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.
"
