The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-08-14
EQUAL RIGHTS IN FRANCE.
The Diagne Bill Gives Military Priv.
ileues to All Alike,

ileses to All Alike.
Paris.-The chamber Of deputies In
this city has three colored deputies rep
resenting the colonies from which they
are sent by the suffrage of their fellow
citizens. A dispatch from Paris re-
Gently says that the race and color
question that was raised in the French
chamber Of deputies by the bill Of the
Negro deputy, NJ. Diagne, representing
Senegal, providing for the extension Of
general compulsory military service in
France to colonial municipalities whose
inhabitants enjoy French citizenship,
was presented In numerous new lights
and complications at the session Of the
chamber.
The question of how to apportion a
pension in cases of polygamist Sene-
galese leaving several widows proved
a poser for the deputies. The minis
ter Of war and the military committee
Of the chamber approved the general
provisions Of the Diagne bill, which
provide for the incorporation with
the regular French forces Of the Sene-
galese subject to compulsory service.
The action Of the committee was i'm
mediately attacked by Deputy La
broue, who pictured the difficulties
arising from the presence in the French
army of soldiers unable to speak
French and Of different religion and
social customs.
Deputy Labroue also raised the ques.
ton Of confusion In the payment of
pensions to the widows Of polygamous
Senegalese. He proposed an amend
ment providing for the incorporation
Of such troops In native regiments en-
titled to pensions and the other rights
Of French citizens. The speaker was
frequently interrupted by protests from
the Negro Deputies Diagne, Lagrosll-
liere Of Martinique and Candace and
Boisneuf Of Guadeloupe, Lagrosilliere
crying amid frantic applause. "Our fell
low citizens ask only to be allowed
to serve the mother country, for which
they already have poured out their
blood" ..-
Paul Deschanel, president of the
chamber, was forced to quell the tu-
multi by declaring that the entire cham
Der felt "the same respect and the
same love for all, whatever their race
or religion, who are fighting under the
folds Of the tricolored flag." Deputy
Labroue insisted on the special regi-
ments for Senegalese who do not speak
French. Deputy Boisneuf interrupted,
crying, II then demand a special regi-
ment for Frenchmen unable to read
and write"
Deputy Diagne then obtained the
floor and made an eloquent appeal on
behalf Of the blacks, reviewing the
part they had played in conquering the
French colonial empire. "For eleven
months the Senegalese have demanded
to be allowed to serve France" he
said; IF they haven't been permitted
to do so It is the fault Of the minister
Of war"
Deputy Diagne said that the widows
Of soldiers ought to receive pensions
even when there were several. but he
added: "Native soldiers are not as rich
as the average French soldier, who Is
also poor and therefore has only one
wife. Polygamy is luxury of wealth."
Alexandra Millerand, minister Of
war, said the Diagne bill seemed to
meet the wishes Of majority of the
colonials and urged its passage. The
bill was passed without change. "a.