The Monitor <c=sti
___ —..' • s .......7^.
A National vVeekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans *%
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor
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$2 00 a Year. 5c a Copy " OMAHA. NEBRASKA, AUGUST 10. 1918 Vol. IV. No. 6 (> 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
