Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-06-01
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ARE READY IF THE GOVERNOR WILL LET
 THEM IN.
Gov. JOnes's Peculiar Attitude In
 Not Enlisting Them For Cuba.

Hon. J. W. Adams, Editor of the
 Pine Bluff Graphic.
 Dear Sir:-Please allow me space in your valuable paper to say a few words in behalf of my race in Jeffer- son county in regard to your com ment upon the address delivered by Bishop W. B. Derrick in this city, this week, wherein he said that the colored man should fight for his country in this great contest be- tween the United States and the Kingdom of Spain. You said in your issue of May the 26th, 1898, that it was quite surprising to you how few of the colored citizens had responded to the Presidents call for volunteers to go to Cuba, In reply to that l will say, dear editor, that the colored men have been knocking at governor Jones' door fer admission into the volunteer army ever since the first call was made by President Mckinley. l wrote to the governor of this state in the month of February 1898, ask ing the governor to authorize me to raise a colored company of volun- teers for the purpose of going to the front in case of war with Spain. I knew that I could raise a good company here in Pine Bluff, having served five years in the state guards f Tennessee and having been a captain of a company for three years myself. hereby give you a copy of that letter which was pub lished in the Arkansas Gazette, which you can readily see that we have been willing to fight for our country in her greatest trials if we have an opportunity to do so.
 The Gazette said; Governor Jones, as Commander-in-chie of the State Guards and reserve militia continues tc receive patriotic offers of services from the people of Ar. kansas in the event of war with Spain. One of the latest tender is contained in a letter from F. B. Anthony, of Pine Bluff as follows"
 1T write you this letter to make one request of you as the war-clouds are approaching from all reports that we are able to receive. If it will be necessary, I will raise com pany of colored volunteers and ten der them to you in case that war is declared against Spain. We being citizens of this country we should be as willing as all American citizens to protect her in case that our coun try needs our assistance. If you think that you will need any of your colored citizens to respond to your call for volun teers, you will do me a favor by informing me hereof, and I will assure you that old Jefferson county will send to the front com pany of colored troops as brave as ever marched upon the battlefield. Hoping that you will give ne a re- ply to this letter and if you need a company give ne the proper au- thority to raise one and I will do it."
 Here is a copy of telegram sent to the secretary of war by J. H Sykes, a prominent colored man of Little Rock:
 I most respectfully represent that l have organized company of one hundred aoebodied men in the city of Little Rock, which I will sup plement by nlne hundred more from the state of Arkansas. On April 25, in company with J. B. Bush, re. celver of the United States monies at this place, we called upon the Hon. Dan W. Jones, Governor of Arkansas, and rendered the serv- ices of these men to enlist in the cause of our country in the present. conflict with Spain and her allies. We feel that we are truly American citizens, and whenever the dignity