Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-23
COLORED SOLDIEIRS' COMFORT
COMMITTEE IS ACTIVE.

Washington + february 25.-- Not
only has the National Cclorcd Soldi-
crs Comfort Committee become the
recognized race medium for furnish
ing relief 10 needy dependents of Col
orcd soldiers in tho army. but judg
tng from the large number of letters
received by ii daily from colorcd pea
pic throughout the country for ad-'
vice, II has become II sort Of race
clearing house, filling peculiarly
needed want. Among the many lc,-
.cra making Inquiries are many from
colorrd women, wives and mothers
OF cololcd so'Slicrs inQuiring about
delayed ellotmcnts of such portion
Of their soldier kinsmcn's allotment
made to them, and with which the
National Colored Solliors Comfort
Committee has nothing to do. Some
mothers have written to the Commit
tee asking for advice as to where
their sons arc now, they having re
some write asking if the Committee
cannot have their incorrgiblc. inn
prov.dcnt, and "worthlcsS' son draft
ed into the army; some wives tell
of worthless husbands who do not
plONIuc lOI liitiil anu -ASii thii"i vi
whom they want the committee ia
have drafted, and SO on, on various
subjects, about which they desire to
be enlightened. Colorcd people are
writing to the Commidec. One South
western coorca farmer wrote the
Committee urging il 10 take up with
Congress, and have passed IL bl.l re
ducing the rcntal oil farm land, say
| ing tna' with the present high rental
Of farm land colorcd farmers cannot
make even sufficient to exist on. nc
nj these queries The Committee re
spends promptly and chccrfully Civ
ing the writer's the benefit of what
ever knowledge il may have on tho
, matter inquired about. The greater
number Of letters, however, contain
rcmittances Of money from men and
women who are interested in doing
| their bit. by tho needy dependents OF
Colorcd soldiers. The preponderancc
OF these remittanccs, however, come
from our Colored women, clearly
showing that women are the ones most
touched by sorrows call and the ones
who respond more quickly to neccs
Silys appeal. The fact that a Big, cOun
try wide organization to succor the
needy Of the race has been establish
cd that is non-dcnominational, non
political, and not in opposition to
the many splendid race ceremonial
and ritual fraternities, but which Is
Co merely "collect the pennies and dia
tribute them in dollar aggregates to
the worthy needy" OF the race has
appealed to all and so the National
Colored Soldiers Comfort Committed
unwittingly, has become the races
| national clearing house however, its
one aim is to collect funds from the
| race and dispense same to the urgent
needy.
When one stops to reflect that
this now big Interstate organization
has been builded with a secondhand
desk, borrowed secondhand type
writer, occupying about a square foot
in an office room. plus the uncomper
sated energy OF the man who has Ill
rected 1t it only proves that with &C
operation what wonderful opportun
til there are for the race. The III
innate object of this national body
is to become as it's Incorporation viii
permit, a big strong Colored Founda
ton Society, to dispense charity tc
the needy. and to Colored worthy
charitable institutions, and to aid CO.
ored business enterprises. 1t has
been figured out that the $4,000 00t
when raised can become a fund out
| OF which meritorious colored business
enterprise can he loaned money at 4
percent, the interest money Thus CON
| ing in being sufficient to take care
| OF urgent and necessitous charitable
1
the race in small contributions woult
be returned to it, and making coloret
| business enterprises strong, provide
employment for young colored mcr
and women. The plan Is not simpl,
utopian--it is practicable, and it Is
needed. Colored business enterprises
and colored farmers might achieve
much, and especially the latter. If they
could secure moderate loans at rate
sof interest that is not practically cor
\ fiscatory,