The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-30
BIG WELCOME HOME FOR
COUORED KEOKUK SOLDIERS

/
Here the colored people own their
own homes and have their bank ac-
counts.
I'm the city of Keokuk we have
as good and as law abiding citizens
as we have anywhere In the state.
| I will be glad to serve you boys IN
any way that l can. There Is no
cause for friction between the races
in Keokuk."
II know how glad you men are to
get home and attack fried chicken as
you have tonight" said Lieutenant
John s. Sprowls. 1T certainly made
mans heart warm up when he
knew how the people responded back
home
There was time when the color
ed race felt that 1t had no part In
this republic, but that time has pass
ed. The colored soldier has estao-
lished q record that can not be sur
passed. None Of your race has ever
been tried for disloyalty. The Ger
mans got a good idea of your fight
ing over there; they said that you
fought like devils"
The speaker traced the heavy
fighting over there year ago today
and said the speedy end Of the war
was brought aobut by the splendid
defensive ability Of the colored
troops. "You are the men who are
going to have a great deal to do with
the progress Of the nation" he said.
"and | congratulate you men upon
your splendid physical appearance.
and you are the men who are going
to make material advancement IN
our city"
Nenro Praises keokuk Whites.
Rev. J. H. Clark, the next speaker,
said:
"You boys are great young men
You colored boys had as much to
fight for as the white boys because
you are all in the world"
The speaker recited statistics
showing the wealth of the race, and
said the negroes had right to fight
for America. II hope you boys will
never say you had nothing to fight
for.
"These white people In Keokuk
need boosting because they are the
whitest men I have ever met In my
life, and I want God to bless all of
them, and this lawyer, too"
Mrs. Gresham of Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, who is in the city in the in.
terest Of home for colored girls Mt.
tending the university at Iowa City,
said in part:
ut is a pleasure for me to be here
to tell you how the women helped to
back you while you were fighting.
The negro has spilled blood in every
war Today we tell you how proud
the negro women are of you. We
say to you tonight, to stand as men,
the opportunity is approaching when
conditions will be adjusted and lou
come home tonight as strong NEIL"
Orderly Phelps G. Jones responded
to the speakers and told Of the glad
ness that filled them when they
reached home He said they were all
heart sick and sea sick because CT
the many hardships they had to en-
dure, but the thing that they all
want to do is to be men.
The Roster at the Celebration.
The following soldiers were pres
ent from the 804th pioneer infantry:
Sergeant Frank Mott.
Musician Samuel Johnson.
Musician Ernest L. Weeden
Orderly Phelps c. Jones.
First Class Private Scott Johnson.
Valdimar Robbins.
Sylvester Brown.
Daniel Galbreath.
Quincy Moore.
VIM. S. looms.
From the 809th pioneer infantry,
the soldiers present were:
Cecil Clark.
Noble Cook.
William Smith.
Reed Young.
Other soldiers there were:
VIM. Galbreath of the 313th regi-
ment.
Otis Galbreath, Of the 313th in
fantry.
Leonard cambridge.
Harvey Brashear, Of the fifth regi-