The Monitor ft - No. 162) Fleecing Negroes ^ of War Bonds \uthoritics Getting Sharply Behind' Unscrupulous Rascals Who Arc Swindling -I nlcttercd Colored Folk Out of Their "War Savings Stamps am! Liberty Bond.;. BLACKSHEAR WARNING RACE Urges Leaders to Adv.'se People Against Disposing of Their Gov ernment Securities in Bonds and Thrift Stamps for Valueless Trink ets or Doubtful Stock. DALLAS, TEX.—Exploitation of the southern Negro who has reached a new stage of prosperity as a result of record cotton prices and high wages of the past few years, has gained such proportions that fed eral and state authorities are prepar ing a drive on persons who swin dle the Negro of government war se curities. Unscrupulous salesmen have flood ed the south, telling the Negro that his Liberty bonds, war savings and thrift stamps are of lers than face value and offering to take them in exchange for oil or mine stock o dazzling foits of jewelry. Negroes all through the south bought freely of government securi ties. Sometimes they did not know just what they were buying, Negro leaders say, but knew the government wanted money, and quickly emptied 3 Heir purses. Some thought they | were giving instead of investing. They were better off than ever before. Those who bait farmed on shares the preceding years had ob tained more money for their cotton than they ever expected to possess, and those who worked for wages in the fields were paid twice the wages ( of a few' years ago. A letter just sent out by Prof. E. L. Blackshear of the Negro extension work in Texas says Negroes are being offered cheap and often worthless goods with the assurance that their savings stamps and Liberty bonds are not of par value and will not be for several years. It is then casually suggested by salesmen that the Ne gro may be dead before his holdings reach par value and emphasis is laid on the enjoyment he would get fDy the immediate purchase of their goods, possibly cheap trinkets, a worthless sewing machine or musical instru ment. Prof. Blackshear has written cir cular letters to the leaders of the race in the state urging immediate action to stamp out the evil by a campaign of education. NEW LEGAL ADVISOR FOR PYTHIANS Elizabeth, N. C.—Attorney Cleon W. Brown, of this city, has been elected grand legal adviser of the Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias of North Carolina. This is probably the strongest and most influential sec ret order of the Colored people in this state. Omaha Gives Great Sendoff to Selectmen Who Leave for CampFunston The Crispins Attacks’ Auxiliary and Red Cross Canteen Workers at the Union Station and Small Section of Crowd Watching Draftees Marching In. Band Halted on Platform and Playing “Over There” and a Medley of Patriotic Airs as Sturdy Selects Swing Down the Driveway and Fall Into Line. OMAHA may bo justly proud of the way she has givqn hearty God speed to all her stalwart sons who have gone forth to fight for democ racy. It was, however, reserved foi the departure of the 216 Colored draftees, Monday morning, August 5, to eclipse all similar events, for Oma ha has never witnessed a more thrill ing scene than the departure of this contingent of her national ai my. Several noteworthy events gradual Li> lead up to the great ovation with Which thousands of the parents, rela tives, friends and citizens of all classes, with cheers and tears sped our boys on their way. There were several social functions, both of a public and more or less private char acter, among which mention was made in last week’s issue of the rousing and enthusiastic reception tendered tnem by the Colored citizens in St. John’s A. M E. church. On Satur day the whole contingent were guests, of honor at a dinner in the handsome rooms of the Chamber of Commerce. Here a brief, but inspiring address was given by Judge Sla'oaugh, chair man of the military committee, and almost the entire membership of the Chamber of Commerce was present. Then. too. the men had been en thusiastically drilling, night after night, since they were called under the command of William G. Pierce, who attended officers’ training school I at Camp Des Moines; James E. Bmh< Clarence Brooks anti others who had had military training. As a conse quence the draftees marched with a snap, swing and spirit which elided most favorable comment. Monday morning early saw crowds of people hurrying to the court house, from which point the procession was to start. Long before 7 o’clock vast throng had assembled here fill ing the spacious courts, walks and grounds and overflowing into the streets. A brief program, consist ing of the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner” and “America” by the audience, led by Desdunes’ band and excellent addresses by' the Rev. Griffin G. Logan, pastor of Grove Methodist Kpiscopal church and May or Smith were given. Good Record Will Be Maintained. Dr. Logan briefly, hut with weli chosen words spoke eloquently' of the faithful work of Colored troops dur ing all of America’s history, and was confident that the honora'ole record would be maintained. The Colored hoys were faithful at Hunker Hill, at San Juan, on the Mexican border, and are proving their valor ami faithful ness in the world war. He said, “It is most fitting that Colored men are to bear their honorable part in win ning freedom for the world, for we perhaps feel more keenly than others the meaning of freedom since it s but a few years since hundred* of