Phoenix tribune., 1918-08-03
DRAFTED BOYS ARE SHOWN EVERY
COURTESY; ALL IN HIGH SPIRITS
Colored People Of Phoenix Turn Out
En- Masse To Bid Farewell To
Our Boys

The colored citizens OF Phoenix are
to be congratulated for the pleasing
manner in which they carried out the
program for the entertainment of the
drafted boys who left here on Thurs
day evening. This excellent program
was rendered from the band stand in
the city hall plaza Many and varied
were the numbers which appeared on
the program. All were good and they
were well received
About one-third of the colored popu.
lation of Phoenix gathered at the city
hall plaza to listen to this well ar
solos and songs by the Famous Quar-
tette were among some of the enter
tanning features. Judge Joseph H.
Kibbey and Col. Jas. H. McClintock
(white) were the speakers on this
solemn occasion. They spoke inspif-
ing words to the drafted boys and
gave them the assurance that should
they return, crowned with victory,
fuller realization of liberty would be
theirs
Not wishing to detract from the
speeches made by these gentlemen on
this momentous occasion, because they
were timely and to the point but
it is regrettabIe that there was not
some intelligent member of the Afri-
can race to deliver a word of hope
to these, our boys. While these dis
tinguished gentlemen did all in their
power to make those boys feel that
they were with them, heart and soul.
yet there is something in the heart
and soul of the colored man that can
not be thoroughly aroused by the
words of an American white man, be
he ever so friendly to the race. That
something is; Enthusiastic patriotism.
1t takes capable, intelligent Negro
orator to thoroughly arouse that lat
ent patriotism which lies in the heart
of all black Americans. Had it been
possible to have man of our race
like Kelly Miller, Emmett ]. Scott.
Roscoe Simmons or w. T. Vernon ad-
dress those colored boys on last
Thursday afternoon he could have
fired their patriotism to the point
where they would have been ready
and willing to engage in battle with
the Germans without waiting to be
trained
News came to US today, that the
war department is breaking all rec
ords Of any country in rushing troops
to France and has setn to that coun-
try, among more than SEVEN HUN
DRED THOUSAND AMERICANS
"over there, ONE HUNDRED THOU
SAND Colored men. This informa-
tion will be surprising to colored peo-
pie who had little idea that so many
of our men are now "over there" The
knowledge of this numper Of "our
own" being in the fighting zone will
also arouse to a greater degree the
patriotic spirit in the race and make
them feel, those who are safe here
at home from German bullets, that
they owe a supreme duty to these
men of the race-these more than
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND-who
are fighting for world Democracy.
We were unable TO get a complete
list of the names of the drafted boys
and for that reason will not publish
any names.
The most pathetic sights ever wit
messed in Phoenix were the parting
scenes at the depot. Mother bidding
son farewell; wife and baby kissing
husband and father goodbye; sister
bidding farewell to brother. These
scenes were heart-rending One case
we believe. deserves special mention.
1t was that of Mr.. James w. White
who is the fourth son to go from his
home. His mother says that she has
no regrets and only wished that she
had four more boys to give to the
country. Several of the boys in this
contingent leave wives with real
young babes. Their cases seem path
etic, yet the care and protection of
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