Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-02-12
NEGRO SOLDIERS AND.
CAPTAIN HULL
Some Forgotten History
in This District.
Negroes Who are Honest Can
not be Bribed
Hull Endorsed by Negroes Abroad,
But BY No Reputable Ones at
Home.

Hull Endorsed by Negroes Abroad,
But BY No Reputable Ones at
Home.
1t might be interesting and instruct
i've at this time and on this occasion
to recount some of the facts in con-
nection with the organization Of the
immunes in this city. The company
was formed originally with Edward
Sherman Wilfett as captain, George S.
Woodson as first and e. G.. McAfee as
second lieutenant. These names were
certified up to the proper authorities.
kilograms will show that Capt. Hull
at first tacitly agreed to, the appoint
ment Of negro officers of this negro
company.
Mr.. Willett had an honorably dis
charge from the regular army and
was then first sergeant. He Is well
posted in general literary matters, as
j. Everitt Cathell and ishop Morri-
son of the Episcopal church. Mr..
Willett is a worthy rector in an Epis-
copal church at Keokuk, Iowa, after
having passed rigorous examination
under DR.. Cathell and having gradu-
ated from Washington theological
seminary.
George Woodson is a brilliant law
yer and also has an honorably dis.
charge from the United States army.
Lieutenant E. G. McAfee was cap
tain de facto of the immune company
and has had excellent training as
soldier and a man of education. After
his discharge he made application for
a post commensurate with service AMI
his rank and filed them with Captain
Hull Lieut.. e. G. McAfee's papers
have been on file and in pigeon holes
at Washington SO long that the cob
webs and dust have entombed them.
He was not even given the respectful
consideration rf a reply. But Cap
tain Hull did get a negro appointed
lieutenant in the Philippines who
hailed from South Carolina. So says
Jim Rowen. and Che is an honorable
man." If Solomon were on earth to-
day and could note, the refusal to ap-
point the three men who chad been
weighed In the balance and not found
wanting" he iSolomon) would be
compelled to retract and say that
there Is something new under the
sun when Captain Hull is in charge
of affairs. s.s.s "
The truth compels us to say that
the man selected had no military
training at the time of his selection.
Is white man who never attended &
medical school the superior of the ne
gro who has spent ten years in a
medical college and in the practice of
his profession? Test this proposition
from Hull standpoint and "you will
be an angel by and by"
be given his promotion after he has
earned it, it seems to me that we
should be too good and too loyal to
republican principles to give his
vote for congressman from this dis
trict to Capt. Hull.
Hullism and republicanism are at
hntipodes in this district. 1t can
be remedied by an intelligent vote
honestly cast. 1t is hardly necessary
to call attention to President Roose,
velt's letters on the question Of equal
opportunity and the right to the pro-
lection and promotion.
When poor man and his wife,
white or black struggles through
many vicissitudes to educate their
children they have q right to expect
fair and impartial treatment in the
race of life. The rich mans son
and the poor mans boy should be
given equal chance, and when this is
subverted or misdirected by "politi-
cal pull" it goes wide of the cause
for which republican forms of gov
ernment are instituted among men.
An officer of the state or nation
should not have the door of oppor-
tunity opened wider to his son than
than to the humblest citizen In the
land.
EXHIBIT A.
Washington, D. c., June 2Sth, 1898.
j. l.. Thompson, Ed. Bystander,
Des Moines, Iowa: Colored com.
pany can have colored captain; elect
AT once and send to me; have so noti-
fed Brandt. J. A. T. HULL.
EXHIBIT B..
Washington, D. c., June 6. 1885,
Edward S.. Willett, (Col.), Des
Moines, Iowa. My Dear Sir: l am
in receipt of your telegram in which
to go under q white captain. had
talk with the man authorized as
colonel of the regiment to raise it,
and he will not, and cannot if he
wanted to, accept a company except
on the rules laid down by the War
Department and the War Department
utterly refuse to vacate the rule.
have the authority of the President
to say that in the event of vacancies
occurring after the regiment enters
active service colored men where
they have shown the ability to com
3mand, and the power to enforce disci-
pline will not be Disseminated
against in any promotions coming to
the Irgimenl. got this through
representative White, who is the
representative of your race in the
congress Of the United States. On
receipt of this letter you can tele-
graph me whether your decision is
final. If final I will try and have
authority issued to some good man in
Des Moines to recruit colored COM
pany from Iowa If done at once, or
If the War Department cannot wait
any longer we. will have to surrender
our place and let it be filled from
Louisville or some of the other To-
calities clamoring for recognition in
this line.
1t is not a question of getting men
to fill the regiments as much as it is
a question of apportioning the COM
panies to the localities demanding a
nj, q ncn II n furt,i oh thn man 3tAs