The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-19
Organization Does Great Work
in Funston.
Building No. 3 Dedicated by
Archbishop GlennOn.
TITUS ALEXANDER IN CHARGE
Hut for COIOred Soldiers
Opened as Experiment.
1t Has Proven Wonderfully
Successful.
BY D. o. McCRAY.

| BY D. o. McCRAY.
When victory comes to America and
her allied nations and the great his
| tory of this world war is written, one
| of its illuminating chapters wNl deal
with the knights of Columbus activi-
ties IN environments and on the field
of battle. Especially will this apply
to the fine service this great patriotic
| organization has rendered to the col
| ored soldiers at Camp Funston and
| other army environments.
Home Surroundings.
| The work the knights of Columbus
| organization is doing in providing rec
reational buildings and proper home
| surroundings for the co1ored troops at
Camp Funston and other environments
| in the country, is patriotic inspira-
| ton to every member of that race; it
| is a service that stamps it with the
| highest spirit of loyalty.
| The K. of c. building No. 8, at Camp
| Funston, was dedicated by Archbishop
| Glennon, of st. Louis, November II,
| 1917, and on Thanksgiving day it was
formally opened and turned over to
| the co1ored soldiers. w. H. James was
| the first secretary in charge, and in
! December of that year Clarence A.
Guillot, professor of French, Howard
university, Washington, D. c., succeed
| ed to that office. Secretary Guillot
was commissioned lieutenant, inter-
pretors corps and was attached to
| headquarters troops, Ninety-second
| division, and is now in France with
the American Expeditionary Forces.
| Work of Titus Alexander
| Titus Alexander of Los Angeles, Cal,
a graduate of Oberlin and other great
schools for the colored, and a man of
| marked executive ability in this work
| in the far west, succeeded Mr.. Guillot
| as executive secretary. Glad as MIR.
| Alexander would be to follow his
brothers across the sea and to stand
| by their side in the battle for human
| liberty, his hopes and ambitions may
not be realized. He must be content
| to remain in position the government
| feels he is SO eminently qualified to
| fill, and to which he las brought the
very highest executive ability.
/ Opened as Experiment.
! The K. of c. building No. 3 at Fun
| ston was opened as an experiment. 1t
has proven such a wonderful success
| that this patriotic organization is now
| constructing a building at Camp Dodge
| for the colored soldiers and buildings
are nearing completion at Camps Pike
and Meade. A visiting building inspec-
tor recently said of No. 8: This
building has seen more service than
| any of the building I have visited"
| An interview with Secretary Titus
Alexander best outlines the scope of
| his useful service. Mail is sent out
twice each day." he said. I'VE aver
age about 5000 letters ca III week.
|
| outgoing mail is much heavier. These
| figures are only for the letters written
| and mailed in our building. During a
recent movement of troops we sent out
in one day seventeen sacks of mail
mostly parcel post.
| Recently an old colored woman
from Mississippi came into the knights
of Columbus building No. 8 looking for
| her son. She said: L came right from
the train to the K. of c. building No.
3. for 1 knew I would find my boy
! there. He writes all his letters from
there
| Three Buildings for CoIOred Troops.
| There are three buildings for the
entertaining of the colored soldiers.
There are two US and the X. of C.
bailding No. 8. There is no rivalry;
! only a kindly and perfect co-opera-
ton. Our building faces the parade
! grounds on the east and is 50X100 feet.
! Two writing desks stretch its entire
length at the back of which are maya
zines. We have two dozen tables for
| the playing of checkers and dominos,
| punching bags, boxing gloves, hand
! balls, baseballs, basketballs, footballs,
| etc. A pianola is installed on the
| stage where mass is said every morn
| ing at $50, and Sunday mornings at
| $50. All the big magazines and news
papers we'll as a fine library is
| provided: also photograph and movies.
We sell nothing but stamps
| In addition to looking after these
comforts and pleasures of the colored
soldiers at the K. of c. building No. 8.
| Secretary Alexander meets the troops
on arrival. There he lectures then
a bit on patriotism and what is ex-
pected of them at this, their first OPP
| portunity to make good and to meas
ure up to the full expectancy of the
world; also to ask them for their dis
| carded clothing for the Belgians.
Governor Donates Flags.
1.-The day of greatest joy among the
! colored soldiers of Camp Funston who
afe participants of the pleasures and
i conveniences provided by the great
Knights of Columbus organization,
was when two fine American flags
came to two companies of the S05th
| Pioneer infantry" Secretary Alexan-
| der said. s'They were gifts from Gov
ernor ArthufsCapper, who had learned
that the two companies were without
the national colors. This act and
| countless others in behalf of all SOL
| diers without regard to race or color.
stamps the Kansas governor as 100
per cent American citizen. 1t endears
him to every colored soldier and eiti-
zen and to the loyal and patriotic or
ganization which is doing so much for
| the welfare of our race at this and
other environments"