Colored Men Real Police Race Police To Arrest All Law Breakers; No Restrictions--The Idea Of Such A Thing Absurd, Says Commonwealth Attorney Otte
Louisville is to have six real policemen selected from a large number of applicants from among the colored people, and not "tin cops" with limited authority as was given out through the daily papers last Saturday. For many years the colored people who have been almost solid supporters and voters of the Republican party in this city, which would never win a victory without the Negro vote, have asked for a fair, reasonable and sensible consideration of the things which some to a victorious political party, among which has been the appointment of colored men as officers in uniform. The Republican leaders have promised time and again, to satisfy some of the wants of the colored people, but not until after the recent election has the matter of police in uniform been acted upon with any certainty. Enthusiasm and Then Resentment. The news that five well known men out of the number of applicants had been decided upon to do patrol duty in the colored sections, was greeted with great enthusiasm and satisfaction, but when the Courier-Journal announced that Prof. George S. Ragsdale, the police training school, said that the colored officers would be instructed to arrest no white persons, resentment and dissatisfaction was heard on every side, even among fair minded white citizens. One remark after the other was heard. "Are these men to be tin soldiers or police," was asked. "What kind of police is one who has a badge, a club, a gun and vested with all the authority of an officer of the law, but must arrest only Negro law breakers?" "It means that white criminals can invade the colored districts at will, break any law they please, and when seen by a colored so-called policeman, the figure head must call a real policeman, a white officer, before the white lawbreaker can be arrested." "No Negro should accept a place on the force under such limitations," are among the things said which showed how much opposition there was to such an idea. Such an Order Absurd, Says Otte. After the report was out it was reliably stated that Prof. Ragsdale had given no such order, that even though there were many who perhaps opposed the appointment of colored officers in uniform, it was thought just and wise, and that, since it was finally concluded to do so, that they would be full fledged officrs of the law like white officers and would arrest all law breakers, white and black. When approached on the subject, Mr. Clarke Otte, Commonwealth Attorney, said that it is absurd, (Continued of page 8).
LEXINGTON FAIR ASSN., PLANS FOR YEAR: PORTER RE-ELECTED HEAD Lexington, Ky., Jan. 20--For the third consecutive time, J. Rice Porter has been chose to head the Lexington Colored Fair Association.
Under his leadership the association has been revived and its obligations of $3,000 paid, giving the organization a clear record. 
At the annual meeting Jan. 3, practically the same board of directors was reelected and the same officers as managed the Fair for the last three years. They are J. Rice Porter, president; E. [B.?] Davis, vice president; J. B. Caulder, secretary and Robert H. Williams, George T. Jones, John W. Bell, Lucien W. Johnson, John T. Clay, directors.
The following committees were appointed to facilitate the work of the fair:
Finance--E. B. Davis, L. W. Johnson, Charles Smith, Robert T. Wiilamsl J. W. Bell.
Grounds--George T. Jones, J. Rice Porter, J. B. Caulder.
Floral Hall--Robert H. Williams.
Special Committee--J. T. Clay, J. W. Bell, George T. Jones.
Solicitor--Samuel E. Johnson. 
Advertiser--Robert B. Williams.
These persons will have charge of activities coming under their respective departments.
Tentative dates of the 1928 fair have been selected and submitted to the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders association for their approval and will be published later.
The band for this year has been selected and when made public will be pleasing to patrons and friends.
(Continued on page 8.)
Mr. J. Rice Porter. 
Mr. Porter is known all over Kentucky as a successful business man, a public spirited citizen. As president of the Lexington Colored Fair Association, he has rendered the stockholders and the race a signal service. Mr. Porter is also one of the directors of the Mammoth Insurance Co.
[illegible] and Morris In Criminal Court MURPHY AND MORRIS FACE SEVERAL CHARGES IN CRIMINAL COURT Leading Citizens Testify For Them; Jury Hangs In First Murphy Case The cases against James Murphy and Alex Morris, colored detectives under the Democratic administration, have claimed the attention of the Criminal Court, and hundreds of spectators mostly Negroes, since last Monday morning. The men are facing several charges of assault and battery, and intimidation of voters. Commonwealth Attorney Clarke W. Otte and his assistant, Charles W. Logan, are looking after the prosecution, and Clem W. Huggins and Merit O'Neal, prominent attorneys, are representing Furphy and Morris. The first case was called against Murphy Monday. This charge was changed from a felony to a misdemeanor. The case went to the jury late Monday without argument by the attorneys, and after several hours deliberation, the jury was reported hopelessly hung.
