The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-22
MEN, WOr.EN
 AND THINGS

who did such heroic things in France | I do not know who gave it it's name, | but whoever it was, it was a sign to bleeding France, prostrated Belgium and dogged England that Gods illumined
 promise to Israel was arched over them
 at the coming of the Americans.
 l Look upon the rainbow, and praise
 Him that made it. very beuatiful it is
 in the brightness thereof; it compasseth
 the heaven about with glorious circle,
 and the hands of the Most High have
 bel ced it. No wonder that Coleridge spoke of it as That gracious thing,
 made up of tears and light
 | The Rainbow division is a Joseph s coat" of many colors, for when this great government of ours wanted a
 shock division, instead of calling on any | one state or section to make a sacrifice of it's sons, said it's better to tighten
 the grief by making a general call, and J so twenty-seven states were asked to | give of their best
 l Here is the roll call of the states;
 Alabama. Iowa, New York, Ohio, Illinois | Indiana Minnesota, Georgia, Pennsyl- vania, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oregon, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Mich ! gan, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma
 Kansas, Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, Cali fornia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Missouri, a symbol to all the world that the United states as a
 unit was set to stop the Hun.
 | The original strength of the division
 when it sailed was 27,00o men, but during the war it had 5000 replacements, and
 among them were lads from every state in the union. I am bringing these facts
 out for the purpose of showing that in
 entertaining the Rainbow division Bir- mingham will have an opportunity of playing host to all America. Do you grasp this? It will be a melting pot l ir which Americans are cemented, and
 in looking into their faces you will have your first chance of seeing composite picture of the true American.
 l By all means, if you have any boys in I
 I your hone take couple of the soldier l lads, for while they are mighty reticent about telling their experiences to grown | ups they can't resist talking to ehil- dren. I am not going to advise fathers l and mothers who have young lady | daughters as to what they shall do, for | it may mean son-in-law in some ln- stances. I will, however. say that among the men who are coming are some of 1 the finest specments of manhood that this country has ever turned out. These men are coming here ready to pay their way. If this is so then you may ask, Why bother about raising a fund for their entertainment?' It's this way: A man may have pocketful of money, but if the hotels are crowded he has either to sit up or take train out of town or call on friend for a place to sleep. The money asked for will be for the necessary, expenses needed to show them a good time and to take care of the legitimate expenses incurred by the various committees of public spirited citizens who are not only giv- ing their money, but their time, and act ing on behalf of the community
 I went to the meeting of the -four minute men" at the invitation of Chair man Judge Hugh A. Locke Around table at the Southern Club yesterday aft ernoon plans were made to ''carry the message to Garcia in the local theatres and picture houses. Dan Dimick made a stirring talk, and was followed by Hill Ferguson Then came Lieut. H. l.. Car ter of Montgomery, secretary of the Ala hama chapter of the Rainbow division, who has come up to help arrange for the convention. He spoke with enthusiasm about the boys of the One Hundred and Sixtv-seventh who had made Alabama known from Liverpool to the Rhine. Plans have been completed for raising the s40.o00 needed and committees ap- pointed to care for the various enter tainments and things around here on JuIv 12. 1s and IA are going to happen lively. so get in line and watch your step. If you want to know anything about the details just drop in at the Ledger building, and if Dan Dimmick, the big chief or Donald Conner. the treas urer. can't serve you, just call on Eiiis Holl,,us the obliging secretary of all the committees.
 We invited the Rainbow division here not for the usual reason which prompt cities to extend invitations to great con yentions but because we wanted to show them our love for what they nao done to make the world sale TOT de- mocracy." We will look into their snii- ing faces, we will watch their many bearing. we will take pride in their prowess. and we will make them have a good time but in the undercurrent or our thoughts we will not forget the ab- sent ones whose bodies rest beneath the lilies of France.
 But should any calculating man want ta know what Birmingham IS gong 10 get out of it more than the Joy or having such gallant lads in our miusl' let me point out the fact that from an advertising standpoint 1t Will pc oy Tar the biggest thing Birmingham has ever vol mt over. for remember that they come from the north, the west, the east and inc south, from the four quarters Of ttis land of ours, and what they see they will 20 home to talk about, and in this way the Magic City will be known m every state in the union
 
 Rut more than this The soldiers of the Rainbow division are young men, many of whom have not yet found tnem- selves and consequently not being root ed anywhere, may like this district well
 hoi