davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
PATRIOTIC INVESTMENTS.

Law and order underlie all invest
ments. If life and person are inse-
cure everything else is in danger.
That Is the reason why the French
poet wrote the lines.
'There is only one future-that of our
country!
There is only one fOresight-our
country!
There is only one economy-our
country!'
No matter how many farm mort
cages you may have; no matter how
many skyscrapers you may own; no
matter how many flat buildings you
may have for rent, or how many fac
tories you may be operating-every In
vestment you have rests on the SOW
ereignty of the United States Of Amer
lea. The slightest danger that con-
fronts the United States acts as q de-
probation Of every piece of property
you own. Your farm is valuable to
you because the United States of
America has enacted laws which in
sure your right to the fee and title
of your land. Anything that weak
ems the authority Of the United States
weakens your hold on your farm. Any
thing that chenpens the United States
Of America in the eyes of nations
cheapens all the investments you
have. Anything that tends to bring
the nation into subsection to foreign
powers, tends to bring your invest
ments to position of danger.
Every shrewd investor-every wise
property owner-every sane working
man--knows that the safety of all
persons and of all property in the
United States rests on the safety Of
the United States as sovereign pow.
er. If the United States is lost, ev-
cry dollar of our invested capital is
deprecated or entirely wiped out. VI
We are engaged at the present time
in a desperate war. The issue is our
right to remain 'free and independ-
ent." If the military tyrant of Eu-
rope beats us we must be his vassals
and his slaves. To whip him and re-
tain our liberty and to insure our in
dependence, we must win a complete
victory over Germany. If we fail our
mortgages and flats are worthless.
The moral is: Invest In Liberty
Bonds and Win the War!
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
Pussy Cat Indicted.

American foresters present a very
strong argument against our friend,
the pussy cat, as being by far the most
destructive of animals, wild or tame,
of the birds, and every forester con-
siders the birds us the greatest friends
of the trees. Without the destruction
wrought by the birds on the insect
enemies of the trees there would be
after a generation no tree left for the
Insects would. multiply fearf',lly and
demolish every growing tree and plant
Grit.
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05

, men, then and not until then will oul
government attain these ideals.
The supreme law Of our land, the
Constitution of the United States, be
gins with these words:
1--WE, the people Of the United States
in order to form a more perfect union
establish Justice, insure domestic tran.
guilty, provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States
Of America
Thus democracy was established
government where laws are made by
the people themselves.
The citizens Of this, country have
tried and are still trying to perfect
their laws SO as to give to each citizen
full life, liberty and freedom.
Go to your history and read how man
in the dim ages Of the past created the
first democracy government in
which the people made their own laws.
You will read Of the trials and tribula-
tions which races of people as well as
nations have suffered as they tried first
this and then that form Of government.
All the time they were trying to make
a better democracy. Some succeeded;
some failed. Many times it looked as
though their efforts were useless and
they would. never gain that freedom
they now possess. AS you read, you
will be surprised that man was not dis
couraged in his efforts to have gov
eminent III which all men should be
free and have justice The spirit Of
freedom which is in the souls Of men
cannot be killed, for it goes marching
on and on more determined than ever
in spite of all opposition, discourage
ment and failure. This idea of freedom,
which was Godg given to man, was not
appreciated until His Son came to set
up His Kingdom in the hearts Of men.
Man has been trying ever since to have
the kingdom come on earth, as it is in
his soul. ~
From one country to another, from
the east to the west, the idea of free
dom marched until it reached the shores
of America; and today, after thousands
of years of suffering and sacrifice, men
has set up in these United States
government Of the people, by the peo-
pie, and for the people.
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
NEGROES ARE MAKING GOOD,

