The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-06-02
YOUNG COLLEGE
men SHOW PLUCK
Government Grants Training
Camp For Officers.
BIG VICTORY FOR THE RACE


Group Of Students and Backed by
Broad Minded Men and Women Of
Both Races Has Significant Bearing
on Future Of coIorsd Americans.
On Saturday, May 10, the war de-
partment authorized the establishment
Of an officers reserve corps training
camp for colored officers for the new
federal army at Des Moines, Ia, to
start June Is. The decision, which
came as the result Of persistent effort
by students Of Howard university, the
central committee Of Negro college
men and many distinguished men and
women Of both races, is regarded by
qualified opinion as the greatest oppor-
,tunity for Negroes since the civil war.
The establishment Of this camp
marks a radical change in the policy
Of the American government. For years
Negroes, with a few exceptions, have
been excluded from holding official po-
sitions In the army and navy. West
Point and Annapolis have been prach-
cally closed to them. One colored man
after another has sought to secure
training offered to other classes Of
American citizens, but no amount of
democratic argument or political influ-
ence could convince the administration
of the Justice of such appeal.
The war, however, has brought
new situation. A crisis faces the cOun-
try, and when conscription passed the
questions Immediately arose: How can
colored men serve best their country?
Shall they stand on the abstract theory
Of equal rights, or shall they with COM
mon sense meet practical situati0n
for the advancement Of the race and
the welfare of the natiOn2
Already fourteen camps have been
established for the training Of white
officers. The war department has Off
cially declared that it would be i'm
practical to admit colOred men TO any
Of those camps, which would mean that
the thousands Of intelligent Negroes In
the United States would lie forced I'M
der the conscriptiOn bill to serve as
privates with little possibility Of Op
portunity to rise above noncOmmssiOn-
ed officers.
Loyal to the cause Of the Negro, be-
lieving in the principle Of equality, but
at the same time realizing that OBJ
stinacy is not firmness, when the gov
ernment refused to open its camps to
all It's citizens separate camp was
sought as the next best thing for &C.
curing officers.
The Negro, ever ready and willing to
serve his country, has been kept out Of
official positions too long. The time
has come when he should occupy
place in our army and navy similar to
that which he occupies in other spheres
Of American life, and it is believed
that in effecting the training and equip
ping Of one or two thousand officers the
central committee of Negro college
men has brought about movement
that will not only add to the brilliant
records of Bunker Hill, San Juan and
Carrizal, but will make the Negro in
truth and in deed a fundamental part
Of the national life of the United
States, a partner in the fight for
world democracy, establish Negro lead
ership on a stronger and firmer basis,
belle the accusation that the Negro is
fit for nothing else than a subordinate
and pave the way for greater and high
ef things.
All young men between the ages Of
twenty-one and thirty, having high
school education and physically strong,
are requested to send their names,
height, age, weight, previous military
experience, If any, and school attended
to the central committee Of Negro COL
lege men, Howard university, Wash
ington, G. B. Curley, general secretary.
Examining stations will be opened at
all Young Mems Christian associa-
lions, from which applicants may for
ward their names to Secretary Curley
as mentioned above. The leaders in the
movement wish it understood that they
do not accept the camp as segregation
they are wholly opposed to such dis.
crimination-but they do accept 1t as
means to an end and as an opportunity
for the 100000 c0lOred men to be cho-
sen for war d1ty, to be oflcered by
men Of their own race. The camp ac-
cODmodations and pay will be the same
rs those for white men. The railroad
fare Of those who 60 to the camp will
be refunded.