davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
IDLEWILD HOTEL
33rd st. and Wabash Ave.
Chicago. Ill.

Mr.. and Mrs. j. Duncan and
daughter, Mrs. S. II. Ware, o.
Springfield, H., parents and sister
of Lieut.. Otis b. Duncan, 87Otf
u. s. Inf, were guests at the Idle
wild during the week.
Mr.. Jas. Finch and DR.. Cotton
Peoria, ILL.,, are guests at the Idle
wild Management and will visit
Camp Grant during the week.
Mr.. S. II. Watkins had a party
of friends to meet Mr.. Th0s. Carey
candidate for mayor in the Idle
wild parlors last Sunday. Mr.
Carey made favorable impres
sion.
Mr.. Bert MeSser and wife o.
Harrisburg, ILL.,, are guests of the
Idlewild Hotel.
Prof. w. j. Edwards, Selema
Ala, is the guest of Mr.. r. w
Hunter, the banker and residen'
guest of the Idlewild.
Mrs. Alice Sulzer, Evanston
H., entertained at dinner a party
of lady friends in honor of Mrs
Anna Adams, Stanton, Va, at tht
ldlewild Thursday last. Those
present were Mesdames james
Witt, Preston Edwards, Thos
Patton, William Sulzer and Cal
vim Eaton. All report a good time
Turkey dinner Sunday from
to 9 p. m.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
DR.. F. E. NORMAN
Dentist and Surgeon
Beloit, Wis.

The race citizens of Beloit and
Rock county is indeed fortunate
in having DR.. f. +. Norman to To-
cate in their midst. lie is first
class dentist and surgeon and his
workmanship will stand the test /;
painless extraction Of teeth He
is located at the corner Of Law
ton and Pleasant streets with Of
flee hours from 9 to II and TO
: p. N. Phone G55. He is an in.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
BELOIT. WIS.

The Woman S Home Missionary
Society of the Second NJ. Il. church
held its regular meeting Wednes-
day evening, Feb. y, at the home
of Mrs. Henry Reynold The regu-
lar routine of business was taken
up after which Mrs. Kenyon aud
Mrs. Brown, the former being
president of the Woman's Home
Missionary Society of st. Paul Nj.
+. church, gave very interesting
lectures. Both were highly APP
preciated. They were ably re-
Sponded to by the pastor, Rev.
Turner The hostess served de-
ightful lunch, which was enjoy
ed by all.
Mrs. Mathews, TAI johnson st.
is much improved, after an illness
of several weeks.
Rev. +. S. Delaney, of Chicago,
is in the city looking after the in
tereSt of the Sunday school work
of the Second NJ. Il. church. All
interested in S. S. work are invited
to attend the group meetings to
be held during the week.
The many friends of Mr.. and
Mrs. Wagner Johnson will be glad
to learn that Kenneth, their son,
is getting along nicely after
slight operation ON Monday.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
Very truly yours.
George II. De Reef.

To this letter there was no re
ply. In our issue of April 25th,
we ran the following editorial:
"OUr attention has recently
been called to what appears to be
a violation Of the spirit, if not the
letter of the laws relating to the
drawing Of jurors in Milwaukee
county. We have been reliably
informed that for more than a de-
cade no colored man has served
as a juror in any Of the courts !;
that while many of them have
been notified to appear before the
commission, the mere appearance
was sufficient to disqualify them.
When we consider that in ten
years apDroximately 1900 persons
have served as jurors in the vari-
ous courts, and that the city of
Milwaukee alone for the greater
portion Of that time has had a
population Of more than 1900 col
ored people, the failure of some
one Of them to qualify and serve
raises in our IN Ids serious doubts
of the impartial administration Hf
the laws under which jurors are
selected. These doubts are accen-
tuated when we recall that nearly
300 young men within the draft
age have registered in Milwaukee
and more than a score Of them
sent away to make the world
safe for democracy
This is a matter that affects not
alone tho coiored people Of Mil
waukee county or even Of the
state, but every man. woman and
child living in the state and sub
iect to the jurisdiction Of its laws.
If it is possible TO eliminate col
ored men and get by" wita II.
whenever it suits the purpose Of
those in charre. other classes may
be eliminated-the Jew, the Ger
man. the Pole. the Irish. the labor
er and the capitalist And there
is no telling where the line may
be drawn next.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
MILWAUKEE,, WIS.
A Card of Thanks

