The New York Age from New York, New York • Page 1

Has 7. Largest Circulation I PRICE, 5 CENTS APRIL 25, MOUND BAVOU t-: rr V. fjogro Town to Issue Municipal Bonds and Provid BetUr Facilities WANTS TRUST fUND Isaiah T. Montgomery Seeking to Develop Town as Agricultural and Industrial Cen r. REALIY VALUMION Of TOWN Ciiztiw own ki Real Estate uti $200,000 in Personal Property -Many Business Institution.

Many improvements are soon to. be made in Mound Bayou, the widely known Negro town, according to Isaiah T. Montgomery, Mound Bayou's founder who is in New -York on business. Mr. Montgomery is jiegotiating to place municipal bonds of the town on the mirket, which will be done to inaugurate civic improvements, such as sidewalks, water and sewerage facilities Already Mound" Bayou has con- aderable plank walks and an artesian well that flows fifteen to twenty gallons i minute of pure, soft water.

However, no arrangements have been made to date for piping it. V.hile in New York Mr. Montgomery arranging to float the $40,000 worth of oil mill bonds, and is further seeking to reach the class of far-sighted philanthropists with a' view to, showing them the need of the formation of a permanent trust" "or foundation fund, of several hundred thousand dollars, toti hoed among the Negroes at four and ir and a half per' which "would surage the development of small jraisnif the building" of comfortable It is the idea of Mr. Montgomery that a portion of the interest be i used for building suitable rural schools, is which the South is quite deficient, particularly as relating to The proposed trust or foundation fund may be made up in part cf the endowments already set apart for Negro institutions. In that case a proper proportion of the interest would be preserved to the purpose prescribed.

The primary object of the investment sought it to secure the perpetuation and development of Mound Bayou as a progressive, agricultural, industrial and commercial center and for the promotion of thrift and enterprise that may continually demonstrate the administrative and constructive capacity of the Negro, thereby contributing greatly as an encouraging example to the race at large as well as to the lasting and general good of the State of Mississippi Mound Bayou's History, Mound Bayou derives its name from two bayous that stretch irregularly like an enormous the left arm northeast and the right arm northwest About three miles southeast of the town they rn at the foot of an enormous mound relic of the Indian. About 1885 the L. N. O. T.

Railroad owned principally by Messrs Collis P. Huntington and R. T. Wilson, came into possession of a million acres comprising a large portion of the great Ya-oo Delta, at that time considered arcely habitable continuously by the Anglo-Saxon. In 1887 the company ought the attention of Isaiah T.

Mont-Fmery, who believed that he saw a golden opportunity for his race and soon concentrated all of his powers to attract the better class of Negroes and oicourage them to buy homes on the ertion drained by the two bayous. The country was a trackless wilderness at one to two dollars per acre, oi in many cases contracts had to be renewed. Montgomery instituted a rule ith the railroad not to wholly cancel a contract as long as a settler could be depended upon, and in case of failure, "other man was put in his place. Very little live stock or building ma-fal was available, frontier methods ere resorted to, settlers joining to help other, split and hew logs to build "or cabins, made slab and puncheon Joors and pile the logs that had to be umed off their small clearings. Meantime an existence was eked out by split-I'lg railroad ties and making white oak aves for the European market About 1894 a demand arose for town Isaiah Montgomery and a cousin, 5' a een' ha1 a forty-acre tract Ptwa.

A charter was duly executed jy.Gov Ancim M. LaUrin, and an T. Montgomery was appointed mayor. On it i lunaamemai ruies ai 0und Bayou ha Wn tr. Vnhivaf nnh- Be opinion and have the people at large inicipatc resoonsibilitv for the reou- law community.

As a resul result and order prevails to an extent luai to any town in the? South. The first machinery in was a small Saw mill used mostly til cut thousands of the fine white ash logs that abounded in' the" high cane lands. All land became cleared, a cotton gin and press was attached, to, the mill. The Bank of Moontf Bayou. Some" seven years ago Charles Banks associated with" a number "of 'others, established the Bank of Mound Bayou.

