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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1918)
r=n the Monitor r 1 A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans ^ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor , ----—-- - $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA. NEBRASKA. AUGUST 24, 1918 . °% ' No. 8 (Whole No. 164) _ - - - - _ Lieutenant Johnson Writes From France V The Lincoln Star Publishes Interest ing Letter From Former Well Known Football Star on University Team to His Mother—Omaha Law yer Won Commission at lies Moines, GERMAN PRISONERS MERE BOYS France a Wonderful Country With Its Substantially Built Villages of Stone Houses and Picturesque Thatched Roofs, Pre-eminently a Land of Homes. IINCOLN, NEB.—Many German J prisoners captured by the Yankees are boys from fourteen to seventeen years old, Lieutenant William N. Johnson, Colored, former star Ne braska football player, writes from “somewhere in France." The Lincoln man is a member of Col. Hayward’s regiment of Colored troops. Johnson will be remembered as one of the greatest ends in Cornhusk,'r LIEUT. WILL N. JOHNSON. , football history. He was a wonderful tackier and also a brilliant all-around gridiron performer. He played on the Nebraska foot ball eleven four years, his last year being 1906. He graduated from the law college and after practicing in Lincoln for a short time moved to Omaha and continued in tire law business. Hi% mother, Mrs. Laura Johnson, of 2010 South Fourteenth street, ha received the following letter from hjm: * “I will tell you something about France. First, we have arrived. Far out at sea we could get the first glimpse of land and maybe you think that land does not look good to you when you have been cast about in the sea for a number of days look ing for submarines and other deep sea food. The ocean was calm and beautiful all the way, however, and we did not have added to other di versions the thrills of sea sickness. Trees and the dim land looked like the land of promise. We lay in the docks all night and the next day stepped out on the old soil of France, where so much of romance and tragedy was born and where now there is being fought out a great war which is destined to affect the for tunes of the people of the whole world. Moreover it will affect their consciousness and the trend of their thought for great lesBons are to hr learned by both sides as well as those who sit in the galleries watching in fear. “France is a wonderful land. Whcr we looked across those beautiful fields where wanton poppies to-.' their heads above the brown grain > and saw where the tide conies in b;. the winding shores, I did not won der the Frenchmen are willing to of fer their last full measure of devo tion to their land. The buildings art permanent. They are constructed ir conformity to a typical style ol arch: tecture in stone and sit there just at if Frenchmen expected their race Ir live on a thousand years, and theii children’s children to abide in tin same house. “In some parts of the country' then is still the thatched roof. The walls . 11 TO OI K READERS VVe are glad The Monitor pleases you. It will also please your friends and neighbor*. Show them your copy and get them to subscribe. Help us double our circulation this year by getting one of your friends or neighbors to subscribe. r i are stone, but the root is made of weeds and straw. Especially is this true of out buildings. If you remem ber seeing a scene on the stage of a French village, then you will have a typical picture of this little town I am sojourning in ‘Somewhere in Franco.’ It seems to be about one-half the size of my birthplace, with a strange tongue, strange customs, and a deal of oddities in dress. “Yesterday I saw a bridal party marching in columns of twos down the main street. Some of the ladies’ ! hats were tiny sacks of starched lace turned upside down, with two stream ers to hold it in place. When I got my check I shall send you one s<, that you can boast to toe American ladies that you have the latest crea tion from Paris, the birthplace of fashion. "Do not think for a moment, either, that wooden shoes are relics of other days. Two little French lads of about ■ 8 years come into our camp each day and do some wonderful drilling in wooden shoes. They can speak a very good English, too. They are a little better type, however, than the great bunch of quite ragged gam mins who cried out ‘Gimme Penny’ at the docks. All through the day French girls come to the camp to sell sweets, and chickens, nuts, etc. I can speak with them quite a nit now. “Yesterday we had a dinner down town in La Cafe. First they brought I out a big plate of something like ! clams, but very small. They were | cooked, of course, in the shell as live ! lobsters arc. They were very fine. A bottle of white wine is served with this. The wine is very light witlf scarcely more alcohol in it than near beer. Then they served an omelette ami that was followed by- some very delicious mutton chops, French fried potatoes and new string beans, a red wine is generally served with the en tree if you wish it. After we had eaten this they brought in fruit which seemed like a green peach and some ; fresh almonds, which were in the hull, green and not very good to eat, ar cottling .toj.my notion* Then coffee and we had finished. The dinner came to 4 francs apiece, which is about TO cents. “French people are very polite and I find that if you can speak just, a little and be very polite like they are they are very interesting and one can get along nicely with them. How would you like to see me in a Sam Browne belt, dear? I am sure you think them very foolish. 