1t is conceded that there has been ia,
less disposition to escape military serv.
ice on the part of the Negroes of the
country than among the whites.
And this despite the fact that the
Negroes have less reason to fight for
our government than tho whites.
Already thousands Of colored troops
are in France and on the fighting line
They are making good over there. al
ready two colored troopers have been
decorated with the French medal of
honor on account of distinguished BRAY.
cry. Two colored troopers, both
wounded, stood off German raiding
force and enabled their own comrades
mans against two wounded colered
troopers, but the odds didn t daunt the
black men.
1t is a Negro riveter who has been
awarded the special prize offered for
the workman who would make the best
record driving rivets in building the
new ships. Among all the thousands Of
workmen this eolored laborer took the
prize for the greatest efficiency
In the face Of the record they arc
making are the doors of opportunity t.
remain closed to the colored men of this
countrys If SO, then we lack a sense o.
justice and sense of gratitude.
What are white men afraid of tina
they should refuse to give black men
fair deal?
Is it possible that they believe tina
it the black man was afforded fai
chance he would outstrip his white fe
5ow workers. If not why deprive tn
eolored youth of the opportunities I
earn trades and become skilled worE
men? Why deprive citizens of TIL
county Yof their constitutional right
simply kscause of colora
The gAeatcst sacrifice any man cai.
make for Mis- country is his life, and the
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
NEGROES PROVE THEIR FIGHT
ING QUALITIES, REFUSING
HUN RAID.
By Frank j. Taylor, United Press staff

by FRANK y. Iayl0r, U nlted Press Stan
Correspondent.
With the American Army in France,
July American Negro troops proved
their value as fighters in the line east
of Verdun on June ~, it is now permits
sible to state. The Germans attempt ed
a raid in that sector, but were com
pletely repulsed by the Negroes.
The Boches began terrific bonn
bardment at one minute after midnight,
throwing over between 5000 and 1000
shells from guns ranging in size from
67 to $40 millimeters. The lombard
ment was concentrated on small areas
Many Of the shells made holes from 1C
to Is feet across.
Enemy Losses Heavy.
In the midst Of this inferno the Ne.
groes coolly stuck to their posts oper.
ating machine guns and automatic ri.
fes, and keeping up such steady bar
rage that the. German infantry failed to
penetrate the American lines. IL
The Americans miraculously sus-
tanned only one wounded.
Dixie luck was a-workin' with us, .
explained one. "We all got knocked
down lots Of times, but every man got
right up - IN
During the attack a crew of ma
chine gun was bowled over by big
she'll, which made 15-foot hole near
them. They all got up, remounted the
gun and continued shooting until it
jammcd Then, despite the terrible
bombardment, they fixed it and again
turned it on the Germans This Incl
dent was repeated twice.
Lauded by Officers.
Both French and American officers
reported that the Negroes performed
like veterans. They obeyed orders
promptly, took risky duties voluntarily
and compared well with the best troops
on the west front.
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05

greatest service he can offer to make is
to risk his life. The government has
demanded that the colored men make
this sacrifice and it is being made will
ingly. Can the government then re-
fuse to protect these men in their con-
stitutional rightss If so the govern
ment is not a just governmental i-
torial from the Farmer 8 Mail and Meal,
Topeka, Kans.
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
Worrying Always weakens.

Worrying Ia always weakness, 1t IL
always danger. In sense. though
often excusable and sometimes I'M
avoidable, 1t is cowardice; and COW
ards, as Shakespeare tells us, Idle
many times before their death" We.
may regard worry as the price paid by
humanity for advance in education
and In refinement Of feeling; but. it is
~ higher rsice than need be paid.
Exchange. sssas
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05

Send money by postohice order,
naoney order, express or draft, TO The
Bystander Company.
Advertising rates for display ads
Is cents per inch, for each insertion.
Three 70 six months contracts, 10
cents Ter inch. Local advertising
10 cents per line for each insertion.
counting seven words to line. For
churchS and ssmer societies where
admissin 10 1haxged, one-hah Of
tsse abov. -mentioned rates. For pro-
fessional, legal and announcement
cards, yearly contracts, etc., terms
are geven on application. All adj
ysrtising il to DO paid in advance,
We are prepared to do first class
job work 1t reasonable prices. An
Of our work ID guaranteed.
OfFscisl .>-r>- Of the M. w. U. Grand
v<,sv- At lows, A. F. & A. NJ, and
aaternational Grand Congress Of
Heroines Of Jericho Of America.
and Western Baptist -Assoeiation.
We will not return rejected manu-
script, unless accompanied by post
age stamps.
Communications must be written
on one side Of the paper only and
81 Of interest to the public. "Brev-
ity il the soul of w.t." remember.
Tho Iowa State Bystander is the
Oldest Afro-American journal pub
lished il Iowa. It was established
in 1894, and is read by nearly all
the colored people Of Iowa. We
have correspondents in the following
towns:
The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
Last Resort.