This institution now owns a two-story brick building, has a paid-up capital of $25,000 with resources of oyer $100,000, anft has been of invaluable service in conccntrating and -developing the business of, agricultural There is at present three saw, mills lhat operate on an average of four or five months a year, cutting about One million feet that enters mostly into the local Many millions of feet of oak, ash, elm, cypress and a little gum are sold to Memphis mills in logs at from $9 to $25 per thousand feet. 'J'here are two Mungcr System gins worth $10,000, that handler between three and four thousand bales of bender and staple cotton annually and thousands of tons of cotton seed. Among' the leading business houses is the. Farmers' Co-Operative Mercantile Company, occupying a brick store 50x70 feet and carrying $10,000 worth of stock. Several other stores carry from four to six thousand dollars worth of stock.

The town now covers between 160 and 20Q acres, and has a population of 1,000. Realty valuations approximate personal property, about the value of church property, $12,000, and a $10,000 brick, church is in course of erection. The value of school property is $5,000, owned by the A. M. A.

Baptist, $3,000, and the public school, A public library, constructed of brick. is valued at $5,000, $4,000 of which was contributed by Andrew Carnegie. There i i -c nr a rwu plant and a brick manufacturing plant, Mound Bayou Oil Mill. The pride of the community is the Mound Bayou Oil Mill, which is the direct outgrowth of the National Business League started in Boston about 12 years A vaudeville show and a drama in ago by liooker T. Washington, Missis-; three acts were presented earlier in the sippi; Negroes under the leadership of evening and was.

very much enjoyed, Chas. Banks, were among the first to Salter and Allen, "Chicken" Reel Bee-inaugurate a State League, after consid-: man and Ray and Williams were ou erable deliberation extending over two the vaudeville bill, while "Driven from years, they determined on' building an Home," a three-set drama, produced oil mill with funds derived by the wide and staged bv-Miss Lulu B. Williams distribution of stock id small, denomina- lions to teach the power of combination, oil mill industry was' selected be- cause" Negroes have long performed practically all of the industrial and. me-1 to the industry, Williams, Louise acptt and JSessje The company is duly incorporated, cap- AlTtson' "--5 italized at $100,000, $80,000 of the cap-' E. Walker was chairman of the ital is paid up, over 50 per cent, having committee having in charge the arrange-been contributed by Negroes of Mound ments for the celebration of the church's Bayou.

A plant has been constructed ninety-third anniversary. and equipped with the most improved i machinery pronounced by competent critics equal to any mill in the State. Dr. Booker T. Washington will start the machinery personally in October.

There is still $20,000 of unsold stock, but, in order to assure ample finances to begin with, the managing officer have determined on issuing $40,000 in Special to Tns Nkw vk a. first mortgage bonds in denominations Tusket.ee, April 23. An inter-of $500 to $1,000 for the following pur- esri eature he InternatlonaI Con-poses to purchase tanks, belting and electrical plant to pay off the ference on the Ne8ro at Tuskegee entire indebtedness, $15,000, which ap- Institute April 17, 18 and 19, was the plies to machinery of the best class that variety of interests, social, educational has i already been receivedandh installed, Lnd ientific. ana leave a reserve oi ior op- erating. The mill has a capacity of handling forty tons of seed in twenty- four hours, and is so designed that the output can be readily doubled by add- A v.m -five Tw 1 I 1 nto -J 'f'tr EL I to LVi Th Lt wno oi lnse as having beei.

I MTn I "discoyered." few year, ago, by a mis- approximates $3 per ton, 9 CCU CUIIICU will sell for manufacture OWNMUCH PROPtRTY Negroes Pay Taxea on $34,022,379 Worth of Real Estate in Georgia Statistica Showing Property Rare in that State. Special to Taa New Tork Aoe. Airi a nt, April 23. The assessed valuation of property returned for taxation by Negroes in Georgia, in 191 1, is $34,022,379, as compared to in 1910. The year's gain was $1788,342.

