The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-02-21

Leader Of Resim entail Bands
I Will Hereafter be Color.
.@''&ed Men, Says Taft - r..

AoSE LAdt CotoTeu men are hereafter to
ne given a chance! to secure these de-,
siraDle berths. Mr.. Emmett J. Scott,
or Tuskegee, Ala, who brought the
matter to SECRETARY Taft's attention,
deserves unstinted thanks of the Ne.
gro people everywhere for his efforts:
no Jess deserving or thanks and graft
tuqe 1s Secretary Taft, who promptly
looked into the matter, and after pro.
| per investigation threw open this new
door Of opportunity" =.
Inc correspondence is in part as
follows: -. 49,,
-. War Department,
|, Office Of the Chief Of Staff, >.
washington, Jan. s, 1907.
memorandum Tor the Secretary Of
War: -, -
Subject: White men as cnlef must.
clans Of bands of colored regimentsJ
Emmett J. Scott, Of :Iuskegee. Ala,
under date OF December. IL, 1906,
writes to the Secretary of War, as fol
lows: .-,..-> - =. -. =. .- -.
- beg to call your attention to the
fact that years ago white men We're en-
listed and appointed chief musicians,
and placed in charge of colcred reei.
mental. bands. At that; time there
were no capable colored musicians
available. The cuctom is still In
! force although the cause has long
since ceased to exist. The duties of
chief musician have been satisfactorily
performed by colored musicians in
, absence of the chief musicians In the
regular army. The coIored volunteer
bands were led by colored chief must
, clans, one Of which was promoted to
/ the grade Of Second Lieutenant in
recognition of his ability as a chief
musician and his efficiency as a SOL
der. The enlistment Of white men for
the position as chief musician in COL
oTed bands closes the door Of oppor.
tunity and promotion to that grade, to
the best colored talent in the service,
and makes 1t harder to enlist de: ira
BILE civilian musicians.
= I'm view Of the foregoing, I beg
to ask that hereafter 'for the good of
the service, enlistments for colored
regiments viii be kept strictly within
the meaning Of section 1904 Revised
Statutes OF the United States I'd ed,
.. 1878. dated July %, 1866: The enlis.
J ted men OF the two regiments Of cav
airy! shall fbei cOlored naen:' ~ The same
/ pertaihs to the infantry: ',''' ~.e"'
"I would further suggest that the
white chief mus icians now in the coll
ored bands be transferred to white
bands In the service Of the United
States Army"
The Military Secretary furnishes the
following memorandum:
"The latest muster rolls on file of
the bands Of the colored regiments
show chief musicians as follows:
"9th Cavalry-Carl S. Gungel
10th Cavalry-George F. Tyrell.
gath nfantry-Wilfred O. Thomp.
son.. ./..
"25th Infantry-Josaph Belisle
"All these men are white. -.
Chief musicians were first author
lied by the following provision Of an
act Of Congress, approved March 8,
1868:
provided, That there shall be enlis-
ted in each regiment a chief musician,
who shall be instructor Of music, with
salary of sixty dollars q month and
the allowances Of a quartermaster
sergeant" Us Stat, L., 318.) ---'.-
"The existing law relative to chief
musicians (Sec. 1879, r. S. Army
Reorganization Act of March Q, 1898.
and of Fe~~''ery Q, 1901 does not spe.
officially 4 Ire that they should be
enlisted men. The fact remains,
nevertheless, that TECHNICALLY, they
are now and always have been enlisted
the form Of contract being identical
with that of all other enlisted men.
THE Interpretation by the War De.
partnent that white men may be en-
listed as chief musicians or colored
regiments was probably based upon
the above-entitled reasons and the
mpracticability Of obtaining capable
and suitable colored musicians for
that position.
1.-THE fact that it has held unuues-
toned for more than 81 years would
seem to justify this Interpretation.
ITO transfer or discharge the pres
ent chief musicians Of the colored
regiments because they are white men
would, it is believed, be very unjust. 1t
is deemed advisable, however, that In
future, vacancies which may occur in
the grade Of chief musician in colored
regiments should be filled by Golored
men, II suitable and competent ones
can be obtained
ut is recommended that the com.
handing officers Of the four colored
regiments be formed accordingly.
at is further recommended that
Emmett J. Scott, Of Tuskegee, Ala,
be advised, In answer to his letter
under consideration, to the following
effect:
THAT while, technically, chief
musicians are enlisted, their status is
very different from that Of other en-
listed men. Their enlistfnents are
special, for certain grade and pur-
pose, and consequently, not subject to
the usual regtrintions. THE position is
a very difficult one to 49, properly and
is not reached by the ordinary process
of promotion in the regiment
ut Is not practicable to transfer
the present white chief musicians OF
colored bands to white bands. When
1t appears that colored men of re-
quisite qualifications for the position
of chief musician can be secured, and
having due regard for the just claims
Of the present chief musicians Of col