see this particular picture not to learn history, but to satisfy their curiosity and to be entertained. True. The more the press talks about "The Birth of A Nation" the larger will be the crowds that go to see it. No doubt D. W. Griffith is tickled to death with the free and remunerative advertising his unworthy production gains. Do folks go to see freaks and monstrosities to learn anatomy and natural history? No; they go to satisfy curiosity.
$50,000 Asked In Walker Divorce Suit
WIFE OF WILLIAM WALKER ASK $50,000 AND $250 ALIMONY IN DIVORCE SUIT CHARGES CRUEL TREATMENT AND NONSUPPORT Mrs. Bertha Walker sues her husband, Mr. William Walker, for $50,000 cash, and an alimony of $250 a month. The suit for divorce and the large demand has stirred the community from center to circumference. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were married in this city March 4, 1903, and live at 1627 Chestnut, in a home that has ranked in value and beauty. For years the family has been one of the most prominent. Mrs. Walker is a leader in the church and society life of the city, and Mr. Walker has been one of the most successful business men in the city in the line in which he is engaged. Mrs. Walker charges cruel treatment, alleging that Mr. Walker has failed to properly provide for her, that notwithstanding his large income from his business and property holdings she has had to work to obtain food and clothing. Mrs. Walker claims that she aided Mr. Walker in his successful business ventures and she includes the following in the summing up of his holdings: Diamonds and Jewelry valued at $10,000; House and Lot at 1627 West Chestnut, valued at about $7,000, not including furniture of 9 rooms; House and Lot at 628 S. 9th St. including soft drink business, $20,000; House and Lot at 826 Magazine St. valued at about $5,000; House and Lot at 622 W. Walnut St. valued at $15,000; House he is building on Walnut bet. 7th and 8th, valued at $20,000; House at 8th and Market Sts., which he sold for $16,000 last November. Attorney Brent C. Overstreet is representing Mrs. Walker in the divorce proceedings.
DR. BOND WOULD INTERCEDE IN POLICE BRUTALITY Editor of Louisville Leader, 422 South Sixth Street, City. Dear sir: I read in your paper last week of reports of the "Needlessly rough handling of colored people by certain policemen." So far as I know no report of these abuses have been made to the Board of Public Safety. If your [account?] of the instances referred to is accurate these incidents constitute clear cases of action for the Inter-racial Commission. The Commission, however, is in no position to act on such cases unless requested to do so by the parties involved who are expected to furnish the proper data for such action on the part o fthe Commission as may be necessary. If proper data is furnished, the Inter-racial Commission would be glad to present it to the Board of Public Safety and to make such protest as the evidence demanded. In this connection it might be said that the work of the Inter-racial Commission is two-fold. In the first place it holds itself ready to take up with the proper authorities for adjustment just such cases as are referred to in your paper last week. This, the Commission holds itself in readiness to do whenever complaint is made, backed by by the proper evidence in the case. As Director of the Inter-racial Commission, therefore, I desire to urge our people having such complaint to report these to the Commission together with the proper data. It is clearly seen that the Inter-racial Comission can not act in such cases until they are brought officially to the attention of the Commission through its Director or other members of the Commission. In the second place, the Inter-racial Commission is constantly seeking to create an Inter-racial atmosphere where such abuses as referred to will be impossible.. It must be seen, therefore, that this part of the work of the Commission is constructive and while less spectacular than the other referred to above, is fundamental in (Continued on page 8) 
EDITOR WARLEY STIRS BUSINESS MEN AT LUNCHEON Mr. William Warley, editor of the Louisville News was the ten minute speaker at the Louisville Business Men's weekly luncheon at the Walnut Hotel last Wednesday. Mr. Warley's speech aroused the large number of men who sat under his [voice?] as he in plain, outspoken and most fitting words told the members of the Assosiation of their duty one to the other. He scored the business man who has had some measure of success thru the support he has received from the masses, who gets to a place where he feels that he should hold himself aloof from those people who made his success possible. He spoke of the service the Negro newspapers have rendered Negro business the free advertising that has been given the heads of big