1 shall have to have my picture taken and send it to you. Do you know that 1 haven’t a photo. It is a shame that I haven’t some likeness of mv dear little mother and sister and wife it least. “The German prisoners whom 1 have seen seem to be very contented under their circumstances and are I suspect, much fatter ihan when they lived in the trenches. 1 have seen many who were from 14 to IT years old. In fact, all seem to be very young. I shall send the helmet of the first German I catch in the trenches. Perhaps you can make a market basket of it. “Write me often, addressing all mail: ‘Lieut. William N. Johnson, Co. G, 866th Infantry, Am. Ex. Forces, via New York.’ ” JACK JOHNSON’S HOME SOLD AT AUCTION Chicago, III., Aug. 23.—’The beauti ful home which Jack Johnson, cham pion heavyweight prize fighter of the world, gave to his mother, Mrs. Tiny Johnson, was sold at auction Friday, August 9, following a foreclosure. The brick dwelling and property located at 8844 Wabash avenue were pur chased for the sum of $3,7?>1 by Mrs. Mary C. Bernard. MISS CORINE THOMAS, Queen of the Carnival. Letters From Some of Our Boys From Somewhere in France Omaha relatives and friends are receiving welcome letters from our boys who have gone overseas. Such letters are of more than individual or personal interest and it will therefore give The Monitor pleasure to publish such of them as may be fur 'nished us for this purpose. Of course, whatever they may con tain, which is of a purely private or personal nature, will not be given publicity, but only such portions of them as may be of general interest. Here is an exceedingly interesting letter from Lieut. Will N. Johnson, the well known Omaha attorney and former football star, written to the editor of The Monitor: France, July 27, 1918. j Co. G Jfifith Inf. Ainer. Rx. Forces. A. P. 0. 766. Father John Albeit Williams, Omaha, Neb., U. S. A. My Dear Father Williams: I am sure you would have enjoyed this trip and it would have been a splendid thing if by any chance you ; could come over awhile to observe. You would I am sure secure a wealth material about which to entertain your leaders and many friends for many years 1o come. God is the “big | idea” with the American army in | France and the churches with “watch ! fires ' ever bright through the long j night are of course the sentinels who put ifim here. AH of the Omaha men are right j here evopt Cap!am Peebles, Tuny | send givt ta gs. While the American armies are i making the world safe for democ ! racy we of this division are seeing J that it is equally safe for freedom i and equality to all mankind. That j is whal we are fighting for. Every ; soldier n this unit has that in his I consciousness and it is very probable | that much missionary work in this re ! sped will be done when we come II lurching ho*ne victorious. i I love ibese French people. They j are u s mole hearted good nation, j There doesn't seem to he even a trace I of bitterness in <heir hearts for the ••rent worng that has been done them. Plea e send me The Monitor to the I aoove address. When 1 get to an ] American postoffice I shall remit. | My wife, whom I hear from every | week, will be in Des Moines until Sep i tember 1. About the grandest and i most glorious feeling a soldier feels J is to,get some word from home. I regret exceedingly that officers I are not permitted to write for publi i ation, else I should send you some I ----- interesting stories. My kindest re gard to Mrs. Williams, George Par ker and all friends. 1 am very truly yours. WILL N. JOHNSON, I,t. Inf. N. A. I •TOMMY MASON” HANDLES MAIL | The following two interesting let ters have been receiver! by Miss Made line Roberts, one from Lieut. Pinkett, the other from Sergt. Major Thomas Mason of Nebawka. American Expeditionary Forces, July 110, 1918. Dear Madeline: Having a few spare moments and thinking of the friends I left be hind, I thought f would write you to let you know I’m still kicking, but not high. I would give anything to see, you and have a chat with you. Also your mother, and how is she anyway ? I trust that you both arc in good health. When ever you join the Red Cross let me know and when you eonie over I’ll look you up. At present I’m feeling fine, plenty to eat, good place to sleep, and all i xinds of goods. A good job. but 1 can’t quit when I get ready, that’s I the only trouble. At present I’m su I perintenrlent of the divisioif postoffice. i and it keeps me pretty busy, as we [ have so much mail to tfamlle and nisi I to redirect. Hut of course I’m at I home wjth the mail—was horn with la mail sack in my hand, ha, ha! i ‘presume you have been reading o, the great drive the allies are making, lt sure sounds good to me bee:." the sooner we make Fritz holler the sooner we can come back home. What are you doing these nays to amuse yourself, taking in any dance and parties? Well, have a good tim Continued on eighth page. Third Contingent of Omaha Draftees Men Dined at the Chamber of Com merce and Accompanied to Train by Hundreds of Relatives and Friends. Cheering Crowds Along Line of March. Men in Fine Spirits. DTHER cities may send off then