The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-02
DYKEMAN STIRRED UP INDIGNATION OF WILMINGTON ALSO Not a Citizen of North Caro- line City, According to
 Rotary Club CALL HIS CONDUCT
 HERE DISGRACEFUL Letter Tells of the Real Spirit of Wilmington and What Its People
 Are Doing in War Work

Wilmington, N. C., does not claim 0. J. Dykeman as citizen of that city and tine recent action of Dykeman in speak ing Gisrespectfully to Red Cross ladies
 here was received in Wilmington with
 the same indignation which was displayed in Birmingham
 This information is contained in let ter from the secretary of the Wilmington
 Rotary club, Louis T. Moore. who adds that Dykeman's conduct was "reprehen- sible and disgracefui' His letter is as follows:
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald: As Wilmington, N. G. unfortunately, has received considerable unfavorable publicity from the O. J. Dykeman incl dent in your city on May 24, natural spirit of loyalty for our home city prompts our organization to request space in your esteemed paper for few facts. While Dykeman represented the Ce- ment Products company. of Wilmington, he is not and never has been, citizen.
 The company by which he was em- ployed issued a statement to the local press, following the incident, that they had notified Dykeman several weeks be- fore, that his services would not be need ed after June 1. His home. the local papers stated, is somewhere in Virginia. and his trips to the home office here have been most infrequent.
 Dykeman's conduct, as reported by your paper, was reprehensible and disgrace ful, and was received here with the same indignation which was displayed in your city.
 It there is any one thing for which Wilmington. N. C., brides itself. 1t is its
 unswerving loyalty and patriotism. Certainly we do not claim as a resident
 man who would be guilty of acts as
 detailed by your paper in the incident which recently happened.
 VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE Wilmington, with a population of 30, 00o has sent nearly 800 volunteers Into the service of our country. Within z days after war was declared seven com panies. representing different branches of 1 the service, had been organized, and were l in active training, several of these or | I In the three Liberty Loan campaigns Wilmington has subscribed far be- Iyond the allotment in each instance lin the Red Cross campaign which ended Hast week the allotment of s30,000 was Increased by voluntary subscriptions | to $5S, 900; the same excess subscription I featured the first Red Cross campaign
 the amounts asked from this city have l been oversubscribed in the Y M IA. Y. W. c. A., Boy Scouts, Smileage
 Book and other campaigns; hundreds of Wilmington's most prominent wom'
 en are working morning, noon ane
 night in the noble work of the Rec Cross. Out of slightly less than 5oos
 available lots in the city limits oul I club. cooperating with the proper au' ithorities, has about 4oo0 war gardens Iproducing vegetables, etc, Ito help vii the war;
 WORK AMONG BOYS
 l Fort Caswell, at the mouth of thu ICape Fear river, below Wilmington until two weeks ago. had about 2oo' of "our boys and your boys stationed there To give these boys a touch Q tthe home life" which they have left i the Y. M. c. A.. aided by the splendit Iwomen of Wilmington, every Saturda, Iafternoon entertained the soldier boy at an informal reception in the Y. iC. A. building. Musical programme were rendered, refreshments served and desks provided Here the boys, un Ider the spirit of informality and goo' cheer, could come in and talk With tn ladies, lounge around, write letter sshome" in fact do whatever the. pleased. Then, on Sundays the home ;of all residents were opened, where tn lsoldiers were entertained at Tamil ldinner." Sleeping accommodations wer furnished for the men coming to tn city to spend the week -end. In fac' Ieverything possible in the power Ian interested citizenship is done | show the soldiers that we are behin' them and that our homes are thei homes, whenever they are in Whining ton Boys from every section Of tn lcountry have said that nowhere els lhave they encountered such cordia lspirit as has been manifested towar lthem on every hand by the peopl lhere. The leaves" of the men to com to the city have been temporarily sus pended As soon as the order is c5ange the same programme as above outline will be resumed. Every loyal citize
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