last Resort.
Over Twenty-One-"Do you think
women should propose" Young Thing
~ don't know. Have you tried ev.
erything lse?"-Puck.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

The war department has notified the family of Private John oldham, former- ly resident of Sheffield and well known here, that he was killed in &C., tion-in France on October 14. The young man was we'll known here and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

even if there be necessity for so do- ing, without having first consulted with responsible bankers.
 WHAT AGRICULTURE WILL DO
 None of those who are well informed doubts that production, perhaps unsur- passed certainly equal to any former production of food supplies, will charac- terize the year 1919 Every comnetent banker and thinker knows and has fre- quently asserted of late that our actual dollars are not wealth, although +hev are one of the means of producing wealth but that production. on the hand. repre- sents real wealth. If this view be cor rect then the farmers of the west are to produce so greatly, weather conditions belng favorable, as to add probably sl5.- coo, ,O00,0o0, perhaps S20,000, COO 900. of new and actual wealth to the country in the year l9l9. Bankers in New York have heard recently that labor readiustment has already begun in the great farming district and yet the demand for labor will continue because of the certainty that plans involving industry of all kinds which have been held back, and constr1c- tion which has been deferred. and activi- ties that have been suspended because labor has not been sufficient to carry them on, will as soon as actual peace Is declared open vast opportunities for the employment of labor, including that which would be furnished by returning soldiers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
SHEFFIELD

| Sheffield, December 15.-speeia11 In Sheffield Tuscumbia and Colbert county extensive preparations have been made and organization is com plete for the Red Cross Christmas roll call. which will be conducted during the week beginning December Is offi- cers selected to conduct the campaien in the county are: John D. Rather of ITuscumbia, campaign manager; John H. Peach of Sheffield, publicity agent, and IF. E. Sanford county treasurer. Committees have been named bv the Sheffield and Tuscumbia chapters, and it is planned to systematically carry on the campaign so that every citizen of Colbert county will become a member of the Red Cross. Members of the local chapters are confident that Colbert county will be 100 per cent for the Red Cross when the drive ends.
 The drive in Sheffield will be under the direction of Mrs. Charlie Miller campaign manager; Mrs. Ed Dunkerly, publicity agent; Mrs. S. B. McTyre. treasurer, and Mrs. Sid B. Jones, chair man four- -minut; speakers. In Tuscum- bia Mrs. Fletcher Bickley will serve as campaign manager, Mrs Joe Hur- ston, secretary; Mrs. E. J. Henninger, treasurer; Revs. s. T. Slaton and w. F. Trump, public meeting committee.
 A mass meeting for the entire com will be held at one of the Tus- cumbia churches Tuesday night, at which time Mrs. w. M. Wilson, prom inent Red Cross worker, will be the principal speaker.
 
 Many young men of the Tri-Cities of | Sheffield, Florence and Tuscumbia, who l have been in the army or engaged in | war work in various sections of the | country, are returning home and are | entering their former employments or -eSufning business. Some of the bet Ter known young men who have re- turned during the past few days in- dude John b. Delony, Jr., Allison Dris- iale and Capt Felix Throckmorton of Tuscumbia; Sergt. D. W. Karr and Ralph Whittker of Florence; Sergt l. 'croggins and H. Fontaine Little of Sheffield. Fred Ashe and William Proc or of Sheffield have returned from Vanderbilt university and the Univer- ity of Alabama.
 The war department has notified the amily of Private John oldham, former y resident of Sheffield and well z lnown here, that he was killed in &C., i ion-in France on October IA. The toung man was well known here and c
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