These figures and many others equally as interesting regarding the property holdings of the State's colored population, are contained in statistics just compiled by Capt Tip Harrison, in charge of the tax department of the cbmp-troller general's offices. The 1911 tax digests show that Negroes paid poll taxes, and that 4,685 defaulted. Included among the property-owning Negroes are seven lawyers, 16. dentists, tfhd 133 physicians. The number of dogs returned for taxation by Negroes is 54,926.

They own 1,639,9,19 acres of improved land, with a nassessment valuation of $10,358,653. Their city and town property' is taxed at stocks and bonds, $1700; money and solvent debts, merchandise, household and kitchen furniture, Watches, silver plate and jewelry, horses, mules, hogs, sheep, cattle, etc, plan tations and mechanical toois, i.oo.o- value of all other; property, value of property of defaulters (single), $319,955. CtLtBRATt BETHEL'S 93RD AHNIVERSARy 'u 'i- Members and Friends of tha Church Assemble at Man- hattan OCCASION A I 0N Tbrre Wat Music but no tlun-. dreds tat dupper Slid paititlpa In Grand Marth. v' Over one Uiuuaauu iiicnibtii and friends of Bethel A.

M. gathered at Manhattan Casino Friday even ing and celebrated the church's ninety-third The occasion was unique in that while the music played and everybody had" i good time there was no dancing, although Manhattan Casino is well known its balls. Hoary-headed members of Bethel who had never been in a dance hall and members of the cloth who knew Manhattan Casino only by what they had read in the papers graced the assem blage with their presence, while Dr. Reverdy Ransom, pastor of Bethel, accompanied by Mrs. Ransom, looked on with deep interest They were the recipients of much attention and An inspiring sight was the grand march in which many members of the congregation took part the old walk :v.u.

uiK uvui in? nan mini uic young. to the music furnished by the New Amsterdam During the evening art appetizing sup- per was served, which was enjoyed by hutodreds. Dr. Ransom's table was tastefully decorated with flowers Several local ministers and a number from out of. the cjry ate supper with Dr.

and Mrt Ransom. and Bob Slater, was given by tbe bers of Bethel Churclu In the cast were R. R. Dennis, James Hinton, Fred, Caldwell. Charles C.

Allison, 'Rol-( ert J. Lawrence, Louise A. Cooke, Lulu feature 0FcrP(E Social, Educational and Scientific Subjects Diacussert Declaration of First International Conference on the Ne-' gro. Thcre werc Africans, West Indians and Americans of all denominations and various shades of color. There were representatives of the very latest scien-, inc views upon social and racial prob-.

though he is now conducting a little Atrican Aietnoaisi unurcn in British Guiana, South America. The British West Indies were represented on the one hand by a fine type of the British Colonial office in the person of Hon. J. R. Williams, Director of Education for Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica, and by a very humble and simple black man in the person of Washington Harper, shipwright, as he signed himself, from Barbadoes.

Among the striking figures in the conference was a soft spoken Spanish diplomat from Venezuela, Dr. Esteban Gil Borges a fighting Irish Catholic priest in the person of the Rev. Father D. J. Bustin of New York, and a host of stormy Negro orators, like Bishop Henry M.

Turner of Atlanta, the well-know napostle of "Back to Africa," the lost cause of the Negro race. The value of bringing together all of these different characters, representing different points of view and different types of people, into one meeting, was recognized by every one who attended the conference, and was referred to in the declarations sent out at the close of the session, summing up the chief results of the meeting. These declarations were as follows: Declarations of Conference. Tuakegee, April 19, 1912. The members of this conference, representing widely different parts of the world, and equally dlf-' ferent Interests and experiences and points of view with retrard to the Negro race and its problems, are profoundly convinced tbat this meeting which has brought them together for discussion and consultation Is both timely and Impor- tant, and that the movement here begun may be most beneficial and far-reaching tn Its effects and the opportunities for co-operation which It opens us.

