The Twin City star., 1918-04-06

~ nFAINSI0s
shown us In this matter and l feel
it my duty at this time to admit that
many of our people have not hereto
fore enjoyed the benefits offered by
the library, but their failure to do
so was not caused by carelessness
or lack of appreciation of the educa'
tional and literary advantages Of
fered, but arose out of timidity born
of humiliation suffered at the hands
of the management of other public
institutions in st. Paul.
Some years ago We enjoyed the
pleasure of membership in the Y.
M. c. A. We had the honor of be-
ing on it's basketball, it's indoor base
ball and track teams, and various
members of our race represented the
organization in its field dayIexer'
cises and contests with the sister or
ganization in Minneapolis. When the
new building was proposed and con-
tributions solicited from the public
we, as individuals, and in our organ
izations, gave of our means for the
purpose of bearing the cost of the
new building. When, however, the
new building was completed, we
were informed that our membership
would be discontinued and that our
presence at the new quarters was
undesirable. When the Wilder Baths
were opened in st. Paul, although
the money through which that insti-
tuition found it's being, was contrib
uted from fund. the donor of
which had provided in his will
should be used for the worthy poor
of st. Paul, we were denied the
pleasure and use of those baths.
This country and it's European al.
lies are engaged in a titanic struggle
to make the world safe for democ-
racp. Thousands Of black boys have
been called from their homes in the
South to the training comps to pre-
Ipare for the journey across the sea
to fight in the trenches in no mans
land. When they left their homes
they had to wait in dark and dingy
seperate Negro waiting rooms to
board Jim Grow cars, and as they
whirl thru the state of Tennessee I
fancy l can see the picture arising
before their minds eye of the recent
horrible bruning at the stake of one
of the members of the race; as they
rode thru the state of Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, I
believe they saw in retrospect the
pictures of black men and women
and children lynched by unawful
mobs After they had reached the
camp and especially at Houston,
Texas, and while wearing the uni
form of the American Army, and as
they passed along the streets Of Hous-
ton by the public parks, l feel with
them the humiliation they suffered
when their eyes rested upon the signs
at the entrance to the park Negroes
Not Allowed"
A few day ago in the great city
Of New York, in its laudable purpose
to celebrate the birthday of our first
president, George. Washington, whom
we delight to honor as the father of
our country, plans had been made for
the parading of ten thousand Ameri-
can soldiers with view to stirring
patriotism and inspiring loyalty. 1t
was intended that no black soldiers
should participate in this patriotic
demonstration, but the Negroes of
that city, filled with patriotism to the
country and loyalty to its flag, were
not satisfied with the thought that
they should not be represented in the
honors given to the soldiers while in
this country after they had trained
for service abroad, demanded that
come of the black soldiers from the
same training camp whence came the
white, be permitted to follow the
fog on Broadway. After great pres
sure brought to bear upon municipal
city and government officials it was
determined that one battalion, Coo
Negroes, should be in the line, pro
vided, that the Negroes Of the city
of New York should furnish the food
for the black boys on the day of the
parade. Undaunted, by this unusual
provision, they were equal to the
emergency and met the condition and