We wish to express our sincere
and heartiest thanks to all Of our
friends for sympathy shown us in
our recent bereavement Of our be-
loved mother, Mrs. Maria }. vii.
Iiams, and for the beautiful floral
Offering. also the Household Of
Ruth No. 1888 Rev s. Russell for
his encouraging remarks and Miss
Sarah Wood for music.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

of cOlored men from the jury lists
casts suspicion upon our entire
judicial system. What assurance
has a htigant or particular class
OF itigants that those inimical to
hls interests are not drawn and
his friends excluded? How is la.
Dor to know that upon questions
affecting its rights an impartial
jury will sit? If one knows of
this apparent irregularity is it I'M
reasonable to suspect others? And
thus will the court be brought in
to disrepute. Like Caesars wife.
our courts must be above suspi-
ciOn.
That this matter has been call
ed to the attention of the jury
commissioners of Milwaukee
county is atteSted by the follow
ing copy of letter sent them.
We are advised that others have
also written, but to date no reply
has been received. This is but
an incident yet it adds strength
to the belief that the exclusion of
cOlored men is not a result of the
ordinary and natural operation of
the laws governing the selection
of jurors.
The letter referred to was the
one above. We saw to il that a
copy of this editorial reached the
! hands of the circuit judges.
Some time later the judges ad-
vlsed our representative that the
matter would be remedied. Moth
ing, however, came of it and so
In our issue of Sept. II, 1918, we
said editorially:
Some time ago editOrially and
otherwise we protested against
the apparently deliberate exclu-
sion of colored men from jury SER
vice in Milwaukee county. We
were then advised that our sus-
picions were unfou1ded and were
assured that all grounds for COM
plant would be removed. Sever
al months have elapsed, since then
aRd nothing has been done.
This is a serious matter and
by no means matter of mere SEN
timent. The Supreme Court of
the United States has repeatedly
held that exclusion of men from
jury because of their color is a
violation Of the law and may sub
ject the one doing it to punish
ment. Congress by the act of
March l, 1875, declared "No citi-
zen, possessing all other 4ualifca-
tions which are or va be pre-
scribed by laws, shah be disquali-
fed from service as grand or petit
juror IN any court Of the United
States. or of any state, on account
of race, color or previous condition
of servitude; and any officer or
other person charged with any
duty in the selection or summon
ing of jurors, who shall exclude
or fail to summon any citizen for
the cause aforesaid. shall, on con
viction thereof, be deemed guilty
Of misdemeanor and be fined not
more than $1,000" This was held
to be constitutional. We trust
that it will not be necessary in
the grand old state Of Wisconsin
b. invoke the law to obtain for
colored men rights guaranteed
them by the federal laws and en-
joyed by other men.
Again on January 9, 1919, we
said: Wanted-Information that
will lead to the discovery of a col
ored man who has served on
Milwaukee jury If found he will
be exhibited, the remnant Of an
extinct species Of Rara Avis. "
We were just about to pay our
respects again, when we note the
following in the Milwaukec Sen
tinel, issue Of Feb. 10:
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

4 man who IS deserving Of con
graduation t5r doing things by
his effort and the assistance Of
other loyal race men and women
Of Beloit. he has succeeded in ac-
complishing many needed reforms
for the race in this city Wiscon-
sin is in need Of more men Of the
Williams type.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

to Beloit has proven himself
worthy of your patronage. In
stead of going to Chicago for
your dental work the Blade asks
that You stop at Beloit and consult
DR.. Norman.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
VICTORY FOR BLADE
CoLoRED MAN SERVING ON MILWAUKEE JURY

The Wisconsin Weekly Blade is
published first and last and all
the time in the interest of the col
ored people. We have from time
to time endeavored to impress up
on you that in many ways-ways
you do not realize and are unable
to diScern-this paper is serving
you and doing not only its bit"
but its level best to secure for
you every right to which you are
entitled. That our efforts are not
always fruitless the following
will show.
Early last spring we addressed
the following letter to the jury
commissioners of Milwaukee
county:
Milwaukee, Wis, Mar. 8, rs.
Jury Commissioners,
Milwaukee County,
Milwaukee, Wis.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
ON TO MADISON CLUB TO AT
TEND

Fourth Annual Race Convention
July 14th, 18th and Is is being
formed by Mrs. G. WI Hilliard of
Beloit The plan is easy and is en-
rolling members daily. See Mr..
llilliard and be booster.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
PRES. L. J. OUSLEI
Local Branch of G. o. D. Assn,
Beloit Wis.