IX The members of this conference feel also that this school at Tuskegce, which is a great experimental station in racial education and at the same time a center life, has 6cen weil a a piuue of J' i lheV conftfrt'Oi-V ieeii atruuKly JmpresstiU wfth smu advantages that result tiniu Uttt'voiuinr -together of. icli va.il-"U9 os tlbo rvpri-soiitaUuiv racial, industrial. eitra-. "-rionul and religious. impor-' tauco of nieetinaf this', kind to ahe Negro-- people' th" United, Africa and the In-e lioa ia obvioust' the lnwresta of Kuropcan governments having pol-' ontes in tropical reglonsi directly concerned, und the iuestipns here discussed are not "Without importance in their effect upon-the native from Barbadpea, H.

VV. I. world. IV. As far as concerns education, ho polut has.

received more unani-', moua support than theJ need to the scope of education so that It may touch life at -as many points as possible, although the ap- plication of this principle must dif-fer with the different conditions of various localities. V. Impressed with the value of' the opportunities for discussion and observation that this meeting has afforded, the conference recommends that similar International meetings be held trlennlally; arrangements, for the place of meeting and the preparation, of a detailed program to be placed in the hands of a committee to be appointed at this, conference, The. -conference also, recommends that efforta be mad to appoint local committees or representatives for the collectloli of lnfornation along lines to be suggexied 1y Ihls cen- tral committee. J.

R. Williams. Direfctof of Edu- cation of Jamulca. -1 W. I.

Thomas. Professor "or So--' clology. University of Chicago. Maurice S. Evans, Representative, of the British African Society, James Denton, Principal of the Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, Africa.

Isaiah B. Scott' Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mon- rovio, Liberia. Washington Harper, Representative from BarbadooeS. TV W. I.

Robert Park. former Secretary of the Congo Reform Asso- ciaXIon tn America. i fit Variety of Interests. In general; the conference? represented in its composition four different interests. In general, Africa was represented by persons interesled directly or indirectly in mission work.

The West Indies, particularly Barbadoes, and Jamaica, where there has recently been some movements, in favor of industrial education, seems: to have been chiefly concerned with subjects of education as distinguished from missionary effort. There was a f. noticeable difference, however, in the tharacter of the delegation from JamaK- and arbadoes, and h-was apparent that- theyMiad come- to the conference with somewhat different aims and expectations. Jamaica was represented in three colors, so to speak. The Hon.

T. R. Williams, director of education of Jamaica, was a white man; W. IL Tlant, head master of the Titch-ficld School. Port Antonio, was a brown-skinned man, and S.

C. Thompson, master of the Old Harbour Elementary School, Kingston, was plain black. This distinction is only worth not ting, because in all the English colonies, the colored or mulatto population is distinct from the Negro, although as Mr. Plant, in his paper on "Conditions," stated that there are no racial lines drawn in Jamaica as there are, for example, in South Africa. The Ja maica delegation was interested in the subject of education, not from the point of race view, but of method.

The representatives from Barbadoes were all Negroes. There were A Rawles Perkinson, teacher; Elliott Durant, journalist, and Washington Harper, shipwright. Although they came to the conference at the expense of the government of Barbadoes, and as its representatives, they came apparently as representatives of the colored people. rather than the government, and were concerned not merely with the education but with the industrial development of the colored people. Finally, among other interests repre sented at the conference was that of science, frof.

W. i. 1 nomas, professor of sociology at the University of Chi cago, who is now engaged in studying the mental and the social organization of' the peasants of Europe, -with the expectation of making this study ulti mately the basis for a comparison with the Negroes in the Southern states, was perhaps the only person present who came to the conference for the definite purpose of studying the colored people themselves. TO ORGANIZE LAY MEMBERS. Bpeclal to Tbs Nsw Ton Aoa.

Wilber force, April 23. During the session of the A. M. General Con ference. which will be held at Kansas City next month.