A case in which Murphy and Morris were jointly charged, was called Wednesday, and after several hours selecting a jury, witnesses were heard Thursday morning. Those who accuse the men and called as witnesses, are making poor impressions. Several of the best colored citizens have been called to testify to the character of the men up to becoming detectives, including Rev. R. S. Henderson, pastor of Quinn Chapel, Drs. J. H. Walls, W. H. Pickett, J. W. Johnson, Wilson Ballard, J. A. C. Lattimore; Messrs. Wilson Lovett, J. B. Cooper, A. D. Porter, Editors William Warley and I. Willis Cole. Among these men are regular Republicans. Attorney Beckham Overstreet, white Republican, also testified for the men. There are hundreds of Democrats and Republicans, white and colored, who believe these men have been punished a plenty, after spending several weeks in jail. Others believe that they have been made the "goat;" that the $15,000 bond was exhorbitant, if they did leave the city, and that if they did any wrong during the heat of the campaign, or on election day, it was no more than has been done by white officers on previous elections, for which they were not arrested, jailed and punished.
There are others who say that the election is over, and as is usually the case, all else should be over with it.
Judge Burgevin's charge to the jury in the first Murphy case, was as fair and impartial as any could be. Commonwealth Attorney Otte is fair in his consideration of the former detectives and all persons offering testimony in their behalf.
WOULD ROB HOME OF EDITOR AGAIN
If there is any such thing as the "meanest man" in the world it is the fellow who would rob a Negro newspaper man of what little he might have and especially any of the Louisville editors. With a fine of $250 hanging over his head for fighting for the rights of the Negro in Kentucky, along with the usual trials and tribulations which fall in the path of a Negro editor, the home of the home of the editor of the Louisville News, a few weeks ago, was burglarized while Mr. Warley was in Chicago and Mrs. Warley out. The burglar got $60.00, which was about the whole of the family balance. This heartless thief feeling that editors are usually crazy or easy, returned last Tuesday night, or sent another friend, but the family not having gone to bed, was aroused before the burglar could get the little the editor had left. All burglars are mean but the fellow who would rob a Negro editor is the meanest.
An Important Announcement
The public is familiar with the case of Cole and Warley, editors, respectively of the Louisville Leader and the Louisville News. The most recent developments in the case involves their conviction on a charge of libel and the assessment of a heavy fine.
It is believed that the decision is of considerable importance and may seriously affect colored newspapers throughout the country. Colored people generally wish to know whether such newspapers are to be restricted in their news items and expression of opinion. It has therefore been determined that if possible this case should be carried to the Supreme Court of the United States.
For the purpose of carrying this case to the Supreme Court and to assist in paying the fine if it is finally determined that it must be paid, a Cole-Warley Defense Fund is being organized by those whose names are attached to this announcement. Other individuals will be asked to join as members of the Defense Fund Committee.
We believe there may be at least 1,000 colored people in this country,--even in Kentucky, who will gladly contribute $1.00, or more, if given the opportunity, to find out whether or not colored newspapers may ask that fair play and justice be given members of the race just as other papers demand that the same be given persons of their group.
Neither of the editors has asked anybody for any assistance whatsoever in this matter; and knowing them as we do, we are mindful that they both have the stamina, the grit, the independence and the courage to carry this fight to the last ditch unaided and alone; but we are of the same opinion as Professor J. B. Caulder of Lexington, Kentucky, who voluntarily sent them his check for $5.00 last week, stating, "You have taken a stand in behalf of every man's rights, and there are at least a thousand of us who will help bear the burden."
We request that persons who wish to contribute to the fund make check or money orders payable to the Cole-Warley Defense Fund and mail them to the Warley-Cole Defense Fund Committee, Wilson Lovett, Chairman, 601 W. Walnut St., Louisville, Ky.
Committee:
Editor William [T.?] Steward.
Bishop George [J.?] Clement
Wilson Lovett.
A Lowden Manager [photo] HON. MELVIN J. CHISUM.
Mr. Chisum is Field Secretary of the National Negro Press Association with offices in Washington and Chicago. He is now active in interest of Former Governor Lowden of Illinois, who is a candidate for President. Mr. Chisum is in charge of his campaign among colored people of the South, and he will be in Louisville at the National Press Association, which meets here in April, brimful of reasons why Negroes should support Mr. Lowden for the Republican nomination for President.
LEADERS SEE GOVERNOR; TO SPEAK HERE A [committee?] of colored leaders, [among those?] who rendered a special service during the primary and general election of last November conferred with Governor Flem D. Sampson last Friday afternoon in his capitol office at Frankfort. The committee was composed of Dr. E. E. Underwood of Frankfort, who was chairman of the State campaign work among colored Republicans; Rev. J. W. Gibson, of Lexington, the secretary, and I. Willis Cole, editor of the Leader, the first race paper in the state to take up the cudgel for Governor Sampson; Rev. N. B. Shamborguer and Dr. W. T. Merchant of Louisville, were added to the committee. The conference with the Governor was satisfactory in every way. Several matters of importance to the race and state were gone over. The Governor accepted an invitation of the Leader editor to speak here at the National Negro Press meeting in April.
PROF. E. S. TAYLOR DIES AT WINCHESTER.