The word plantation Is used princi- pally in the southern states, where it originated in old slavery times to des- ignate a farm cultivated hy negroes, as
 a cotton plantation or Sugar pIanta~
 tion. In Maine it has distinctive meaning, representing form of gov
 ernment smaller than township. In
 that state most of the functions of local government are performed by the town or township In addition to- 17 plantations and 131 unorganized places under the names of plantations, grants, etc.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
BEHIND THE VEIL The Story of the Q-BOats
III.-WON BY WAITING By "BARTIMEUSo

The disguise adopted by such of his
 majesty's ships as were selected to cope
 with the U-boat menace perforce va
 ried according to the changing fash
 ions. In the early days of the war
 the role of care-free tramp, steering T steady course, and minus look-outs
 or gun, was sufficient to lure the en-
 emy to close quarters on the sur-
 face. But as the peculiar methods
 of warfare adopted by the German gov ,ernment harked back to days of piracy
 and rape, so the custom of the seas reverted to the arming of merchant men for defensive purposes
 For purpose of offense, with which
 this story of a Kings ships is com cerned, dummy gun sufficed; at all events for prelminaries. It was mount. ed prominently aft, attended by con. splcuously vigilant gunner. To out ward appearances the ship was then ar armed British merchant vessel, steering zigzag course for home at a good speed, conscious that she was in the danger zone, and, by virtue of her un-s mlstakablc gun and position, liable to be torpedoed at sight according to the code of customs and chivalry of the sea-as revised by Germany. Torpedoed at sight she was at o'clock of a misty summer morning, in a blinding rainstorm and heavy sea. The tor pedo was fired at apparently close range, since it jumped out of the wa ter when 100 yards from the ship; it struck the engine room near the water line, flooding the boiler room, engine room and adjacent hold The stoker petty officer on duty in the engine room was killed outright by the ex- ploslon and the third engineer who held a commission as engineer sublieuten ( stunned and badly wounded by flying splinters and fragments of coal De- spite the thrush of water, he contrived to reach the hatchway, and arrived on deck reeling with shock, half -flayed, 1 ana bleeding, to stagger to his post | in the second act of the grim drama @
 One of the lifeboats had been blown | to smithereens, fragments of it being | lodged even in the wires of the aerial between the masts, so great was thel force of the explosion. Under the com- | mand of the navigator acting the part of master, the panic party"l aban- f doned the ship in the remaining three { boats as the ship settled deeper in | the water. The officers and men whose | station was on board were already mo- tionless at their invisible guns: in tbel majority of eases they were concealed f oY sci Cieens, but the crew of the fore most gun were compelled to lie prone on their faces on the exposed forecastle, unable to stir a muscle until the order came to open fire.
 LEADEN MINUTES
 Then, for 35 leaden minutes. followed the savage ordeal of waiting for the unknown. For aught these motionIess figures knew, the submarine might tor peodo them again at any moment, might break surface and shell them at ex- -reme range till they sank, or, an even
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
SEEKING EASY MARKS

Wonder is expressed by honorable and competent business men at the zeal with which these salesmen pursue their queer vocation. They are taught by their ex- pert managers that in the United States as we'll as in Canada never has there been time when the plain people had as much money as at present. There fore it Is not difficult to persuade them to pay but some part of their money for stocks of manufacturing propositions or else to convert their Liberty Bonds into securities of this kind
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
BESSEMER NEWS

