The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-10-11
BY Roby A. King.

The large audience assembled at
Memorial Hall, listened first to chorus
Of fifty voices, directed BY Mr.. Brown,
who rendered patriotic selections.
Following that the children Of Gar
field school gave q most wonderful
patriotic display, children represent
me Uncle Sam, Columbia, Goddess Of
Liberty, Red Cross nurses, etc.
Col. Simmons was accompanied by
Mr.. Harry Coleman, four-minute
man and Dr. Johnson, of Columbus
Iwho has recently been honored with
the appointment Of minister to Iii
beria Both men made short talks,
Mr.. Coleman telling Of his brother,
who was colonel of eolored regis
ment, having refused to take COM
mand Of white regiment because he
aid the black man was gamer When
captain, he sat ut the table with his
eolored troops, and when called BY Ii
colonel TO remember his duties he
responded: IF they are good enough
to die with, they are GOOD enough TO
eat with"
Lawyer Stokes presented Colonel
Simmons to the audiene and viii
i've short extracts from his most
wonderful and inspiring address.
Ny Race. Ny Country, amid My Flag.
It's d great pleasure to be in Day
ton again. II Is great pleasure Il
meet my friend Mr.. Stokes, my kline
.Iaf looking man, unnixed genius.
lam happy TO stand IN this place wher,
III just stood year ago. / am glat
To have my friend appointed minister
to Liberia, taking the place Of all oui
great white men
! | was educated by il great Negr,
man. ! sat on the knee Of Frederick
Douglas. | sat at the feet of Booker
lT Washington. / am proud 10 be ;
| Negro, wouldn't be anything else i
4 could. Pm satisfied no regrets 70
the past, no fears for the future, sat
listed, satisfied.
- love to look at you old soldier
with your blue coats and brass but
tons. When ! look at you tbinl
about Port Hudson
Il have a loan to talk about tha
have been lending on my own ii
count. What have lent Ny to
my tears, unpaid, all Of yesterday.
, have put up patience and love, sag
. rificed for the stars and stripe,
When are they going to pay interest
Columbus Negroes subscribed fo
$250,000 liberty bonds and put sI68
600 IN the war chest No fears for III
, future, no regrets for the past
The white man made the flag 81
Of thread and cloth, but he made ii
out Of blood and tears. stand BIZ I'll
American white man because IT III III
duty, but | stand there to keep hi
!, from falling.
: ! stand in the state Of Ohio. Til
; IS my favorlte state speak befoi
J the public for the American Negi
and am satisfied with my job, An.
& body praises my race makes a Ii
r with me. | would not exchange II
lS job with the President. Whenev
{ you see a peaceable set Of white De
pie, then you see a peacable set
Negroes. That's the reasos the N
3 gfoes are not peacable down sout
& because the white folks are not.
& Germany wants peace with Il
2 United States. When ! make pea
s with Germany | will be sitting aroul
1 the table at Berlin. When / MAJ
i peace ! will make Negro with car
il tai m | do not want any pea
q with Germany now. When ma
peace with Germany want peace
z home
love my country, love my RAJ
4. ! love my religion. love my viii
n people. | love my country for fiji
y without my country ! have no RAJ
I love my race because | belong
j i the only race in the world whose
ture is in front Of it and not hehi
u n love my religion because it
All have, IN proud of tha Ame
can white man because all am d,
III to the American white men. We d
a the American white man d debt
can never expect 30 pay, what