Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-03-01
CHICAGO NOTES.
(Tle Associated Negro pross)

(Tle Associated Negro ProSs)
Chicago, ILL.,, Fob. 20,--'rhc most ri
gantlc and wonderful public demon
straLion over held Ill the city OF Chi
cago, took place Monday wnen the
37oth Infantry tho old Eighth Illinois
was welcomed by the populace. 1t 10
not the word of an enthuscd individ
ual patriotic but tho published expires
sion OF every daily newspaper in Chi
cago, and all leading authorities that
never has Chicago seen anything to
equal tho Monday demonstration. 1t
was more tfan an event, it marks IN
epoch, and it Is In this light that the
story Of this occasion is treated.
Mover have Chicago daily newspa
pers given so much space in newe, il
luJtrairNs ana long editorials to
anything in which the Ncg,o VAS con
nected. Great full ra"e-widc headlines,
full page illustrations md co!ui,n cdi
toriais announced and welcomed the
duSky heroes who won undying fame
on the world battle fields Of France
Let it be thorou. hiy understood that
it WAS not n Race event, it was truly
Chicago event in all that the word i'm
plies, and is effect Will be felt through
out the nation. Nor than 100000 pco
pie viewed the parade in which the
conquering heroes marched through
the principal throughfares Of Chicago's
famous loop business district. Business
was suspended everywhere, and the eli
thus.asm OF al, the people showed with
out a doubt that Chicago, with its
great cosmopolitan population, is the
climax American city OF true democ
racy and justice.
There was specchmaling by Mayor
Thompson, Coils. r.. Roberts, O.Duncan
and others and tho one fact impressed
on all was this: The day has come
when tho door Of opportunity in the
United States is opened for the Negro,
and 1t must DO kept open at all haZ-
ards.
The men were attircd in full militia
ry equipment, with steel helmets. rifles
cartridge belts and the paparphernala
which they chased tho Germans back
acrss the Hindcnburg line. They are
the first soldiers out Of Chicago who
tually participated in tho fighting to
return as unit.
Looking to the future, after tho
men have been demobilized, the fight
ing men have returned home with tho
Same grim determination to enter in
to civic life that they used In chasing
the Huns hack into their own cOun
try Capt. Lewis Johnson, an attorney
cy In civil life, and the man who built
tho first great Negro Y. M. c.. A. in
this country Mt Washington, expressed
the sentiment Of the men when he
said: 1--WE intend to get into political
and civic affairs and we are dctermi
ned to he heard. We sacrificed that
democracy night be made safe, and we
are going to have some say in seeing
how the game Is carried on a. home"
Lieut. Col. Duncan. the man Of whom
1t was said: "He didn't have sense
enough to know when to stop fenltinS"
stated that the men are all glad to get
bono. and are yerv scriH..s in their
d"sire to enter into civil lif now
that the fighting is over. and the davs
said th"t he will do all he pcrsonal'y
can to keen in tonch with the mon OF
OF his regiment and encourage them.
There ia active effort being carried
ont in Chi"""n. In an organized .way.
to s;ve em"'ormcnt to cvcrvonc Of
the Negro soldiers returning home.
The Now vcr'. cvrcoratnd N~chas
tra. nndnr tho dircntion Of NV'lI Mar
son Cnot took Chiaon off 'ts fort in dc
lisht ut tho fnmous Orhnstra Tral1. last
wool T"n ci"na nr l"ct r.,nt pn;tinn IL
evidenced more and more nv the daily
press and th's occee'on waa no eynnp
ton To '''o r"1n IN Chicago ivory mn
steal r"'tic gave verv sor'ona story
In "ornmrnt of the ovnnt. ana tho ron
nr"l -"n's''nn was that II, NEGRO
ra"n'a of America are the onIv real
'~n"u"n"a re n"+i~n m"r'n ard are
Tho only ones who now know how to
hiring ont ell ta'at Is most effective In