President W. S. Scar borough of Wilberforce University will call together all the lay members and form a permanent organization to do the work of the church and discharge the duties of the mission to better ad vantage. President Scarborough thinks that there are many perplexing problems, aside from electing men. to office that both laymen and clergy will have to wrestle with, that to do this work and do it well they shall have to consider long and wisely the needs of the con nection, and the best measures to be adopted whereby the interest of the church mav be best conserved.

He says it is the duty of the laymen to express themselves in unmistakable tones in regard to the many measures coming before the General Conference, and especially as to the men who will be elevated to the Episcopal bench, as well as to the men who will be chosen to fill other offices. COLORED VYAIHHS P1AN national Hotel Men from Every Section will Probably Meet this Summer SITUATION IS ALARMING Head of Waiters' Protective League says Similar Conditions fxist in Many other Cities-Wants Co-operatioe. Owing, to the wholesale discharge ot colored waiters and the substitution of white help, a state of affairs that is being viewed with alarm by colored waiters throughout the United States, a na tional conference of colored waiters will most likely be held some time this summer, when the situation will be discussed minutely and plans adopted to bring about better conditions. Since the publication in The Age a few weeks ago that the colored hotel men of New York were regarding seri ously the situation in New York City in which three hundred were put out of the hotels and restaurants of Manhattan in 1911, colored waiters in various sections have been corresponding with each other relative to getting together for the mutual good of all concerned. The colored hotel men of New York are heartily in favor of the holding of a national conference this summer as art the waiters of Kansas City and other western cities In referring to present conditions The Ace is in receipt of the following letter from C.

Jordan, President of the Waiters' Protective League in Kansas City, Having read the article in The regarding the situation of the hotels in New York City toward the Negro waiter, I beg to say that similar conditions are spreading rapidly West, North and South. Vi'e are endeavoring to establish a National Negro Head Walters and Side Walters' Congress, and with the co-operation of the Hotel Proprietors Association, we hope to establish a standard of service by which we can classify the service, thus making a more harmonious relation between the proprietors and servitors. We. would appreciate your encouragement of our movement through 'your paper and would be elnd to establish an agency in New York. The officers of the' Waiters' Protec tive League are: S.

C. Jordan, presi dent; Georjre W. Hall, corresponding secretary W. R. Garett, treasurer Edward Hudson, chairman of Benefit Fund; D.

H. Collier, manager; L. A. Knox, attorney-at-law. VICe IN CHICAGO Noted Sociologist Speaks to Large Crowd and Tells Negroes to Protect Their Girls and Women Discriminating Laws in Windy City.

4prla to Thi Nsw Tore Aoa Chicago, April 23. Dean Sum- ner, the noted sociologist and chairman of the Vice Commission of Chicago, ad dressed a mass meeting of Negroes, last week held under the auspices of the Western League, organized for the protection colored women, at the Odd Fellows' HalL Among other speakers was Mrs. Celia Parker Wooley, the staunch friend ano social settlement worker among colored people. Dean Sumner, after an introduction by Father Massey of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, immediately plunged into his subject: "How to save oui colored girls." He stated that the subject of vice was not a race question, and he disliked very much to discuss it along those lines, but it is very evident that the moral conditions in Chicago and many others warrant immediate steps to eradicate vice and change the moral situation among the colored people.

He gave in detail facts and figures showing the abominable conditions existing in Chicago from segregated vice. According to police regulations there are districts set apart for. the practice of prostitution, and it is generally located in colored neighborhoods. Consequently, those who will not submit to their families being surrounded by such intolerable conditions are forced to move into more desirable neighborhoods; and those who are unable to avail themselves of this opportunity which seems to be" their only alternativeare compelled to remain with their young girls and children of a tender age, completely immersed in an ocean of vice and corruption of the most degrading sort. In one segregated vice district there are 1,475 colored children, and besides coming into unavoidable contact with the lowest and most degraded kind of prostitutes, thieves, robbers and murderers, they are permitted to frequent these resorts and run errands for the inmates.

