Paragraphics Current News and Opinion (By X. Mabie Wright) Negro Slave Owners Caruso's Death Premature Probes Galore Cartoons Surprises will never end. The Association for the Study of Negro History has unearthed the information that 4500 Negroes owned slaves. While the whites owned them for gain, the Negroes owned them for philanthropy's sake. It seems that we have had a hand in every thinkable thing, and shall have until the Z of time. That's "just us." Now comes the news that Caruso would have been alive today if he had taken the advice of his physician and broken an engagement. His desire not to disappoint the people hastened his death. His sense of honor is admirable, but the world regrets that he did not disappoint a few thousands for a time or two and thereby lengthen his days to delight many thousands for several more years. Probes are in style. Now comes forward a congressman demanding a probe of the administration of Indian affairs in Oklahoma. Too much probing. Humanity won't stand much probing. Siki ought to go back home. American Negroes can't feel very proud of him - pugilistically or socially. Enforcement of prohibition is taking too great a toll of human life. Louisville, Herrin, Middlesboro, Washington, in the last few days. More places before, and more certainly to follow. It's all unnecessary. The sacrifice of so many human beings to the Moloch of Strong Drink is a disgrace to civilization. The demand for oil passes the output. Notwithstanding the predicametn of Mr. Fall, Mr. McAdoo, Mr. Denby, and others, folks are still wanting oil. It seems as if everybody ought to be shy of oil for a while. That's an amusing cartoon by Orr in last week's Literary Digest showing Congress opening an oil plug and messing up the Republican elephant, wile the Democratic donkey bends double laughing. But Congress keeps turning the spout until it comes around and directs a big black oily stream into the face and mouth of the Democratic donkey.
Do You Want An Automobile? If you do The Leader offers you the best chance to get one for so little in return 
Siki Reported Dying COLD DEVELOPS INTO PLURAL PNEUMONIA 
NEW ORLEANS IN GRIPS OF MARDI GRAS
[photo] REV. NOAH W. WILLIAMS Pastor of Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church, who is to entertain the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church in May Candidate for Secretary of Missions
PREDICTS ULTIMATE COLLAPSE OF KU KLUX KLAN
BUSINESS MEN IN WEEKLY LUNCHEON AT WALNUT HOTEL The first weekly noon day luncheon of the Lousiville Business Men's Association was given at the Walnut Hotel last Wednesday noon. A large number of business men availed themselves of the opportunity of lunching with their fellow members, and a larger number is expected next Wednesday.
WHITE ROBBER OF AGED NEGRO FOUND GUILTY
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS PLAN BIG POLITICAL FIGHT
COLORED SHRINERS LOSE IN FIGHT OVER RIGHTS
Editor Sued For $50,000 STANDARD CHARGES LIBEL FOLLOWING PUBLICATION OF ALLEGED INSOLVENCY COMPANY IS MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN EVER (Special To The Leader) Knoxville, Tenn., Mar. 7.--Damage to the extent of $50,000 are asked in a suit filed by the Standard Life Insurance Company against Webster L. Porter, doing business as The East Tennessee News, in the circuit court of Knox County, today. The action of Heman E. Perry, president of the Standard Life Insurance Company, of Atlanta, Ga., in filing the suit which charges libel follows the publishing of a front page article in the last issue of the Knoxville publication telling of Perry's unsuccessful effort to combine the Mississippi Life Insurance Company and the Standard, resulting ina n auditing of the books of the Standard by the Georgia Insurance commissioner at which time an alleged insolvency amounting to more than $150,000 was discovered in the Standard's affairs. No declarations have been filed in the case and just what Perry claims libelious in the article is not known.
Reference to the action of Perry in filing suit was made in a humorous vein by Editor Porter, of The News, at which time he stated in part:
"Just what denomination of currency Mr. Perry would have the $50,000 issued for the amount he claims damages might have been encouched in his bill filed.
Chicago, Ill., Mar. 7--Not since the notorious foundering of the Famous True Reformers' bank, has anything happened to create such consternation in financial circles as the reported prostration of the famous Standard Life Insurance Company of Atlanta, Georgia. In a maze of high finance, The Standard Life, with its subsidiary organizations, long the wonder of white and black southerners, and only recently the subject of much high praise, along with its chief directing force, Heman E.Perry, was this week for the first time made the victim of pitiless and ucontrollable publicity.