institutions, and brought out the fact that the Negro newspaper more than any other agency is responsible for the confidence and esteem in which Negroes who control and operate business are held by the masses, and added that these Negroes proved themselves unappreciative hypocrites of the first water, interested only in the success of the institution with which they the personally connected when they carried ninety per cent of the publishing and printing necessary to be done to the other fellow, rather than to those Negro publishers who have paved the way for their success. Mr. Warley said, that it was a ridiculous proceedure on the part of Negro business men who depend altogether on Negroes for the support of their own business, to seek the place of a member of the other race when they themselves had money to spend. Reading between the lines one would get the idea from Dr. Warley's talk that if undertakers and barbers of the other group did any particular catering to certain members of our group, that Negro undertakers and barbers would too, often find themselves in a h--- of a fix. Mr. Warley brought to the minds of men that Negro publishers not only made it possible for the race to have a voice thru which to speak and seldom lost an opportunity to mention the good the race is doing thru their columns, demanding right and justice for the race in and out of season, but were also making it possible for Negro men and women, boys and girls to hold positions in the publishing business, in the office and in the mechanical departments not open to them outside of their own race. Mr. Warley took his seat amid great applause. Mr. Wilson Lovett is the speaker for next Wednesday. Guests Speak The association had as luncheon guests Dr. William A. Price, president of Chandler Normal School of Lexington, Ky., who is in the city conducting a revival service at the Congregational Church, and Mrs. I.J.K. Wells, president of the American Federation of Negro Students. Dr. Price was (Continued on page 8)
FOREVER ON THE JOB PROF. A.S. WILSON The splendid K.N.E.A. session of last year was due very largely to the keen business foresight of the K.N.E.A. Secretary, Prof. A.S. Wilson. Mr. Wilson is ably filing the place held for several years by the man who has done so much to make the K.N.E.A. what it is today - Prof. E.E. Reed, who is now president. Mr. Wilson is quite busy these days and is leaving nothing undone in his effort to make the coming sessions the greatest. Mr. Wilson is a teacher in the Central High School, this city, and is one of the Louisville's public spirited young citizens.
PRESIDENT REED PLANS BIG K.N.E.A. PROGRAM President E.E. Reed, of Bowling Green, has planned an excellent program for the 1924 session of the Kentucky Negro Educational Association. Many prominent educators will appear on the program. Among them are Dr. Carl Roberts of Chicago; President John C. Wright, Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla.; Mrs. Cora Jordan White, Nashville, Tenn.; Supt. Byron W. Hartley., Louisville; State Supt. McHenry Rhoads, and Dr. J.O. Engleman, Secretary of the N.E.A. There are a number of other prominent educators on the program better known to us. Louisville educators have important parts on the program this year. Many of our teachers both in Louisville and throughout the State are to appear on our sectional programs. These teachers have been preparing their contributions for several months and teachers who attend sectional meetings will therefore get much to aid them in actual class room work. Exhibits will be shown in the gymnasium of the Central High School. This feature of the meeting will be unusually attractive. The theme for the 1924 meeting is "Americanism, an Educational Ideal." Boys representing various high schools will have an oratorical contest on this subject at one of the afternoon sessions. A rural school program will feature another afternoon program. The Annual Story Telling Contest led by Prof. Jos. S. Cotter will also be a feature of the program. The parent teacher department of the K.N.E.A., directed by Mrs. James T. Taylor, is making preparations for the annual meeting. The State Musical Association is also to meet with the K.N.E.A. Secretary A.S. Wilson, 2518 Magazine St., Louisville, is expecting the largest enrollment in the history of the Association. It is expected that the membership will go past the 1200 mark this year. Every teacher and friend of education should enroll in the K.N.E.A. Sessions of the K.N.E.A. will be held daily at Quinn Chapel, while the night sessions will be held at the R.E. Jones Temple, except on Saturday, April 26, when the Armory will be used for the Annual Physical exhibition. The public is cordially invited to sessions. Lend your support to these meetings and boost the work of our educational association.
