The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-27
FARENriL ron sOLDIEKs.

/ At.thc First Baptist Church tnegroi.
wheer about 500 ot the negro citizens
OF Ardmorc ana vicinity gasherod last
night fer the purpose Of speaking
words Of cheer TO the 20 drafted boys
from Carter county and boost the sale
Of I.ibtrty bonds. the rendition Of
unique program. intcrspcrsed with ns-
tional airs famed every spark Of pa
triotism into a glowing flame which
served as "a means 20 dispel dosIund-
cncy.
Promptly at O'Clock the boys march
ed in single file into the church that
had been decorated with flags and ma
tional colors.
Il. NJ. Watson. master Of ceremonies,
stated the object of the meeting and
assisted by the choir led in singing
America" after which Rev a. X Mil.
lcr pastor of the a. NJ. Il. church.
prayed for success of the nation and
final victory In the world war. The
Flag of the Free" was sung by the
church choir and the master of ceremo-
nies in well chosen words introduced
Dr. W T.. Rainwater. the principal
speaker of the evening. who said IN
part:
you young men should wear 4 smile
tonight Your ancestors have bravcly
and heroically played their part in every
great war that this country has fought.
He was the first to bare his breast to
the British bullets in the streets of
Boston in 1776. At San Juan Hill, in
the Spanish-American war. when told
to retreat BY his white brother, under
a death-dealing fire of the Spanish, he
said ITO hell with retreat, we are go
ing to the front" Our flag has been
fred upon. ships bearing our products
have been sunk in the high seas, our
innocent women and children have been
murdered. and the kaiser. with his Prus-
sian militarism, now seeks TO enslave
the world Your country calls you TO
help free our homes and our country
from the tyranny Of Germany. You
will be less than men. yes. the race TO
which you and | belong-even your own
wives, sisters and mothers-will feel
ashamed OF you, if you fail to make
good and brine back to us the rich
legacy untaInished. of loyalty and
bravery which has been beoueathed to
you by your ancestors. You represent
not only the best homes of your COM
munity. but the race. and the nation.
we want you to make good: we be-
lieye that you will make good. Our
prayers go before you and we stand
behind you with our money, every drop
of blood and every foot of land over
which that flag floats. We cheer you as
you go, not as negro soldiers, nor as
white soldiers, but as full-hedged Amer
lean soldiers"
The Battle Hymn OF the Republic was
sung and Judge Saddler Of Guthrie, was
introduced who said:
Boys I want YOU to forget the past
as you go forth to fight for your coun-
try: forget the Jim Crow laws; forget
any form of acknowledgements in this
country. and fight for liberty and abso
lutte freedom to all races of the world
Have in you the heart and mind of
a diving Christ. who said: Father, for
give them. for they know not what they
do" and of that great general, Tousant
L'Overture. who. in his dying words to
his son. said: Forget that France mur-
dered your father all of which will
help you to forget the past. Fight that
the race may win a place in the peace
conference so that in the nnal ADJUST
ment OF affairs all hatred. prejudice, and
malice will be wiped out, and there will
be established one great democracy
wherein all men will receive full JUS
tice and complete liberty.
s. NJ. Dilard was next introduced
who said that seeing in the audience
so many Of his good white friends he
preferred to hear from them. He called
upon Judge Gait. former County Attor
ney Mathers, County Attorney Hardy
Prof. Chas. Evans. Senator Tucker
County Superintendent Coffman. and
Chairman Of the Board of Defense Gil
liam. each of whom responded AS hav-
ing been well pleased with the patriotic
demonstration. and with renewed as
surances of the loyalty Of the negro to
his flag. and giving additional words OF
cheer. The star Spangied Banner"
was sung and the drafted young men
were escorted TO basement Of the
church where dinner. which had been
prepared by j. G.. Adams. Chas. Young.
S. NJ. D1iard. Dr. w. +. Rainwater and
Dr. g. W. Hill. was served