The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-07-09
IN MISSISSIPPI
(By G. L. Hultgren of The
Vigilantes.)

About year ago in New York City
II tried to get definite statement con-
corning his outlook and synpathies
in the war from the man who presided
over the BARRIERS chair in which l
was seated. But the only response,
and given in a voice that discouraged
further inquiry was. II guess we feel
about the same as everybody else"
Of course the war was young then,
and the speaker might have felt some
hesitancy on account of other custom
Iers. but there is no such hesitancy
about the war in Missis ;ippl
Even if this state Goes happen to
Ikave Vardaman in the United States
Senate, the State is sound and loyal
to the core. This is all the more re-
markable since the race question has
lied many to feel that there would be
lllllc Ill UCJWCCu ttC
and blacks, for the past history has
not been such as to show forth the
patriotism that is common charac-t
eristic of the two races. Heretofore
lit was not known that the negro was
imbued with patriotism of the most
sterling quality. 1t was not known
that he would fight for his country or
even felt that he had country to
| fight for. The war has changed the
situation and whites and blacks are
consciously working for common
purpose, are animated by the same
spirit for the first time in the history
Of the two races.
That the black citizen of Mississip-
lpi is willing and anxious to serve
was stated the other day in the fol-
lowing words:
"Just let us know what Uncle Sam
wants raised, and we'll raise. it. What
ever he wants done we'll do it. Our
brothers and husbands and sons are
AT the front and whatever is needed
TO give them the. helping hand and
make the war success, and whip the
Kaiser, that we'll do"
Mississippi is doing her best Her
towns and farms are regularly send
ing their apportionment Of brave
| fighters and she is taking good care
that they shall feel the assurance of
the backing of the folks at home. Her
liberty bond quota has been oversub-
scribed. Her Red Cross drive has re-
suited in raising full million, con-
siderably over her proportion. A
cause of considerable satisfaction to
the citizens is that the Mississippi Red
Cross is on the honor roll. After the
boxes are packed by the State organi-
cation they go direct to the boys in
France. No inspection at district
headquarters, New Orleans, is needed.
The most socializing influence, and
the most valuable from the national
istic standpoint is that the people who
struggled against each other in the
Civil War are now fighting shoulder
to shoulder in defense of the freedom
which both sides treasure so highly.
The Southerner understands and SYM
pathizes as never before with the
Yankee of the North. He is leaving
the traditions of the past and uubend-
ing to such an extent that the mos.
esteemed of the Southern white men
are instructing the colored men in
the best ways of making their patri-
otism count. Colored audiences in
churches, schools, and mass meetings
have had explained to them the war
and its causes, the Liberty Loans, the
Savings Stamp organizations and the
Red Cross. The Southerner is un-
bending, and becoming the teacher of
the colored man, who has had prac-
tically no experience in political and