Mrs. Gipson Still Leads First Period Closes Next Saturday Several Make First Reports; New Candidates Entered As the first period nears its close the Leader's "Everybody Wins" campaign for a larger circulation, and contest between several participants for the new model 6 cylinder Essex Coach automobile and other big cash prizes, becomes more interesting and exciting. This week is the banner week for reports. Those who reported last week repeated with good efforts, and others get into the free-for-all friendly battle of ballots. There is no change in the standing of the first three leaders, Mrs. Gipson remaining in first place, Mrs. Smith and Mr. Johnson following closely in second and third places respectively. These made good reports. Mr. Lunceford was forced down a [illegible] fourth place, giving way to Mrs. B. B. Ford, the other Clarksdale, Miss., lady that must be reckoned with. Mrs. Turner of Gunnison, Miss made a good report and held her own. Miss R. B. Kyles, Louisville; Mrs. Mollie Grover, Paducah; and Mrs. Pearl Johnson, New Albany, made their debut, and their splendid reports put them close around the top. Miss Minton, Louisville, and Mrs. Hollis, Shelby, made fine reports. Miss Sykes, Decatur; Mrs. Moss, Glasgow; Miss Green, Frankfort, Mrs. Wilborn, Clarksdale; Miss Cobb, Wilberforce; Mrs. Bush, Louisville, came in for their share, and Mrs. W. H. Creal, Harordsburg, Mrs. A. O. Taylor, Louisville made their first reports, good ones, as idd Mrs. Harry Broaddus and Mrs. Eva Cox, Louisville. First Period Closes Next Saturday The first period of the campaign closes next Saturday at 8 o'clock. After that date and hour the subscriptions will decrease in value, the yearly subscriptions will not count so much as they do now, as shown in the schedule of votes on page 6, and the candidates are expected to take advantage of the time from now until next Saturday. Reports will be made by next Wednesday the 9th and again next Saturday the 12th by 8 o'clock. For the total vote and the standing of your candidate turn to page 8.
UNIQUE BANK ROBBING SCHEME DISCOVERED
MRS. MADDOX PASSES AWAY As we go to press we are informed of the death of Mrs. Cathering Maddox, the wife of Mr. R. W. Maddox, Supt. of the Domestic Life Insurance Co. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox lived at 1742 Dumesnil Street. Mrs. Maddox passed away last Thursday after a long illness.
Girls Lose Positions 
PLACES SOUGHT FOR THOSE THROWN OUT OF WORK THRU SALE OF MISSISSIPPI V. PRES. LEE CHALLENGES PERRY STATEMENTS The side of the president of the Standard Life Insurance Company's story in the purchase and sale of the Mississippi Life Insurance Company to the Southern Life Insurance, made public thru the press a few days ago, has met with much criticism, and a hot reply comes from Mr. G.W. Lee, vice president of the Mississippi Life. Mr. Lee repudiates Mr. Perry's statements that the Mississippi company was impaired to the extent of $50,000; that other individuals and companies were given a fair chance to buy, and referring to the profit that Mr. Perry claims was made in the sale to the Souther, asks: "What about the forty-two young women, representing the flower of womanhood and efficiency, whose prositions will be lost What about the field force of six hundred men, whose dreams have been shattered, whose firesides have been visited by sorrow? What about fifteen years of privation and toil that were given without restraint for the building of an institution that would be an eloquent testimony [illegible] of the [Negro as?] a builder? What about the 160,000 policy holders who brought forth their blood and sweat money that had been acquired from the wash-tubs, from the farms, and from the forge and poured it into the treasury of the company for the purpose of building a place for their young. "Will the profit made on this sale sanctify such a deal? Will this strengthen the confidence of our people in race institutions? I SAY NO. There are distinctive qualities and traits that must be created and preserved in order to build a race. Transactions builded upon money at the cost of sacrificing those distinctive ideas are had." Many Capable Young Women Out Of Employment Just what the sale of the Mississippi Life Company, colored, to the Southern Life Company, white, has