Such conditions are outrageous, intolerable and should not be permitted for a moment. Upon these facts Dean Sumner laid great stress, stating that such conditions would, not be tolerated by white people for an instant. Moreover, there is a law upon the statute books of Illinois which prohibits white girls or women from working or acting in any capacity as a servant in a house of prostitution; while colored girls and women at any beyond sixteen -arc pcrniif.ed with the greatest of freedom to work as servants, he said. "The Evcrly Club alone employs fiftv-nyg-. colored awny of them girls and women.

Is this right Shall this crowning shame of the age he allowed to continue? Go unrebuked, unchecked without a word of without a vigorous protest from our leading colored citizens to the public authorities, the mayor, city council and the state Jegislature? There is no doubt but that such a law ii. substance is just and equitable. But where is the justice and protection to human morals in such a law as this? It is manifestly unjust, discriminatory, class legislation and therefore unconstitutional. It should be amended or repealed. "For theleaders of the race to supinely submit to the continuance of such a law, is an obvious registration of their inherent rights and privileges of citizenship." MURDERS UNSOLVfD Texaa Citizens Exercised Over Whole- -aale Killing of Negroes in Lone Star State Committee Offers Reward-Intruder Proves to Be White Man Blackened Up.

Special to Tps Nsw York Aoa. Austin, April 23. The Negroes of Xexas and th's particular, are wrought up over the wholesale murdering of Negro families in the various towns by what the press terms as the "ax-man" or "ax-wman." The latest crimes occurred in San Antonio, where five members of a family were murdered, and in Hempstead, where six met death by foul play. One of the intended victims at Hempstead awakened by a cut on the hand and rolled out of and under the bed screaming, frightening the culprits away and saving her life 'and the lives of her two children. Every Negro in Austin is aroused and various committees are being, formed.

Anoymous "red ax" letters have been received and turned over to the postal authorities. Dr. L. L. Campbell is chairman of a committee composed of teachers and prominent citizens which has offered a reward for the apprehension of the human vultures.

The white press tries to lay stress on a certain Negro religious cult, but the Negroes believe it to be demons of other races. Someone tried to gain entrance to a woman's home one night last week in a nearby town and a Negro youth of 18 years fired through the door, hitting the intruder. By the blood the authorities trailed him several miles to Taylor, Texas, and found him to be a white man blackened. No arrests. Mrs.

John Roberts, who entered her room unexpectedly Monday night, was shot by her husband who took her to be an intruder. She was hit in the shoulder and hopes are expressed for her speedy recovery. WIVES ENTERTAIN HUSBINDS The Neighborhood Whist Club of Brooklyn, composed of ladies, celebrated its first birthday in a unique fashion by giving a reception complimentary to the husbands of its members. The function occurred on Friday evening, April 19. at the residence of Mr.

and Mrs. W. B. Warren, 4SSA Macon street which was kindly loaned for the occasion. Besides the members and their respective husbands there were several other invited guests to fill the quota.

The evening was devoted to progressive whist the prizes being restricted to tho male guests. The prize winners were Messrs. R. R. and D.

S. Willis and Chas. E. Moore. A tempting supper followed.

With many unique features. An address of welcome was made by the president Mrs. H. Timp- son Mars, which waa responded to by Mr. C.

H. Lansing in behalf of the husbands. Appropriate remarks were also made by the vice-president Mrs, Warren, the secretary, Miss Butler, and the treasurer, Mrs. Thomas. A pleasant incident waa the presentation of the season's prize to the members earning the highest total, which waa awarded to Miss Mena Downing.

The members of the club are Mrs. H. T. Mara, president; Mrs. W.

B. War ren, vice-president; Mrs. C. O. Thomas, treasurer: Miss Mary Butler, secre tary; Mrs.

H. A. Downing; Miss Mena Downing, Mrs. c. Fortune, Mrs.

Hackley. Mrs. M. Holbrook. Mrs.