A thorough going young man
Of influence; parllamentarian
and "A conscientious worker for his
race
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
FROM OVERSEAS


A. Z. f. under date of January
19, writes: 1--WE are all very well
and enjoying the hospitality and
cOmradeship of the French people.
These people have a real democ-
racy put into daily practice-a
democracy for all the people all
of the time. And every French
man is intensely jealous of his
liberties which they have just
cause 20 be.
We are not certain when we
shall come home. We hope that
it will be soon and that we shall
demobilize at Camp Grant. If so
you shall very easily be able to
get much first hand information
for the columns of the newsy
Blade.
"Our boys are learning to speak
French fairly well, or as we now
say, 'Parle Francais tres bien.
BEST regards to my friends in
Madison and elsewhere. "
We are also in receipt of long
and interesting letter from Lieut..
r. S. Bampfeld, Machine Gun Co.
366 Inf. A. E. F., in part as fol-
lows:
JoSey, if there is such thing
as a living hell l have passed
through it. The good Lord has
spared me for some purpose and
tonight l am thinking of my
friends across the sea.
1.-The night before the armistice
| was gassed in a drive toward
the great fortress of Metz. Have
been in the hospital two weeks,
and though l am not fully recov-
cred, ap back with my company.
The Division has made a good
record and one that you folks at
home can be justly proud of. All
of the members of the council
Atkins, Wood, Linton, Lightfoot
and myself are 0. X. Atkins was
mentioned in orders for bravery.
| receive the Blade regularly
now since the armistice. 1t is
enjoyed by every officer in the
company, and we look forward to
it's coming.
1--WE do not come home as soon
as we had hoped. We are ex4
pecting to go to one of the Rhine
cities for the winter. Maybe we
shall be home for summer.
Now that the censor is off l
could tell something of our acti-
vities from the time we reached
Brest, France, Jan. 19, 1918, went
in line in the Vosges Aug. %, then
in the Argonne Forest in that big
drive Sept. 26, then to Marbach
where we faced Metz, but time
won't permit so | must save my
experiences until | see you. The
third night in line my own horse
was among the killed.
Continue to send me the Blade
and if | owe anything | will settle
when | return. The officers wish
to compliment you on your edi-
torials. Keep it up. Hope to see
you soon. Best regards to all my
friends in the States.
A letter from Sergt. j. B. Capel
contained a French coin and the
following: THE enclosed coin is
about the same value as our dime.
1t is called 'cinquante centimes,
we call it half franc.
Il am glad to receive the Blade
which YOU kindly sent me. Sergt.
O'Bannon and Corp. Battice tell
me they get it regularly. | am
sure the Blade has done its bit
by bringing comfort and courage
to the boys over here.
Il look forward with happiness
70 4bo +ip,a u h an I cbali rntI1rT
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
Blade Staff Correspondent
A. w. KNIGHT
'uSiness Man of Rockford, Ill.

W. @'@sF@1 VN ~SVNRhA VA " AAA'
Who is to take a few days from
his many and varied interests, Wis
iting in Madison, Milwaukee and
Chicago.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

Mrs. s. w. Prince has decided
to take the agency of the famous
lIair-Vim treatment of Washing
ton ID. c. The Blade is glad to
recommend both Mrs. Prince and
the treatment. She is at 1041
Forest Ave, Beloit, Wis.
Numbered among Beloit's pro-
gressive visitors during the last
week were the Hon. Il. II. Wright
and Editor j. Anthony Josey
Little Leila Prince is doing ex-
cellent work at CASTOR school,, 5th
grade in Beloit.
For first class dental work call
on DR.. f. f. Norman, bawton and
Pleasant streets, Phone 655, Be
lott, Wis.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
MIR. AND MRS. s. w. PRINCE
Beloit, Wis.
Rev. w. L. Turner, Pastor M. E.
Church, Rev. Frank S. De-
leany, Supt. S. s. Work, and
Editor j. Anthony Josey Din

