The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-03-09
SIMMONS DERIDES NEGRO PACE
FISTS.
RACE MUST ANSWER CALL OF
NATION, SAYS NEPHEW OF
BOOKER WASHINGTON.
CARRIZAL HEROES PRAISED.
louisville Herald

Roscoe Conckling Simmons, nephew
of the late Booker T. Washington
and hailed as Washingtons successor
in the leadership of his race, held an
audience spellbound for more than
two hours yesterday afternoon at the
Chestnut Street Methodist Episcopal
Church, where he pictured the part
Negroes would play in the event of
hostilities with foreign country. Col.
Simmons is conceded to be the races
greatest orator.
The meeting, before it was given
shape by Col. Simmons, was inclined
towards two ends entirely different
from that it reached.
Bills had been printed, announcing
that the -mass-meeting would be com
posed Of citizens from every section
of Louisville interested in the better
ment of the city
In introducing the speaker of the
afternoon, DR.. G. M. Noble, pastor of
the church, said that through some
misunderstanding newspapers had in.
timated that a protest against pacifism
was to be registered by colored citi
zens of the city.
DR.. Noble For Peace.
"This is mistake" said DR.. Noble
I'VE are here to discuss ways of inn
proving Louisville. | am sorry that
our church has been put in the light
of fostering a movement against paci
fism. We are a peace-loving race.
We are here to find a common ground
for activity in fighting vice, not for
fighting any foreign country What
ever fuss the white people get up they
must settle themselves. The white
men started the war in Europe. The
white men broke off diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany and surely the
white men don't have to call on us to
settle their dispute.
1--WE will now hear from Col. Sim
mons on how to better Louisville"
announced the pastor.
But Louisville was not mentioned
again during the meeting.
After paying a high tribute to DR..
Noble, Col Simmons said he did not
agree with the doctors remarks con-
corning the Negroes attitude toward
war.
Knows only One Flag.
1--WE are part of our country. We
know but one flag and that is the flag
that set us free and that is the flag
for me, in peace or in war. | am a
citizen of Louisville. Pm a Kentucy-
ian. I am am American. Whatever
affects another American affects me.
| am not hyphenated American. In
peace, am Negro. In war, am am
American. l am not an Afro-Ameri-
can.
~ want to serve notice on all you
men in this audience that the time
must never come in your life when
you will turn a deaf ear to the call Of
your country. We must not let white
men settle everything. Sometimes I
think we have let them settle too
many things. VIE must always do
our part and we have always done
our part in times Of war. If we suf-
fer it is because we have not shaken
off our shackles. If we are not free,
we must set ourselves free"
Col. Simmons reminded his audience
of the noble deeds of bravery enacted
by members of the race in wars Of
the past. He told of Sergt Carney,
the Negro who, though wounded unto
death, had prevented the American
flag from touching the ground when 1t
had fallen.
He told of the Negroes effectiveness
in battles of the Civil War, in the
battles of the Revolutionary War and
carried his hearers to the present day
when praises of the Negro soldiers at
Carrizal are still being sung
when the bugle blows and the flae
unfurls, where will the Nero be?'
demanded Col Simmons. "They will
be where they always have been, al
the front. We have been denied ad
mission at West Point. and we are moi
desired in the Kentucky National
Guard but when the war drums beat
we'll be in the army,
Records Now Forgotten.
"Man may forget our records but
God will never forget We will die
for our country. Let us say to the
white men, who are reluctant to rally
to the Stars and Stripes Stand back!
stand back! Stand back If you dom
want to fight for your country, wei
fight for it."
1--WE have a record to defend, bu
thank God we have no treason fol
which to atone. No Negro ever raised
his hand against the American flag
No Negro ever sold a military wal
map of this country to an enemy. NJ
Negro ever shot down President. W.
must not let the American white mel
go to war and leave us at home.
Il have noting against Germany
Continued on page 81