The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-08
in KANSAS SPIRIT
Entertainment for Negroes at
New York Sets Record.
Only State To Provide Welcome
for COlOred Men.
TOPEKANS ON THE PROGRAM
Elisha Scott, $. E. J. Watson
and Taylor Reed in Speeches.
Gen. c. !. Martin Prepared the
Homecoming Plans.

Nov York, July S.-Kansas set a
record which never will be equalled at
Camp Upton when the negro troops
OF the Sunflower state in the S05th
and S06th pioneer regiments we're
given a big entertainment From the
moment the colored boys first saw
thru the rain and fog the welcom-
ing committee from Kansas aboard
tug coming down the bay to meet the
transport Zeppelin last week. to the
final cheers given for Colonel Hum
phrey commander Of the sO5th regi-
ment in the Liberty theater at Camp
Upton, the welcome could not be
equalled Kansas simply outdid her
self for the negro scrappers, and so
far as known Is the only state which
has provided any welcome or enter
tainment for the negroes here. Brig.
Gen. Chas. l. Martin arranged the
affair and he had a special tug for
Friday when the Zeppelin arrived in
port. this being due to the fact that
the overseas naval flyers were on the
same boat. The harbor was alive with
Heaplanes and big bltmp sailed
thru the fog to welcome home the
men who first flew over the Atlantic.
and the Dolored troopers took 1t upon
themselves to take little OF the re-
ception as their own.
Entertained at Thcater.
At Camp Upton. General Martin ar
Liberty theater for Monday. The en-
tire SO5th regiment was invited tho
Kansas has only about $50 men in the
outfit, the Kansans of the SO6th also
being invited. This filled the hall
with 5000 grinninE faces and as II was
the final day for old John Barleycorn,
tho that meant nothing to the boys
out at drouthy Upton, they made it
real event.
Elisha scott Spoke.
First Major Roy Bliss explained the
welcome home and General Martin
spoke briefly, in the name of Gov.
Henry ]. Allen. greeting the fighters.
Elisha Scott of Topeka then spoke.
Miss Ostertag. secretary of the Kan
sas association, told of the welcoming
home Of the troops and then Colonel
Humphrey, Kansas man and gradu-
ate Of West Point, who is commander
of the regiment was introduced
But here comes Prince" Edwards.
Wichita character. He jumped up
and yelled. Boys, sing for the cunnel."
And sing they did, raising the rafters
under the guidance of the shouting
prince" who led them in I'm
Going to Live on the Lords Side"
Colonel Humphrey was grinning when
they changed to a parody I'm Going
to Treat MY Colonel Right" Rousing
cheers we're given for Kansas ard the
officers and almost everyone before
the tumult subsidized.
Had n Great Outfit.
Colonel Humphrey then spoke,
eulogizing the colored troops and CIV
ing them some advice. He said the
SO5th Pioneers had the best Jazz band,
the best baseball team and one of the
Hest records Of any outfit in France.
He ended his talk with questions like
this, all answered with thunderous
roars OF the nickname of the outfit:
WHO whipped the kaiser?"
The Bear Cats"
who has the best jazz band in
Frnnce?"
THE Bear Cats"
other Topekans Speak.
Rev S L. J. Watson of Topeka then
spoke, and Theodore Tyrus \of Atchi-
son played saxophone solos. other
members Of the Kansas negro welcom-
ing committee who spoke were Prof.
r.. L. Barnett, wichita; Taylor Reed
Topeka, and W. G.. Brown, of Law
renee. Major Bliss announced the
regiment has a fund of $4,000 TO print
a book. the history of the Bear Cats"
After the program the men marched
to the Y. W. c. A. where they were
served ice cream and cake while the
jazz band played and the Kansas col
ored boys tibed their comrades from
Missouri and Oklahoma about not
having an official welcome like the
SunflOwer state provided. The troops
LEFT early Tuesday for the west.
1T was the greatest moment Of my
life," declared Prince" Edwards.
speaking Of the entertainment. Those
boys know me. Prince who has started
trotting races all over Kansas and a
lot OF other states. and they sure did
tell me about 1t afterwards. Kansas
~ just the best state in the whole
world. I'll say"