How did Perry come to buy the Mississippi Life. Was it in bad condition? Evidence so far collected proves that the Mississippi Life enjoyed a large cash surplus and was prosperous at the time of sale. Mr. Perry, it seems, was able to gain control thru Mrs. Cox of Indianola, Miss., who was willing to turn loose an $85,000 interest in the company. This Mrs. Cox is the same one over whom a storm of protest broke after her appointment as postmaster at Indianola by the late President Roosevelt.
The direct charges are that the Standard Life Insurance Company has failed, that it bought the Mississippi Life Insurance Company at a high figure and, within a month, was forced to sell it at a greatly reduced amount, thus losing thousands in the transaction, and that it purposedly avoided selling the Mississippi company to a Negro concern, so manipulating the deal that the pride of Memphis fell into the hands of white owners, the Southern Life Insurance Company.
As to these charges: It may be definitely stated that the Standard Life Insurance Company has not failed. The harshest charge that might be held against it is that it got out too far. It attempted too much for its resources. Its present action in selling the Mississippi Life is not an evidence. Its present action in selling the Mississippi Life is not an evidence of failure, but a brave effort to adequately protect its interests. The fact of the case are these: Since the Standard Life Insurance company bought the Mississippi Life, the insurance commissioner of Georgia, an old ex-confederate soldier, known generally as fair and unprejudiced, but rigid nevertheless, investigated the securities of the Standard Life along with the investigation of other insurance companies, white. He found the Standard Life $150,000 short. How? Standard Life securities are based on Negro property in and around Atlanta. The state insurance commissioner of Georgia, in computing values, credits property, especially Negro property with what it would be worth at Sheriff's sale under foreclosure.
Thus a parcel of land worth $3,000 in a normal business deal wocld bring not much more than half that amount under the sheriff's hammer. This is what caught the Standard Life. If its securities had been judged at their complaint. Foreclosure values made it appear that the company was operating with a large deficit.
deficit.
But the demand of the insurance commissioner had to be met. It was necessary to do something to reduce the required amount of securities and solidify the company financially. Therefore, the Mississippi Life was sold and at a reduced figure, because it was expedient that the Standard Life draw in its sails quickly. It stands today more substantial than ever before.
BUSINESS MEN IN FIRST MONTHLY CHURCH PROGRAM Launching a feature of their 'good will" program for the year 1924, the members of the Louisville Business Men's Association attended services at Calvary Baptist Church in a body Sunday mosning, and were the guests a: a special race welfare meeting at West Chestnut Street Baptist Church in the afternoon. At both services the business men were cordially received and President I. Willis Cole called upon to make a speech and to introduce his fellow guests. Mr' Cole said, in part, that the Louisville Business Men's Association purposed to establish greater confidence between the public and our racial business men and business enterprises. He stressed the importance of cooperation of all elements of the people for the promotion of industrial and commercial progress among the Negroes of the city. Members of the Association who attended the services were J.R. Ray, Cashier First Standard Bank; A.R. Norris, President Crescent Hill Ice Co.; B.J. Davis and Len Thompson, Electricians; H.D. Cox, Contractor; Rev. N.M. Withers, of National Information Society, Cassius G. Smith, Guy W. Smith Co.; A.D. Doss, Superintendent Mammoth Insurance Co.; Thos. Bradford, Pres. Bradford Cleaners and Dyers; H.C. Russell, Mgr. Standard Building and Loan Ass'n; Ed. Nelson, Confectioner; Samuel G. Thompson, Real Estate; N.M. Willis, Lawyer; G.P. Hughes, Pres. Domestic Ins. Co.; J.E. Smith, Vice Pres. Domestic Ins. Co.; Dr. G.D. Smith, Dentist; A.B. Ridley, Undertaker; Harvey Burns, Undertaker; R.S. Flournoy, Insurance; W.H. Mason, Insurance; A.L. Garvin, Insurance; Wm. Warley, Editor Louisville News; J.H. Humes, Real Estate; James Callery, Builder; Dr. C.H. Parrish, himself a member of the Business Men's Association, gave hearty words of welcome and urged the support of Continued on page 8)