The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-21
Colonel Young Restored to Active
Duty-Services Needed by War De-
. partment-War Secretary Praises
coIored Officers Training Camp.

CoIored Officers Training Camp.
In response to a letter from Dean
Kelly Miller of Howard University,
Secretary Baker issued a statement,
July 18th, to the effect that Colonel
Young has ben restored to active
duty. Dean Miller's letter to the sec
rotary transmitted the complaint of
Attorney Charles S. Dardon of Los
Angeles, which represented the posi-
bility of injustice being done Colonel
Young at the present time. The cor
respondence follows:
My Dear Professor Miller: Through
you to the students of Howard de-
sire to extend my congratulations on
their success in procuring the training
camp for Negro officers at Des
Moines. Considering all the circum-
stances and conditions existing in our
country today, it certainly was a great
victory of the students of Howard for
our race. Since they have done so
we'll in that matter, La minclined to
invoke their aid in an effort original
ing with me, for a greater victory
along the a mines.
You perhaps nave already heard
that Captain Davis, of the Ninth Cav
airy, has been sent to the Philippines
with his cavalry in spite of his request
for permission to remain and render
service with the Colored soldiers in
France. You perhaps also know that
Lieut.. Col. Young has been ordered to
Preside, our army hospital, for medi-
cal observation and treatment, in
spite of the fact that Colonel Young
is, according to my investigation, en-
loving the very best health of his life.
There seems to be a disposition on the
part of the administration to either
isolate our regular commissioned
army officers, or put them on the re-
tired list, and it would be contrary to
the time honored custom and prece-
dent of the War Department, to order
commissioned officers into the army
hospital, and then permit them to
come out of that hospital, except on
the retired list. 1t is the opinion of
men we'll informed on the subject, in
this locality, that Colonel Young will
be retired by the government for the
purpose of preventing his further ad-
vancement in the army, and his actual
participation in the present war.
You remember that the only three
commissioned officers in he regular
army, aside from the army chaplain
are, Colonel Young. Captain Davis,
now enroute to the Philippines, and
Captain Green, stationed at Liberia,
all of whom ought to be considered in
the organization of the separate divis-
ion of the 800, 600 Colored troops nov
being organized. But it now appears
that neither of these officers will, in
any way, be connected Dr. associated
with that division. 1t would certainly
be as cowardly an act on our part to
sit idly by and submit, without pro-
test, to the retirement Of Young, as
it will be on the part of the Wal De
partment, though its army hospital,
which brings it about. l am also in
formed that an Ohio senator protest
ed vigorously against the departments
order Of Davis to the Philippines, but
of course, without avail. Isn't there
some method which can be pur
sued in behalf of our Colored commits
stoned officers which would not EN-
barrass them on the records of the
War Department?
CHARLES S. DARDEN.
In transmitting this letter Professor
Miller said:
The Secretary of War,
Washington, d. c.
My Dear Sir: | beg leave to sub
init the enclosed complaint against
the War Department. l am indis
posed to believe that any department
of the government of the, United
States would place a stumbling bloch
in the way of the patriotism OF thu
humble American citizen. l beg t.
hope that the War Department
through an authorized statement, will
set at rest all such suspicious as arr
contained in the enclosed communica