The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-07-21
SECRETARY BAKER
ISSUES Statement ON
NEGRO OFFICERS
Colonel Young Restored to Active
Duty-services Needed BY War De-
partment-War Secretary Praises
CoIored Officers Training Camp.
Especial to The Starr

Washington, D. c., July 17.-In re-
sronse to a letter from Dean Kelly
Miller, of Howard University, Secre.
tary Baker issued statement, July z
to the effect that Col. Young has been
restored to active duty. Dean Miller's
tletter to the secretary transmitted the
complaint of Attorney Charles s. Dar-
don, of Los Angeles, which represented
the possibility of injustice being done
Col. Young at the present time. The
correspondence follows:
My Dear Prof Miller.
Through you to the students of
Howard desire to extend my congratu-
lations on their success in procuring
the training camp for Negro officers
cumstances 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, I am inclined to
invoke their aid in an effort originating
with me, for greater victory along
You perhaps have already heard that
Captain Davis, of the Ninth Cavalry,
has been sent to the Philippines with
permission to remain and render SER
vice with the colored soldiers in France.
You perhaps also know that Lieut.. Col.
our army hospital, for medical observa- :
that Col. Young is. according to my in
health Of his life: There seems to be
a disposition on the part of the admin :
istration to either Isolate our regular
on the retired list, and it would be con:
precedent Of the War Department, to
er%y ardeF hospaa ans them
to come out Of that hospital, except on
the retired list It is the the pIh3do1 opinion Of of
tSs oeaty that con- on Toung ss0si S
retired by the government for the pur-
pose of preventing his further advance
ment in the army, and his actual par
ticipation in the present war.
commissioned officers in the regular
army aside from the army nan|s ehaPlain; haP sn
route to the Philippines, and. Capt.
Green, stationed at Liberia, all of whom
ought to be considered In the organiza-
10000 colored troops now being organ
lied. But it now appears that neither
of these officers will, in any way, be
sion.' 1t would certainly be as coward
and submit, without protest, to the re-
part Oh the War department, through
It's Army hospital, which it brings
about. / am also informed that an Oflo
the departments order Of Davis to the
avail. Isn't there some method which
ored missioned officers which would
not embarrass them on the records OF
the War Department.?
The Secretary OF War; washington
My Dear Sir: beg leave to submit
Department I am indisposed to believe
that any department of the government
of the United States would place a
rHsrns sriotism Of "tGeH the humble American cfti-
zen. l beg. to hope that the war De-
partment, through an authorized state
ment will set at rest all tns sueh nc,ssed sss
communication.
KELLY MILLER.
In transmitting this letter, Prof.
Miller said:
Secretary Bakers Statement.
In response to Dean Miller's letter
on July the War Department issued
the following statement:
My Dear Dean Miller: | have just
received your note of July 5, and re-
turn herewith the complaint which
you enclosed. am very happy to tell
you that the work at Des Moines camp
is progressing remarkably well. and
the reports l have from it are very
good. The spirit of the men Is fine,
and apparently this encampment is
going to do a very great deal OF good,
both to the country and to the men
involved.
Your correspondent writes chiefly