thousands of good men died upon the battlefields that we might enjoy free dom. Go forth then, selectmen of Ne braska, assured of our love, our bless ing and prayers that you may be re turned to us again v.hen victory shal' he achieved.” "Guard Your Health and (live the ] Hun Hell.” Mayor Smith’s remarks were felie- j itous and to the point. He urged t e i men to remember that they were American soldiers with honorable I traditions to maintain. Two injunc- i tions he laid upon them: First, guard | your health; you’ll need it; and sec- J ond, give, the Hun hell. I know you’ll i do both. And now a word to you, fa- I tliers and mothers. This should be i itfcmd moment for you. 1 know what it means to see your boys march away. See this little star on my coat. It coat only 25 cents, but I wouldn’t exchange it for the biggest diamond money could buy. For anybody with money can buy a diamond, but takes good mothers and good fathers to produce boys who are'worthy to wear the uniform of Uncle Sam. And now, boys, Omaha sends you forth with pride. Conduct yourselves as we know you will and vast as this audience i I it will be but as a handful to the crowds that will welcome you upon your return. Good-by. God bless you. Good-by.” Judge Slabaugh Gives Directions. Judge Slabaugh then gave direc tions how the proeeision was to form and warned that there would be no opportunity for farewells and leave taking at the railroad station. Led by the First Regimental band U. R. of K. P., Dan Desdunes, leader, the march to the station began. This was the order: Platoon of police. Hand. Crispus Attucks Red Cross organi zation. Canteen workers from white Red Cross organizations. Clergymen and professional men. Selective service men and local boards, each headed bv standards and flags provided by the Chamber of Commerce. Organizations and fraternities. Citizens on foot. Citizens in automobiles. The thousands in line proudly car rying flags made ah inspiring sight. The Red Cross section, the Crispus Attucks auxiliary, in charge of Mrs. I. T. Bailey, and the canteen workers in charge of Mrs. Luther T. Kountze, presented a beautiful picture. From the hands of these pati iotic women the men were given the usual apprec iated gifts, comfort kits, tobacco, candy, post cards and such like at the station as they entrained. Mr. Frank Johnson of the Omaha Printing com pany, presented Win. G. Pierce a liberal check to be used in buying smokes for the boys. This was jud icously spent for the purpose desig nated and the distribution placed in the hands of the Red Cress workers. It was hard for many to keep back their tears as the boys entrained, but they were sent on their way with rousing cheers and a buoyancy of spirit, born only of patriotic fervor which moves those who fight in a righteous cause. It was a great dem onstration which will cheer the hearts of our gallant boys as they fight for world democracy. One Million Women for War Service National Training School for Women and Girls Formulating Plans for Training Women for Special War Work—Will Release Men From Va rious Industries. ASHINGTON.—A million Col ored women throughout the United States will be trained to take the places of men in various lines of work, if a plan now being formulated by Miss Nannie H. Burroughs, presi dent of the National Training school for Women and Girls, this city, is carried out. The first step in the plan will be to raise $25,000 in a campaign which began August 1 to be used in equip ing the school here to train 200 Col ored women at a time for periods of ten weeks. If the plan works out as contemplated, the following courses will be offered: Best methods of preparing and sav ing food; practical housekeeping; waiting in private and public places; home gardening; canning and dry ing; motor and truck driving and re pairing; operation of elevators; fiist aid and emergency work; trained su pervisors of women’s work; trained welfare superintendents; group lead ers among women workers; cleaning and care of public buildings. In connection with these courses the school will conduct a lecture course to instruct Colored women to spread the gospel of loyalty and con servation. The whole plan is char acterized by Miss Burroughs as one to train Colored women into an “army behind the army.” Miss Burroughs points out that the National Training School for Women and Girls in this city is the logical institution for organizing this army because it is nationally known, and the women who own it live in the states where they are in touch with hundreds of women of their race who would be trained for this work. “There is not in all America any provision for the training of Colored women for war emergency work," reads a statement issued by Miss Bur roughs. “Special courses are being offered other women. We must not lose sight of the fact that the Colored woman is a most valuable ally. Her power and influence reaches from the kitchen to the castle—from desk to ditch. She handles the food for 10,000,000 of her own race, as well as millions of tons for other Ameri cans. The country needs her intelli gent co-operation in its food conser vation work and in other war activi ties. “America needs every woman, black and white, to help win this war. It is as necessary to provide for the training of Colored women as it is to provide for the training of other women to release men for set vice overseas.” Fifth District Draftees Who Left For Camp Funston Monday