selectmen with more enthusiasm 1 man Omaha, but we doubt it. Thurs day the third contingent of Colored | selectmen entrained for Camp Pike. ' The number who went was 103. At 11:30 they were guests of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce where 1 an excellent dinner was served them and two brief speeches given. Then led by Desdunes’ band they marched to the court house, where the special program consisting of music by the band and the old soldiers’ quartette, and speeches by the Rev. John Albert Williams and Mayor Ed. P. Smith ' was given and farewells said. Prompt ly at 1:16 the march to the station 1 began in the following order: Platoon of Police. I Band. Chamber of Commerce Committee. Colored Red Cross. White Red Cross. Selectmen. Citizens. The arrangements were carried out ! without a hitch. The men entrained on the Missouri Pacific train for Kan sas City which pulled out of the sta tion promptly at two o’clock amid the cheers of the populace for Camp Pike, Kittle Rock, Arkansas. The men were given their comfort kits and other gifts as they entrained. “To Win Democracy for the World." The Rev. John Albert Williams and Mayor Smith, who each spoke briefly hut with great effectiveness, were ; frequently interrupted by applause. Father Williams said in part: » “We are assembled here today for a ■ high and holy purpose. We come to b'd a sincere Godspeed to an hun dred of our brave boys who start to day for Berlin. Those who have kept in touch with news from the western front are convinced that the Yanks have started for that imperial city on the Cannon Ball Limited and every khaki-clad American has a through ticket. And so we are here today to | give through tickets to Berlin to this, the third contingent of Colored Amer ican draftees from Nebraska, who fare forth with the benediction of high heaven on their banner to win Democracy fot the world. And that includes our own beloved United States, which has not yet attained true Democracy. But the democracy for which she stands ideally is coming just as surely as God’s in His heaven. And it’s coming fast. We’ve started, and in this great world-conflict we are headed in the right direction. We mean, of course, true democracy, for there is a false democracy and a true democracy. False democracy shouts, Every man down to the level of the average. True democracy cries: “All men up to the height of their fullest capacity for achievement and service.” These two ideas are at war. We are fighting for the achievement of true democracy as here defined through-' out the world. I need not review the history of the Colored American soldier. It is an honorable record. You must and will, maintain it. Remember always that you are an American soldier. And moreover you are an American soldier of color, a fast color that won’t run. These three things I would impress upon you: Be true to God; be true to the teaching of your mother, for any man that does not forget his mother, will never dishonor any woman; and be true to your country. So we speed you forth with a gmile upon our face and a song upon our lips." “Anything But Those Colored Troops" Mayor Smith said in part: “The former speaker has ctowded so much into his speech that 1 can only add a little thereto. Not only as he has well said, are we giving you a ticket to Berlin, but we are giving you a return ticket, for we are determined that no Hun shall keep any of you because we want you all to come hack to Omaha. Do you know how many thousand l WAR WORK OF COLORED WOMEN Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nelson Named as Field Representative for Women's Committee of the National Council of Defense. Washington, D. C., Aug. 24.—Mis. Alice Dunbar N'elson has recently been appointed field representative of the ^women’s committee, council of national defense. This week she is leaving Wash ington for the states to make a pre liminary survey of the war work which is being done among the Col ored women by the various state di visions of the women’s committee and to assist them in perfecting any or ganization that may have in hand. In a number of states these auxiliaries are already in existence. Mrs. Nelson comes to this work from Wilmington, Dela., where she is the head of the English department of the Howard high school, which has given her leave of absence for a year in order to do war work among the Colored women of the country. She is well known as a club woman, hav ing served for several years as secre tary of the National Federation of Colored Women’s clubs, and is inti mately in touch with the women of the country who are interested in or actively identified with philanthropic movements or public service organiza tions. Mrs. Nelson is the widow of the late Paul Laurence Dunbar, the poet, whose productions are familiar to ev ery household in the land; who first sprang into fame through his verses under the caption of “Lyrics of Lowly Life.” Mrs. Nelson is an author of note, having written a volume of very creditable poems and some short stories of Louisiana life, anil com piled a collection of best orations by Negro leaders. She is also a news paper and magazine writer of recog nized ability and far-reaching influ ence. WOMEN ARE DOING THEIR BIT Philadelphia, Pa.