Editor j. Anthony Josey Din
ner Guests.
In true democratic style MIR
and Mrs. Prince entertained at
dinner last Saturday Rev. Turner
Rev. Deleany and Editor j. An
thony Josey. The table was lad
ened with may palatable catables
which were eagerly devoured by
the guests. Mrs. Prince s moth
er and mother-in-law were also
present and added much to the
occasion. Mrs Prince is indeed
an artist at tickling the palate. We
long to return.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27
Gentlemen

Gentlemen:
| beg to direct your attention
to what appears to me to be a
most singular operation of laws
of choice and chance in the selec-
ton of jurors for the various
courts of Milwaukee county, viz. :
the complete absence from every
panel, in long course of years,
Of any citizen of African descent.
While | fully realize that it is
possible for one to live his whole
life in the same community with
out having been called to perform
jury service, yet it does seem high
ly improbable that an entire race
without the interposition of some
extrinsic agency, would so uni
fOrmly escape. This improbable
ity is made the more manifest
when we recall that the recent
registration under the Selective
Service Law discloses the fact
that, in the city of Milwaukee
alone, there are more than $50 col
ored men between the ages of 81
and 81.
A personal inquiry among the
colored people concerning this
matter has elected The informa-
ton that several of them have
been called, but none chosen /;
that invariably upon their ap-
pearance in response to your call,
they have been advised that they
would be notified later. And this
was usually the end of the matter.
An interesting incident in this
connection is the fact that / my
self, was called by you less than
two years after my arrival in the
state.
| trust that you will give this
matter your careful consideration
to the end that nothing may tend
to discredit or cast suspicion up
on the impartiality of our jury
system.
Very truly yours.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

New Orleans, La. Madison
Vance, prominent lawyer and pol
'itician, is dead here.
Harrisburg. Pa.-The colored
troops of the Philadelphia Home
defense Reserves marched in the
inaugural parade here and made
a creditable showing.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

Washington, D. C.,-Capt. Rus
sell Smith, United States Infantry,
has been relieved from duty at
Howard University, this city, and
detailed as professor of military
science and tactics at Tuskegee In
stitute, Alabama. First Lieuten-
ant Campbell c. johnson, United
States Infantry, has been assigned
to duty as professor of military
science and tactics at Howard
University.
The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-27

Boston, Mass.-Sergt. H. J. Ho-
mer, one of the two colored mem
bers of the local police force, has
voluntarily retired on pay. He
is rs years of age and has served
40 years on the force.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-21
Secret DipIomocg

The love of the professional diplomat for
secret methods of diplomacy dies hard The
fresh revelation of this fact on the very eve of
the opening of the peace conference. has I'M
doubtedly come as shock to public opinion II
is not merely the fact that the British govern
ment should have made the proposal it did re-
garding the admission of the bolsheviki to the
peace negotiations that has caused public UNI
easiness, but the zeal shown by all the cabinets
to cover It up and prevent any knowledge of the
proposition from becoming public. The in
terested parties succeeded in the conspiracy of
silence for nearly fortnight, and it is only the
day before the peace conference meets that an
astonished world learns what has been going
on behind the scenes.
The public asks anxiously what fresh revela-
lions of preliminary discords are in store for it.
llhe curious thing is that sooner or later all such
lntrigues and understandings end by becoming
known. A few days before the Berlin congress
met the London Standard published the text
OF secret agreement between Mr.. Disraeli and
Prince Gortshakoff showing that most of the
questions pending between Russia and Great
Britain had been privately settled before the
congress met, and that the discussion in the
council chamber Of the Radziwill palais was lit
tie better than a solemn comedy.
Such incidents shake public confidence in
the men in whose hands are the national des-
TIMES and cause the decisions taken by them
to be regarded with suspicion and distrust
Such suspicion and Histrust is apt to lead to
recrimination between peoples, which can only
be profitable to the enemies of yesterday who
are only too ready to take advantage of them-
Washington Post
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-21
Election Day in Germany.


