New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-05

the army. They think they'd be sacrl-
feed at every turn. The plan for Jim
Crow training camp, segregating the
negroes. has caused much bitterness.
In the South thousands of negroes have
been robbed Of their suffrage by fimsy
subterfuges or intimidation. Life there
has grown almost intolerable for them
under Democratic rule.
The only way. in my opinion, that
President Wilson can get many negro re-
cruits for the army is 20 appoint Theo-
dore Roosevelt Secretary Of War. Then
the colored men would flock 20 join.
sure Of a square deal"
Difficulty in Recruiting
The difficulty of getting negro re-
cruits was discussed by Lieutenant
Marshall. Of the 18th Regiment.
Recruiting in the 18th was aoso-
lutely dead, until we began 70 adopt
heroic measures q 1ew weeks ago." he
said. Last FRIDAY night at the La
fayette Theatre. was hissed and
heckled because ! asked for recruits.
That is a sample of the war sentiment
among the negroes. The Delinquency
Court which has been established TO
compel more than a hundred members
o. our regiment 10 drill has the power
20 fine the men. and il the fines are not
naid they can be sent 20 Ludlow street
jail for periods up 10 ten days. Inc
only way we can get recruits now is 10
send out the regiment band and an au-
tomobile and bring them into the re-
cruiting station while they are IN the
mood
Although they are bitter against
The Wilson Administration, the great
mass Of the colored people Will be ao-
.olutelv loyal 20 the United states IN
war" said Roy Nash, secretary OF the
National Association for the Advance
lnent Of Colored People. Slowness ID
recruiting he blamed on the attitude
Of the Administration, when, he salo'
has made il plain that the colored man
D.. not wanted i'm the army.
There are now only four army reg
meutS which are open TO negroes. ne
said. "Our association recently sent a
letter to Franklin Lane, Secretary OF
the Interior. asking him to use MS
influence in having two new regiments
Of artillery and two Of infantry opened
TO colored soldiers. If the army were
open TO negroes on an equal basis
they would fock to the cOlors."
Working Among Negroes Here
Work Of the German agents. sowing
the seeds Of disafection among the
negroes, has not been confined to the
south. II was discovered yesterday
that men in the pay OF the imperial
German government have been working
for months in New York City TO the
same end.
Influential negroes in Harlem nsIvely
tell Of a refined and cultured white
man. who lived among them for months
last spring and summer, astensioI!
studying sociological conditions, but
diligently spreading meanwhIe Gei
man propacanda. lie passed as Hol-
lander. lie mingled freely with me
negroes on terms Of equality, attend
mo their social functions and visiting
heir homes. To the negroes. ln spite
Of hiq apparea+ frankness about him-
,ef. he remained man OF mystery
lie made frequent trips 10 tho South'
Apparently under ms directions were
several other men. who also went ire
quently on Southern trips.
On one occasion this man was the
guest Of honor at a dinner in the home
of a colored school teacher. A dozen OF
the city's most influential negroes were
invited 10 meet him. Among them were
editors, educators, lawyers and busl-
ness men.
The German propagandlst was ;hc
only white person present. He brought
up the subject of patriotism.
why" he asked, should colOred
people sing the national anthem or
salute the flag? What has America
done for you but put you under foot
They lynch negroes down South and
what does the Administration do about
i? Nothing, They pass jim Crow
laws and segregation laws. They don't
treat YOU like human beings. Why
should YOU support the United States
or fight for 10 in a war. In my country,
there is no race distinction"
The "professiona" negro, who lives
,.non agitation, is said TO have made a
great haul Of German marks in the
last two years. The German propa-
gsndist might be very easily deceived
st the same time. A negro may emo
t.onally and bitterly denOunce a Demo
crstic Administration without meaning
., hear, 10 be disloyal to the country.
Tonorts of actual disaffection have TO
no treated with much allowance. all re-
~ponsible negro leaders say.
- fHr,tst