C. Inslng, Mrs. C. K. Moore, Mrs.

J. B. Peterson, Mrs. Geo. E.

Wlbecan, Miss Lena Jackson, Mrs. W. Greene and Mrs. J. W.

Dias. ROUSELLE NAMED SECRETARY. 8peryto Tbi Nsw Yobk Aoa. RJnond, April 23. Grand Mafc- Floyd Ross has appointed Mast-ice Rouselle of Washington, D.

permanent grand secretary to fill the vacancy made by the death of J. Frank Douglass. Mr. Russell, who was in the government service for twenty-three years and a late member of the board of directors of the order, has already assumed his new duties. He is a graduate of the Thirteenth Street School in New York City-Grand Worthy Master Ross is making an excellent record, having organized thirty-nine fountains since February 5.

The order has collected and disbursed over $65,000 in death claims. BREAK COVH IK MOTET Negroes Buy Property in Harlem Supposed to 'be Rtstricttd WHITES ARE SURPRISED Minott Family Moves into 135 W. 1 36th St. and Causes Excitement by Returning to Block AGREEMENT A BIG J0KC Mrs. Anna Lit be who Soli Property to Minolta says She Dees Mot Think Very Much of th a Covenant.

There was great excitement in West 136th street, between Lenox and Sev enth avenue, Tuesday afternoon when the white property owners learned that Negroes had purchased the residence at 135 West 136th street, known as one ol the covenant houses. As the original owners some months ago had signed the covenant not to sell or lease the premises to colored people the whites of the block were given quite a shock when it was learned that the agreement had bees broken. There were also other surprises hand- ed the white property owners. One was that the property at 135 West 136th street had been bought by J. Anthony Minott, brother of Mme.

Adena Minott, who unconsciously created much unnecessary excitement over a year ago when she purchased the house at 121 West 136th street, which was one of the principal reasons of the white 'residents for drawing up a covenant not to sell or rent any of the property in the block to Negroes. The Minott family moved from 121 W. 136th street last February, having sold the property, and there was much rejoicing in the block. G. Taylor, whose activity and officiousness has made him a nuisance to many colored pioperty owners in the vicinity, caused to be placed in 121 West 136th street after the Minott family had moved out signs in all the windows that the house was for rent and was restricted.

Articles were put in several of the local (papers that the Minotts were compelled' to cive ud the nrnnertv because of. a foreclosure, which was promptly denied by them. So jubilant was a little white sheet published in Harlem over' the moving of the Minotts that it gave us- -due prominence to the incident That the Minotts now have the laugh on the white property owners has bees obvious since they toolf possession Tuesday. One of the humorous features in the case is that the new residence ii next to the property owned by the first man to sign the covenant to keep Negroes out of the block. Since the arrival of his new neighbors his disposition has not been sunny and congenial.

The firb? intimation the white owners had of the presence of colored neighbors was when the moving vans stopped at 135 West 136th street and Mme, Adena E. Minott was seen superintending the placing of the furniture. She was soon recognized by her former neighbors, and when asked timidly by one of them if she had bought the property she emphatically answered in the affirmative The news that the Minotts had come back quickly spread, and the fact that they were located in the center of the block and in "restricted" property was soon heralded about The members of the Harlem Property Owners' Association assembled in groups and discussed the return of the Minotts in animated fashion. What seems to be a bitter pill for the signers of the covenant to swallow is that the sale of the property at 135 West 136th street marks the breaking of the farcical agreement made to keep colored people out of the block. Although the majority of them knew that such an instrument would not stand a test if its legality was ever questioned in the courts, they thought that by giving the covenant much publicity it would tend to keep the colored people from buying property in the block and adjacent territory.

The property was bought of Mrs. Anna Liebe, who, while knowing of the existence of the covenant, says she had a right to sell it. to any person she taw fit remarking that she regarded the covenant as a big joke. The Minotts assert that while they a-e not looking for notoriety they intend to buy property wherever they desire and do not intend to be thwarted by' prejudiced whites who are afflicted witS the colorphobia..