Proceedings have just been varied in Ger
many by holding general election. Its result
viii not be known for some time, but for the
moment some interest may be found in the de-
tails It is the first election ever held there
under popular auspices, and therefore marked
by many innovations. The riot of posters, ia
miliar enough in this country, was distinct
surprise to the German, accustomed TO seeing
only formal announcements displayed in Off
cial positions, When the dead walls bloomed
with big type displays, appealing in favor of
one or the other of the candidates, then the
former subjects of the autocratic kaiser knew
a new day had, dawned for the fatherland So
cialists showed energy in the pursuit of votes
by distributing 100000 dodgers in Berlin
alone, or at the rate of about fifteen to each
inhabitant in prewar times. One other feature
was the participation of women, in one pre-
cinct it being reported the nuns marched in
body from their closter to the polls, thus show
ing how far into the discard "kinder, kirschen
und kuchen" have been thrust BY the march of
events. Early returns show the majority"
socialists to be winning. This is setback for
the bolsheviki and may mean good for the
people -.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-21
Delicate Work for Tax Collector.

The proposal from Lincoln that tax be
levied against the surrender value of life insur-
ance policies looks like approach to situation
in which some danger may be discerned 1t
seems entirely foreign to the purpose of life in
surance and evinces the extent to which the
impulse for discovering revenue producing
novelties may lead the legislator. Life insur-
ance is primarily for the benefit of the sur
vivors. In its most popular form it has the
quality Of encouraging thrift by promising a
definite return to the assured in event of his
surviving the term for which the insurance is
written The Surrender value" Of the policy
is the amount of premiums paid and dividends
earned in excess of cost of carrying the risk.
II is unquestionably a form of property, an
asset sufficiently tangible to be definitely 10
Gated. But. just as the federal government ex-
cludes from income" the proceeds of life in
surance policies, so can the state afford to ex-
empt from taxation the accrued value OF policies
in process Of maturing. The federal govern
ment, by its experiment of war risk insurance
has undertaken to inculcate wider application
of the principles of life insurance. The benefit
that will flow from the more general adoption
of this measure of protection is undeniable.
Nebraska scarcely can afford to undertake any
thing that may tend to discourage life assurances
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-21
Insurance and Influenza

Partial reports from the life insurance COM
panies of the United States. printed in the Jour
nal of Commerce, show the deaths from the in
fuenxa epidemic of the October-to-D December
period in 1913 of more than 10000 policy-hold-
ers. These deaths caused claims against the
companies for more than $52,000,000. 1t is ex-
pected that complete returns will show loss at
least Of 100000 lives and of Sl00000,000 in
claims
These reports constitute a reduction to plain
figures Of some portion of national calamity
to which we are accustomed to refer in terms Of
human sorrow and bereavement. Such statistics
81 a plague are unusual. AS quoted here they
are amazing. To guide US ia an estimate Of the
proportion Of the loss in insured lives Of the
total number of deaths from the epidemic we
may know that something more than ll,500000
policies were in force in the United States in
1917, % a little better than one to every ten of
population.
To policy-hoders generally and to business
interests in any way related to insurance con-
Germs, the word viii be reassuring that in a
broad way the companies are meeting the LA
hiIiiies strongly. The call upon their resources
was unexpected but is not staggering
Agreeing with the observations Of health au-
thorites and others who watched the progress
cf the influenza, the insurance men report that
an unusual percentage of victims died in years
from 50 to IS, covering thus an age period or
dinarily robust. This occasioned calls on many
policies on which but few premiums had been
paid Beyond the insurance consideration, it is
matter Of considerable pathologic concern.
The insurance data in full may prove Of great
value III the post-facto medical study Of the epi-
deAnic.-New York World
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-21
THE TROOPERS LAMENT.

Dear old Bill, your bit is donel
Alasl You too must go!
Many's the time you've carried me
In battles ebb and flow.
How gay you pranced, proud head on high
To music on parade;
How fleet You raced but yester eve
The foes rear guard to raid.
You swan the river through the hell
OF lead from hidden. guns.
BY George! How bravely up the bank
You rushed Nthe fleeing Huns.
Not once you fllnched through screaming
Burst on the very ground
Ger which, full speed, the thanking host
You CHARGED with mighty bound
Blightersl They've got you in the leg
Smashed flat, old chap, no hope
Meier again DER dusty pike
You'll take me at iope.
What's that? You'd like to say goodbye :?
Want me to lift your face?
With all my heart. Herel Look this way!
You've earned a last embrace.
God knows hate to leave you, Bill.
hoped you'd see It through
I'll mourn you when the bugles blow
Adieu, brave heart. adieu!
JOHN B. FOSTER in N. z. Sun.