Bessemer, December 15.- (Special.)
 Rehearsals for the White Christmas are
 being conducted by the Presbyterian Sum- day school and it is planned to have the
 celebration at o'clock Sunday after
 noon, December % An interesting pro-
 gramme of Christmas music and other 1 entertaining features is being arranged
 and rehearsed by the children, and a large attendance is expected at the an- ] nGal function
 Those assisting in the decorations, pro- gramme and invitation committees are:
 Mrs. J. B. Morton, Miss Mamie Cline,
 Mrs. s. E. Jones' Mrs c. D. Waller, Mrs. R. L. King and others.
 Many complaints are being made that the stock law of the city is not being observed, and that at night cows and pigs commit a great deal of damage to yards and gardens. Horses also ire quently run loose at night and are the cause of damage to many yards It is said that a number of residents who take pride in their premises and spend a great deal of time and money in beautifying their yards, have had the efforts of months of work almost ruined ill one nights visit from these prowlers. People living in the city limits and own ing such animals should be required to Keep them securely on their own prem ises.
 The influenza situation has improved in the city, according to statements made py various physicians of the city, and the decrease in the death rate. There has been no decided check to the disease and there are still cases developing. but it IS thought that it will not reach an alarming stage again.
 Funeral services over the remains of N. o. Hedgecouth, aged 57 years, were held from Kennedys parlors Sunday aft. ernoon at o'clock. burial following at Cedar Hill cemetery. MT. Hedgecouth was one of the early settlers in this district and was well known here where he has lived many years.
 Mrs. Rosie Jones, aged 40 years, died at her home at Lipscomb Saturday nlght following short illness of pneu- monla. Funeral services were held from l the residence Sunday afternoon at 5 l clock, the Rev. J. J. Grove officiating. | lnterment took place at Elmwood ceme- | tery. She is survived by her husband, | J. A. Jones; a daughter Catherine, her | father and mother, MT. and Mrs. Will | liam Sleeves; a sister, Mrs. J. H. Leoh- ard.
 Mrs. Joseph L. Wood has suffered a relapse from pneumonia and is quite ill | at her home.
 Mrs. sallie Jackson of Augusta, Ga. is he guest of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph L. Wood.
 MT. and Mrs. Walton Smith of Mobile, ire the guests of friends in the city. |.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

This is the third of a series of four authentic articles on the Brit fsh navy's fighting against subma- rines. The series is called "The story of the Q-Boats." They were printed in the London Times imme- diately after the arn,istice was signed, and sent to Birmingham Dy E. w. Barrett, editor of The Age-Herald. shi- h
 Icday's story tells Jf sinking a submarine by n successful ruse em- pioyed by n disguised British mer- chantman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
LEADEN MINUTES

Then, for 35 leaden minutes, followed the savage ordeal of waiting for the unknown. For aught these motionless figures knew, the submarine might tor peodo them again at any moment, might break surface and shell them at ex- treme range till they sank, or, an even mere nerve-racking possibility, might
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

| even if there be a necessity for so do-
 ing, without having first consulted with ! responsible bankers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

The influenza situation has improved in the city, according to statements made by various physicians of the city, and the decrease in the death rate There has been no decided check to the disease and there are still cases developing, but 1t is thought that it will not reach an alarming stage again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
had many friends who regret to learn of his death.

had many friends who regret to learn Of his death
 According to reports Walter F. Mil Ter, well known editor of the Colbert County Reporter, published in Tuscum- bia, will become secretary of the Ala bama state senate when the legislative sessions begin in Montgomery early in January. Mir. Miller has many friends here and throughout the state who will be glad to see him elected secretary of the senate.
 The stockholders of the Sheffield Chamber of Comm cree have taken steps to have work resumed on building the handsome home of the club, for the erection of which s35,000 was raised last summer. It is planed to let the contract for the complexion of the build ing, and it is hoped to have it ready for occupancy by early spring. When eohipleted it will be one of the hand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16

experiments are under way in the Philippines with the cul tivation e,fsein- chona plants from In1ia in the belief that quinine can be produced in rhe islands IVY
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
SKERS.

and January 1, and that the work at the plant will not be interrupted ex- cepting for these two days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
Copyright 1918, by the Bell syndicate. Inc
somest Chamber of Commerce building, in the country

somest Chamber of Commerce buildings
 in the country.
 The new $1o, 900 motor fire truck. pur- chased by the city of Sheffield some- time since, has been received and in- stalled in the local fire department The new apparatus is of the most modern design having a capacity of pumping I50 gallons of water per minute. The installation of the motor truck will greatly facilitate the work of the local department in safeguarding the prop erty of the city.
 Officials in charge of construction work at nitrate plant No. at Muscle Shoals have had under conside era tion the question of closing down the work at the big plant from December 20 to January l on account of the number of men who desire to go home for the hol- idays. It was announced yesterday, however that it had been decided tHat will be observed December 25