—Colored women comprising an auxiliary of the over seas committee of the emergency aid have opened a rest and reading room in a central location of Philadelphia. These women are endeavoring to sup ply every enlisted man with a com fort kit when he leaves and afterward care for the needs of the family. PRESIDENT WILSON OPPOSES VARDA.MAN Jackson, Miss.—President Wilson, in a letter to Myron McNeil, an at torney of Hazel Hurst, Miss., lias gone on record to the voters of the state against the re-election of Senator Janies K. Vardanian to the United States senate. of our Nebraska boys have gone forth to fight for the salvation of the world ? Forty thousand. And we are proud of them ail and of none are we more proud than of you. Th if war is going to bring us all closer to gether. The kaiser has no such sol diers in his army as you; for he has no Colored soldiers. He is going to say, when forced to his knees, “I could withstand anything but those Col ored soldiers from the United States.” Guard your health. A great welcome from a grateful people awaits you on your return.” Here is an incomplete list of tin men leaving: Harry Mitchell, William L. Davis, Harry Murray, Spencer Jackson, Hen ry A. Caver, Manley B. Dickerson, Hoy James Monroe, Frank 1). Payne, Wilber Hightower, Walter Puckett, Ira Austin, Rollie Dickins, Rufus Courtney Long, William Whiteiy, Paul B. Fleming, Harry W. Reed. Ri mer Brooks, Robert L. Dawson, Geo. Washington, Bert Colter, Chas. Jack Robinson, Geo. G. Johnson, Jeptha Moore, Edward Craig, William Cuth rum, Leon Simmons, Thomas Laird, Gurius L. Ijeath, Son Thornton, Earl Level!, Alvin Harvie Moore, Moknski Spraings, Gilbert H. Cheatham. Ed ward Whiteiy, Louis Banks, Calvin Marks, Henry Brown, Charles Pate, James H. Smith, Gordon Parks, Jesse Fowler, William Alexander, Eugene Dubard, Ernest L. Conaway, Harry L. Morrison, John H. Jackson. Frank Blackwell, Cecil B. Wilks, George K. Cannon, Edw. Downs, Herbert R. Ellis, Walter Barrow, Guy Hawkins, Ernest J. Ervin, McKinley McNair, Charles N. McGee, Abe Danner, Pr’ce Wil liams, Robert Sears, D. W. Arrington, Elgie Talbert. Robert Lee, Leon Rob erts, Joshua Gee. O. Cona, Emil Ma son, Clifford Bonker. a* j Colored Ameri can In War Work A Review of What the Negro People Are Doing to Aid in Winning the World-Wide War for Liberty and Democracy. SOME IMPORTANT INFORM ATION Issued From the Office of Emmet J. ScoU, Special Assistant to the Sec retary of War. XJ7ASHINGT0N, D. C.—Company tt A, 301st Stevedore regiment, “Somewhere in France,” has been cited by Rear Admiral Wilson and General McClure for exceptionally ef ficient work. These Colored men un loaded and coaled the immense steam ship "Leviathan,” formerly the “Va terland,” in fifty-six hours, making a new world’s record, in competition with other stevedore detachments on the western front in France, many of which are white. A film, showing this splendid regiment at work and at play, is to he exhibited throughout the country in the leading Colored and white theaters. Four-Minute Men In Los Angeles, CaU, nine Colored “four-minute men” are at work talk ing up the purchase of liberty bonds, war savings stamps and war organi zation activities among the Colored people with excellent results. Army Needs Chaplains The army is still in need of chap lains. The ultimate plan is to have one for every 1,200 officers and men. It wants a special kind of chaplain— a sturdy, upstanding, brotherly man between the ages of 21 and 45—who cares a good deal morh about the w-elfarc of soldiers than about dis tinctions in creeds. At Camp Zach ary Taylor, near Louisville, Ky., the army is conducting a school for chap lains. The course covers five weeks ! and new classes are formed at about an interval of a week after the cur , rent class is graduated. Applicant | must pass the physical tests prescribed ! by the local draft board. While at school the student-chaplain receives free subsistence, lodging and uniform and the pay of a first class private. $33 per month, with mileage home at the rate of 3'i cents per mile upon the completion of his course. If ap pointed he takes the rank and pay of a first lieutenant of the national army, $2,000 a year and $2,200 abroad. The ! next class begins August 23. Appli ] cants should apply directly to the ad ! jutant general of the army, who will j furnish ail necessary information. There are now about thirty-one Col ! ored chaplains in the several branches I of the army. Club for Soldiers Arrangements have been made for the use of the splendid parish house of the Church erf Our Merciful Sav ious at Louisville, Ky., as a club for the Colored soldiers, several thousand i of whom are stationed at Camp Zach j ary Taylor nearby. The house has | two large reception rooms, a good 1 sized assembly hall, large kitchen, reading anil writing rooms, bowling alley, pool room, rathskellar, etc., in basement and toilet and bathing facili j ties. There are six dormitory rooms, j suitable for 24 cots. In addition to j this place, there is a prospect for a | building to be equipped as a dormi I tory that will accommodate two to I three hundred cots for the Color ed | soldiers in this vicinity, with small ; expense, if any, to the men. A group j of representative business men have 'agreed to furnish and equip the build 1 ing with light and heat. CONSECRATION OF BISHOP OEM BY POSTPONE!' St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 23.—The con ! secration of the Rev. E. Thomas Denr jby as bishop suffragan of Arkansas, which was set for August 24, has been postponed until September 20. "