Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-06-24
Des MOines' COlOred
Military Company.

meeting OF the citizens of Des Moines.
On last Monday eve the regular meet
ing of the colored military company
which has been organized recently,
held it's meeting at the Court House
and E. T. Banks who had cccepted
| terms to organize company of colored
men and march them under white cap
tain had also called a meeting to organ
ize company. There was only "a
in the Banks meeting and Is Of those
was from Youngstown, but after learn
ing the manner in which Banks had
proceeded and how things had been
misrepresented to them, they deliberat-
ly got up and marched out and came to
the regular meeting, and there denounc-
ed Banks The regular meeting was
called to order by Captain E. 8. Will
lttt, the secretary read the proceeding
or last meeting, then proceeded to read
letter recently received from Con-
gressman Hull. which is as follows:
J. l.. Thompson, Des Moines, Iowa.
Dear Sir: am in receipt of your favor
of the 18th instant. Mr.. Willett is, l
am certain, all that you represent him
to be. My son, before he left for Mo-
bile and Tampa, gave him very cordial
Endorsement to me as an entirely COM
petent man. When l received your
dispatch, at once went to the war de-
partment to secure his appointment as
captain, but was informed positively
that it could not be done, also had
talk with the colonel of the regiment,
Colonel Goodwin, and he said THAT they
could not make an exception in favor
of company unless the department
would modify the rules 80 that all cap
tains could be colored. l at once
telegraphed Captain Willett and he
answered refusing service unless all
company officers were colored. That
put me in the box of trying to get
colored company where the colored
men did not want to go unless they
could have their own terms. While
sympathizing with their terms and be-
lieving them to be right, yet l was
powerless to do anything further for
them.
1Ak. Duuho OA tAC SOlACtuIS uPAo
ed me that the colored company would
served under white captain. at once
telegraphed him to certify the officers
elected to me on that basis and receiv-
ed a dispatch from him that officer
elected were Amos Brandt, captain;
e. T. Banks, first lieutenant and Geo.
Fl. Woodson, second lieutenant. II have
proceeded on that basis. am sorry
there has been disagreement.
j. A. II. HULL.
After the reading Of the letter a
motion was made to confine the speech
making to only four minuets. The
house was crowded, fully two hundred
were present. Addresses were made
by J. l.. Thompson, E. G. McAfee, Geo.
H. Woodson, W. r. Frazier. R. N. Hyde,
Geo. Taylor, I. E. Williamson, T. j.
Sanford and Frank Woodard both of
Youngstown, Jake Robinson and Frank
Blagburn were loudly applauded and
each made good points. Mr.. e. 5. Ruff
offored the followering resolutions
which was adopted, and copy sent to
Senators Allison and Gear.
Whereas, This incipient military
compay of colored men has been in
formed by Congressman Hull that this
company must serve under white
captain regardless of capacity or intel
ligence; that there will be no competi-
tion on the basis of merit. that it must
accept these terms or disband.
Resolved, That we refuse to accept
the conditions.
Resolved, That we continue to enroll
names and keep up the organization
and certify the officers and roster of
the company up to United States Sena-
tors Gear and Allison and ask them to
see what the president will do in these
premises.
The company then proceeded to elect
Geo. H. Woodson as second lieutenant.
The secretary was instructed to call
upon Captain Banks and have him to
turn over the IS contributed by Lieut.
enant Woodson for the benitt Of the
company.
Lieutenant Woodson said that he
wanted to have few places left in the
company for Mahaska county colored
boys.
Secretary Thompson stated that he
received letter from Keokul1 colored
man saying he had plenty of men down
there who wanted to go under color
ed man, but not a white captain.
Below we give you synopsis of at
torney Geo. II. Woodson's speech de-
livered.
POSSIBLY no American, since the in
surrection in Cuba has had deeper or
more abiding sympathy with the Cuban
cause then myself. I am not a pro-
fessional soldier-that is. mankiller-
and never expect to be; nor do ever
expect to endure the privitations of a
soldiers life simply for the small pay
which the government gives. Several
years ago went to New York for the
express purpose of consulting with the
Cuban junta with a view of joining the
Cuban army. President Palma receiv-
ed me cordially, listened attentively to
what had to say and then informed
me that it was not men they needed in
Cuba, but that it was arms and muni-
tion of war. I had formerly been a
member of the Twenty-tifth regular in
fantry, and it is painful to note that
while that splendid regiment is now
moving upon Cuba, circumstances over
which had no control have denied to
me the privilege of accompanying it..
| l believe was the first man in Iowa to
tender my service to the governor, and
[ have been rendering them ever since