Winchester, Ky., Jan. 20.--Prof. E. S. Taylor, principal of the Oliver St. High School here, died Tuesday Jan. 10, and was burted from First Baptist church of which Rev. E. O. Givens is pastor, Thursday at 2 p. m.
He was superintendent of above named Sunday school. He was also a member of the Elks and U. B. F.'s Many ministers and school teachers from all over Kentucky were present to pay the last tribute to his memory. His widow and brothers and mother, with a great concourse of relatives and friends mourn his passing. Many resolutions, telegrams and letters of condolence were read from all over the country.
The funeral was preached by Dr. T. Timberlake, Supt, of Missions, a friend of the family.
Domestic Minority Group Wins MEYZEEK, RUSSELL AND WITHERSPOON ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS Loses Fight Against White Lawyer On Committee But Gets Representation Wins Proxy Fight In Court; Stormy Annual Meeting Wisely Averted Waging a persistent and determined fight, begun more than a year ago, when the management of the affairs of the Domestic Life Insurance Co., was questioned by Mr. A.E. Meyzeek, then treasurer of company and member of the Board of Directors, a minority group of stockholders known as the Domestic Stockholder s Protective Association, won a signal victory at the annual meeting of the stockholders here last Wednesday. The minority group, led by Messrs. A. E. Meyzeek, H. C. Russell, J. M. Harris, J. H. Hathaway, Drs. P. M. Flack and W. H. Witherspoon, succeeded in electing to the Board of Directors Meyzeek, Russell and Witherspoon, the same men who were ousted a year ago. This is regarded as a great victory for the Protective Association and the stockholders generally. More so because of the efforts of the officials of the company to keep them off the Board. It is reported that a force of agents were pressed into service for the collection of proxies over the city and state, and a variety of letters passed through the mails that the "minoirty group" might be defeated. As a last resort in the effort to stem the tide against them, a suit was filed last Saturday morning in the Circuit Court, bearing the name of Dr. C. H. Parrish as a member of the executive committee of the company, to enjoin Meyzeek, Russell and Flack from using any proxies at the meeting. Dr. Parrish claimed to know nothing about the use of his name and said that he was much embarrassed by being so involved. Russell, one of the defendants in the case, is Superintendent of the Sunday school of the Calvary Baptist church, of which Dr. Parrish is pastor.
Suit is Lost; Lawyers in Little Tilt.
The suit to stop the "minority group" from voting the proxies was lost. Judge Lafon Allen, who heard the petition last Monday morning, decided against the officials, and in giving the right to the "minority group" to use the proxies, said he did not wish to deny any stockholders the right to vote or be represented. In the course of the trial copies of the Leader, carrying articles under the signature of Mr. Meyzeek, were exhibited, about which Mr. Meyzeek was quizzed by Attorney Robert Burke, representing the officials. On the matter of publicity and statements about the statement of the insurance commissioners, it is said that Attorney Burke remarked that if somebody isn't careful they will be jailed, to which Attorney Mat Holt, representing the "minority group," retorted that if anybody gees to jail it will be Hughes, Turner and Smith.
In their suit to stop the "minority groups" the officials charged that a circular letter was sent to the stockholders, misrepresenting alleged conditions concerning the management of the company.
The Domestic Stockholders Protective Association is similar to the Protective Committee of the Inter-Southern Life Insurance, the group of stockholders of that company who opposed President Duffin, and finally ousted (Continued on page 8)
STANDARD BANK HOLDS MEETING; PRESIDENT REPORTS LARGE GAIN The First Standard Bank held its Eighth Annual Stockholders' meeting on January 16, 1928.
The following are exerpts from the President's report to the stockholders:
"I need not remind you that seven years is a comparatively short time in the life of any financial institution, and that very few substantial industries or financial organizations have succeeded in building to any appreciable size or strength short of ten years. Notwithstanding the comparatively short time of our existence, the First Standard Bank is not only the largest bank managed by colored people in Kentucky, but it is the sixth largest in the United States."
"It may be well right here to call the attention of our stockholders to the fact that the bank carries with a large surety company a blanket bond amounting to $165,000 on the active officers and employees."
Notwithstanding some clouds on the horizon of what is usually called Negro business--if we as members of a distinct group in American life are to add or contribute towards the building of a real business, we must adopt the attitude that as long as human nature is what it is there will be such clouds to arise. But in spite of such clouds as may arise from time to time we must continue in our efforts to build up our business in spite of discouragements or set-backs just exactly as has been done in the early days of this country by other groups."
In the reports of the officers of the bank it was brought out that the bank had shown an annual yearly gain of about $100,000.00 in resources each year for the first six years since its establishment.
Mr. H. S. Chauncey, president of the Empire Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, Ohio, was a guest of the stockholders and delivered an address that was inspiring and encouraging to each one at the meeting. As a special (Continued on page 8)