The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-01
MUSTER THEM OUT
SENTIMENT OF RESOLUTION
PASSED ON NEGRO SOLDIERS.
BY OFFICERS COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION PROVOKED SPIRITED
DEBATE BEFORE ITS PASSAGE.


hers of the state Military Advisory
Bonrd the Action Is Looked Upon
as Significant of the Passing of
the COIOred Soldier in Georgia.
BY n vote of to the Exec
utive Committee of the Officers Asso-
citation. Georgia state Troops which
met at the Hussars' CIub yesterday
morning. passed the resolution of Maj.
Walter E. Coney, advocating the dis
bandment of the colored troops.
In view of the fact that nearly every
member of the Executive Committee is
q member of the State Military Ad-
visory Board, more than ordinary sig
ntflcance is attached to the action, and
by many it is looked upon as the COM
mencement of the end of the colored
soldier in Georgia.
The active advocates of the passage
of such a resolution were Maj Walter
E. Coney, Col. William E. Wooten,
Capt. w. W. Gordon, Lieut. Col. w.
l.. Grayson, and Col. Ed. Huguenin.
Those who spoke in opposition to its
passage were, Col. G. A. Gordon, Col.
Clifford Anderson, assistant adjutant
general: Lieut.. Col. A. J. Scott, Col.
T. n. Hopkins.
Against Negro as a Soldier.
The opposition was based more on the
sentiment against taking such meas
ure of putting on foot plans for the
consumation of an end long sought
rather than against the end to be ar
rived at. 1t would appear that all
who opposed the passage of the resolG-
ton were in sympathy with the sem
timent to ignore the negro as avail
able material for state military organ
lzations, but since they have been or
ganized and are recognized as state
troops, it was considered by the OPP
pcnents of the resolution that the bet
fer plan was to let the problem work
its own solution. and that the eXecu-
tive department of the state not be
brought face to face with legislation
seeking the drastic measure of disband-
ing the troops without excuse.
The ground taken by supporters OF
the resolution was that the Executive
Committee supposedly represented the
enlisted strength OF the white troops
of the state, and that the first in
timation of a desire for the disband-
ment of colored troops should properly
come from them.
In the call LOT the IIecblilS ~ was
specifally set forth that every matter
would be open to discussion to all pres
ent. but that only members of the
Executive Committee would be allowed
TO vote In accordance with this there
was a general discussion of the reso-
luton as soon as it was introduced by
Mai. Coney In presenting the reso-
luton. Maj. Coney said:
Major Conveys Resolution.
81 Introduce this resolution not in
spirit of bitter prejudice, but because
l feel it to be the duty of some ofhcer
to take this step, and therefore ofter
the resolution.
Il respectfully submit that the
Georgia State Troops, Colored, are not
regarded as conservators of the public
peace, either by the state or cities, in
the latter of which / do not know of
there being any appropriation for
their maintenance as a police reserve,
in the way of armories, or appropri-
atoms.
unless they can be used to keep
the peace, I submit that they have no
more right to exist in the uniform OF
the Georgia militia than they have to
expect to be represented on the Sa-
vannah Police Department, on which
they would be about as effective as
they are as state troops.
ITO attempt to use them against a
mob of either white or black rioters
would be a most dangerous expert
ment. and one which no Governor Is
apt to attempt. / ask anyone who
has had experience in riot duty to pic
ture the situation had colored troops
been called out instead of white. The
situation at Darien, Ga, in 1899, sur
fciently exemplifies the point. If tht
mob Of negroes who surrounded the
jail until the arrival of the military
had found that military black instead
of white. the sheriff of that county
nd the white people of Darien nigh
- have been alarmed over the out
come.
Now Is the Time.
Now is the time to act. The col
ored troops may pass a good ifIspec
ton, they may turn out in large mum
bers. have their arms and equipment,
in good order and may drill fairly
well, but if they cannot be used IL
putting down riot, that counts fol
nothing, and does not justify their ex
istence.
Some years ago, when the Georgia
State Troops, Colored, could be con-
sidered sufficiently equipped with .5C
caliber rifles, and little or nothing in
the way of equipment and uniforms
it made little difference, but times
have changed and the equipment OF
one of these soldiers to-day would repre-
sent something like $50-and then
too, they expect to have an encamp-
ment this summer. The Dick bill would
seem to require that they be allowed
to go into camp. 1t may not be sc
easy TO handle this question three Oh
four years hence as it is now.
Not Good Soldiers.
off NAV well he questioned vyhathe,
the colored militiaman is an effectiv,
aid to the general government in timt
of war. Take the situation in '9S
Georgia contains eight organizations O
colored troops now, and contained
more then. There were four regi
ments of colored immunes, and late
on two colored regiments were or
ganized for the Philippines in SO. How
many officers did the Georgia Stat
Troops, Colored, furnish to this force
which was largely differed by color
ed men? Few, if any. and very few
enlisted men. Only one volunteer color
ed regiment reached Cuba; that wa
from a Western state, and in tn
words of an officer of high rank, VIII
was stationed near then, were wors
than useless, and had to be sent sew
eral miles in the Interior where the
could not get at anyone, and non
could get at them. I understand tina
there is small chance for any of tn
colored regular regiments geing agai
sent to the Philippines, as they do nc
do well over there. the natives do no
entertain the same respect for ther
that they for the white soldier
This question should be CAREFUL