Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-26

| 'eiJ Pouuy VI tHo $4,VVV,OVV
raised in the Y. M. C. A. and Y. w.
q. A. campaign at Philadelphia had
been twins there wouldn't have been
enough even then to satisfy all the
needs Of the two organizations.
The colored people themselves have
been almost feverishly interested In
the progress Of the money campaign
They worked like Trojans, bringing
In each day $4,000 or $4,000, which
they had collected in small sums.
Mrs. Ransome. the president Of the
women's branch, is the wife of a col
ored Baptist minister and wonderful
| speaker herself. When the campaign
first started several conferences were
held at the homes of prominent
women, and Mrs. Ransome was one
OF those who told OF the needs OF the
different phrases of the work.
One afternoon one of the officers
OF the association, while listening to
Mrs. Ransome, noticed that the draw
ing room door was cautiously opened
a crack and remained ajar till the end
OF the conference. After 1t was over
the surprise Of the women in charge
was great when the old colored but
Ter came up and deferentially asked
for pledge blank. 1t was given to
him. When he handed it back they
almost doubted their eyes when they
read the amount on it. The old but
Ter had subscribed $1,000. They ap-
pealed to the mistress of the house.
Did she, suppose he had so much
money as that? Ought they to take
1t, even If he had it to give?
Yes said the employer, he prob
ably has it. He has been in our fam
lily 30 years, and he has saved his
money. If he wants to give that
amount for the benefit of his own peo-
pie let him do it. 1t is great thing
for them and for him."
During the four years that John A.
Patten, a colored man, served as a
page in congress, he was naturally
brought in close touch with many dis
tinguished men whose names today
are household words. The impress
sions made upon his mind are vivid,
and in describing these men with
whom he came in contact, Patten
speaks directly and to the point.
When asked whom he regarded as
the greatest among those towering
figures, he replied that when it came
to commanding the attention of both
parties in the house and the interest
of the galleries, there was no one who
could compare with the wizened Lit
tie Giant" Stephens. He spoke sci,
dom, but when he did there was q
hush Of expectancy and rapt atten-
ton.
Patten chuckled as he recalled a
story concerning Stephens. Without
coming into the open, a certain mem
Der of the house had defeated one of
the pet measures in which Stephens
was interested. In order to avert sus-
picion, the man Of the Underground
methods fastened to Stephens hotel
rooms, condoled with him at great
length, and inveighed against the
treachery Of the man who had baked
his pet measure. To all of this Ste
phens listened in silence until the de-
nunciation of somebody" was ended.
Then, in his well-known falsetto, he
turned to his astonished visitor and
exclaimed:
Yes, and as Nathan said to David.
Thou art the mani"
One Of the strange sights In the re-
cent blizzard at Cleveland was fur
nished by four patient camels, at
tached to a theatrical company on a
tour, who plodded resignedly through
the binding snow.
Senator Clapp of Minnesota made an
address recently at the Cosmopolitan
Baptist church, Washington, D. c., re-
Gently on Government Relationship
to the Negro" The purpose of the
meeting was to inaugurate campaign
which has as its purpose the raising
Of $4,000 to pay of the church debt.
THE obligation of the government
for the religious and intellectual edu-
cation of the negro" said Senator
Clapp, lis of the same degree as that
for the whites" He also discussed
the progress Of the colored race dur
ing the last few years. AT no time
since the emancipation have the me-
groes been without the assistance Of
the whites, but the time soon will be
here when the race will be able to
stand alone and accept It's burden in.
dependently," said he.
The meeting which was the first Of
a series, was presided over by F. N.
Lee. Addresses also we're made by
Rev. I. N. Ross, Of the Metropolitan A.
M e. church, and Capt. H. d. Richard
son, Of the National Guard.
The Chinese have many uses for
empty tin cans, fashioning them into
various household utensils.
M. Clemenceau, the French states
man, owns q mastitf which has &C.
quired the habit Of riding home in
cab. He enters one and refuses to
leave. Finally, the cabman sees the
address on his collar, takes him home
and gets his fare.
The French parliament has rejected
the bill granting the franchise to
women. !