cost the race to an extent that cannot be measured in dollars and cents can be gleaned from the list of capable young ladies given below who held positions with the Mississippi Life, but now forced to seek employment elsewhere The list is sent out from the office of the secretary of the National Negro Insurance Association, and each of the young ladies is seeking a position and is open to correspondence with any person or compony needing such services. The name and address of these ladies and what they are able to do follow: Miss Beatrice L. Hayes, Experienced Ins. typist and stenographer, 649 Lauderdale St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Viola Green. - Experienced Ins. typist and stenographer, 421 S. 63rd St., Birmingham, Ala.; Miss Gladys Augustine. - Experienced typist and stenographer. 421 Telemachus St., New Orleans, La.; Miss Jessie Pitts, - Experienced Ins. typist and stenographer 1090 S. Orleans St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Corinne Jones, Eperienced Ins. typist and stenographer, 375 S. Cynthia St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Lorene Johnson, - Experienced Ins. typist and stenographer, 676 Ayers St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Roxie Sterrett. - Experienced Ins. typist and stenographer. Wylam, Ala.; Miss Elteal Truman - [Experienced?] Ins. typist. 715 Saxon St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Marie Crawford - Experienced Ins. Clerk, 968 Mississippi Ave, Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Adlaide Horton - Experienced Ins. clerk, 89 McGee St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Ophelia Grandberry - Experienced Ins. clerk. 307 Scott St., Forrest City, Ark.; Miss F.M. Barksdale - Experienced Ins. clerk., 613 Lauderdale St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Estelle Seals - Experienced file clerk, 661 Provine St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Hattie Bobo, - Experienced file clark 946 Mississippi Ave., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Swancina Jackson - Experienced in statistical ins. and clerical, 352 N. Second St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Doro Robinson - Experienced multigraph operator, 715 Saxon St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Thelma Twigg - Experienced multigraph operator, 801 E. McLemore St., Memphis, Tenn.; Miss Clara Carr - Experienced multigraph operator, 767 1-2 Porter St., Memphis, Tenn.
DR. MERCHANT RETURNS Dr. W. T. Merchant has returned to the city after attending the Physio-Therapy lectures at Pittsburgh. Out of more than 300 doctors present Dr. Merchant was colored representative.
J. A. BOLDEN IS SHOT TO DEATH OVER WATCH J. A. Bolden, well known thruout the West End, was instantly killed by Evans Armstrong last Monday morning about [11 o'clock.?] Bolden was [shot in?] the head by Armstrong in an argument over a watch that Bolden held in pawn, and fell dead in the doorway of the Dixieland restaurant of wihch Zenora Harris is said to be the proprietor, and of which Bolden was manager. Armstrong, who managed a business nearby for his brother, Murry Armstrong, claims that he approached Bolden to reclaim the watch that he had left in Bolden's charge for a loan of $3.50--but he refused to give up the watch, and after an exchange of words Bolden made a motion toward his back pocket, but was beaten to it by him, who shot in self-defense. Others claim, however, that Armstrong wanted Bolden to return the watch to him for part of the money loaned, and when Bolden refused Armstrong shot him, the bullet passing through Bolden's right temple. No weapon was found on Bolden. He was shot at 5 times about 3 weeks ago, none of the bullets striking. Armstrong made no attempt to get away and is held to the grand jury. Bolden was 37 years old; Armstrong 23.
WHITE STUDENTS SUPPORT WELLS AT COLUMBIA
EDITOR AT GREEN ST. BAPTIST CHURCH The editor was at the Green Street Baptist Church for service last Sunday morning. A soul stirring sermon by Pastor Jones was enjoyed. The auditorium was crowded to seating capacity as is usual. The editor was asked to say word.
Mr. David C. Taylor is improving from injuries received March 15. He is being nursed by his wife, Mrs. Taylar, at their home, 1925 Magazine St.