The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-03-24
OPPORTUNITY OFFERED TO
NEGROES IN THE ARMY
Government VIII Give Educated Msv
Chance to Become Officers.

A military training camp for colored
men is advocated in an open letter
from DR.. ]. q. Spingarn, well known
as a friend Of the Negro race. who
says:
ITO the Educated Colored Men Of the
United States:~
1T is Of the highest importance that
the educated colored men of this coun-
try should be given opportunities for
leadership. You must cease to remain
In the background In every field of ma
tional activity and must come forward
to assume your right places as leaders
Of American life. All Of you cannot
be leaders, but those of you who have
the capacity for leadership must be
given an opportunity to test and dis
play It. .-...
There is now just such an oppor-
tunity possible for you in case of war
to become leaders and officers instead
Of followers and privates. Major Gen.
eral Leonard Wood of the United
States army. commanding the depart
ment Of the east, has promised that If
200 of you apply for admission he will
organize and maintain a military train
ing camp for colored men, with Just
the sort Of training to At you to serve
as officers of volunteers in case of war.
lido not believe that colored men
should be separated from other Amer
leans in any field Of life. But the
crisis Is too near at hand to discuss
principles and opinions, and 1t seems
to me that there is only one thing for
you to do at this juncture, and that is
to get the training that will 1T you to
be officers, however and wherever and
whenever this training may be obtain
ed. II 200 of you do not send applica-
tons Immediately the opportunity may
be lost forever. -
'The camp will be conducted on ex-
actly the same principles as the mill
tary training camp held at Plattsburg.
N. Y, where thousands Of men have
received intensive training In military
service. 1t will be under the direction
Of United States army officers. 1t will
last four weeks. The date has not been
in June. The status Of every student
at the camp will be that Of cadet.
just as at West Point
II understand that the transporta
ton to and from the camp will be de-
frayed by the government and that the
subsistence and training at the camp
will be free. 1t is probable that every
man will have to pay his own fare to
the camp and that after he arrives his
travelling expenses will be refunded
and his fare home paid. The only ex
pense will be the cost Of the uniform.
which each man must furnish himself.
This consists Of khaki blouse, khaki
breeches, two olive drab shirts, web
belt, campaign hat and cotton leggings.
costing In all about So or $40. Any
good russell walking shoes will do. The
outfit may be purchased on arrival at
camp, or, better still. from the ARM
and Navy Cooperative company. with
branches in New York, Washington
and Philadelphia. Almost any sport
ing goods store can furnish the outfit.
which must be Of the regular army
pattern. Those who wish to do some
study In advance are advised to read
Moss Manual Of Military Training
Candidates must be between the
ages Of twenty and forty-fve, in Wig
orous health and of good moral char.
acter. Men who are graduates or un-
dergraduates Of colleges, high schools,
normal. agricultural or industrial
schools or other institutions Of learning
are preferred, but any man Of intelli-
gence, character and ability may join.
Previous military experience Is not
necessary. II you are not a graduate
or undergraduate of some institution it
might be advisable to have letter Of
recommendation from some person Of
repute.
"Send in your own application i'm
mediately. But that is not enough. Go
out among your friends and persuade
them to do the same. We must not let
this chance slip. We must have az
many colored officers as possible.
Applications should be sent to DR..
]. Il. Spingarn, 8 West Seventy-third
street. New York. A brief letter, with
q few details about yourself, will be
SUFFICIENT for the present. We must
persuade General Wood that over 200
men want to Join Immediately"