69

6—On January 16, a state-wide meeting of the city and county
commissioners was held, the results of which were most gratifying
and stimulating.

(a). At 11 A. M. the male commissioners from the city and
counties assembled in Sharp Street M. E. Church. The County
Commissioners made gratifying reports of the activities in the coun-
ties, the Chairman of the Colored Division gave a summary of the
work accomplished by the Council. An inspiring address was de-
livered by former Governor Phillips Lee Goldsborough.

(b). At 3 P. M., the Women's Section, under Miss Ida R.
Cummings, held its session. The reports submitted by the various
departments and clubs affiliated with the Women's Section showed
that this section of the Colored Council of Defense is engaged in
every phase of war activities, including Red Cross work, knitting,
food conservation, education, etc. The Women's Section was ad-
dressed by Mr. Osborne I. Yellott, representing the United States
Government War Savings Committee.

(c). At night a mammoth patriotic meeting was held at Al-
baugh's Theatre and was addressed by His Excellency, Emerson C.
Harrington, and Mr. Emmett J. Scott, Special Assistant of Mr. New-
ton D. Baker, Secretary of War, with special authority to speak for
the United States Secretary of War.

7—Our Council has been recently called upon by the medical
staff of the colored hospital at Camp Meade to construct in connec-
tion with the hospital a sun parlor for the health of colored soldiers
recovering from pneumonia. The amount needed has been raised
and the work will be completed under governmental supervision.

8—The Hon. Francis M. Jencks, President of the Maryland
Branch of the National Defense League, called upon the Council to
inaugurate for colored men of draft age a school of instruction in
United States military war training. Our Council has launched
this class at Richmond Market Armory, and one hundred and sev-
enty-five or two hundred colored men were trained by United States
army officers twice a week, so that these colored men of draft age
were prepared to assume the duties of non-commissioned officers
when mustered into camp.

9—Through the efforts of the Council and its allied organiza-
tions, two pianos have been furnished the Y. M. C. A. building at
Camp Meade and the instruments for a regimental brass band have
been provided. Thousands of comfort kits, sweaters, cigars, to-
bacco, wristlets and socks have been furnished the soldiers by the
Council.

10—Aside from the above specific engagements of the Coun-
cil the work of organizing the counties by districts, the arrange-
ments for meetings in the city and counties, the supplying of speak-
ers through the Speakers' Bureau, the many requests that have come
for information and help of various kinds from colored soldiers for
their dependencies, have involved an amount of labor and corres-
pondence beyond the expectation of the executive officers of our
Council. The work has proven arduous and exacting beyond our
thought. It has imposed upon the executive officers of the Council
duties and responsibilities that have been a severe tax on their pa-
triotism. No officer of the Council receives any compensation. The
vast amount of work done, as has been outlined, is inspired by love
for country, and the Council rejoices in the privilege to serve.