Evening star., 1917-05-11
TRAINING CAMP URGED
FOR NEGRO OFFICERS
Racial Prejudice Should Be Laid
Aside at This Time, Says
. Writer to The Star.
To The Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
The nation is now in the midst OF
war The conscript.on bill will soon
become law. The government is
authorized to lay hand Upon every citf-
zen and command his best energies for
the common cause. Before an army OF
magnitude can be mobilized tens OF
thousands of officers must be trained
for the high function OF command AL
ready fourteen officers training camps
have been authorized to provide otii-
GERS for the federal army. To those in
charge of the government IL does not
seem practicable to admit negroes to
these camps. to train promlscuously
with white men. In the midst of war
there is no time to discuss the racial
and social iSueS which divide the
American people. All must unite on
one practical program that leads TO
victory. There are many arguments
for the establishment of a training
camp for negro oficerS.
l. The negro constitutes over 10 per
cent of the national population. and is
ready, even anxious. to furnish more
than his quota of men to follow the
American standard wherever II may
lead Beyond all dispute the negro
makes an efficient soldier when placed
under competent leadership. This has
been abuntantly demonstrated in every
war in which this nation has been en-
gagged. SO far he has fought mainly
under white officers There is deep
seated suppositiou that his efhciency
has been due largely to the color OF
his leadership. a RAPIDLY deFelopihs
racial consciousness aroused by pro-
scriptive conditions calls for an inter-
nal leadership in all directive matters
of an intimate nature.
. During the past fifty years the
race has made marvellous strides along
all lines of progress. The negro of
1917 is less courageous than the
negro of 1852. but is much more m
telligent and capable of self-dlrection
In all matters in which public opinion
enforces a social separation of the
races the negro is accorded his own
intimate and Immediate leadership
Colored churches have negro preach
ers. colored schools have negro teach 1
ers; coIored patients have negro doc
tors Practically the entire upper Level /
Of negro life is under the direction OF |
men of their own blood. who stand in |
the high places of authority and con-
troll among the masses. In some OF
these lines the colored candidate sus-
tains the same test of fitness as the |
white candidate who aspires TO serve
his race on the same level. Experience
has shown that this is the best plan |
for uplifting the negro and inculcating
in him sense of racial self-respect.
without which true efficiency becomes
impossible. What the negro may, Tor /
the time being. lack in comparative
technical efficiency. he more than com
pensates by the inspiration he lmpafts
by the identity OF his blood
g. Several colored men have passed
through West Point and have thus
proved that they capable OF sus-
tanning the same test of training that I
white men undergo for effective mill
tary leadership. Under the prevailing
ban of race prejudice il requires as
much pluck. courage and self-goverp-
ing power for a negro to graduate
from West Point as it does for a white
man to become a major general. L
time offered cadetSliD
at West Point. AS l had decided to
serve my race as best | could along |
peaceful lines, declined the appoint
vision to see this day l would have |
risked the vicissitudes of the task in
preparation for military leadership in |
this present emergency.
4. Several states have colored mill |
tary organizations with negro officers. /
They measure up to the required stand |
ard of discipline and efficiency. accord |
ing to the Judgment of the white Of /
fcers in supreme command, The 1st /
Separate Battalion of the District Of /
Columbia, under the leadership of Maj +
Walker, showed their worth on the 4
Mexican border. as they are showing \
Ii in the National Capital today.
s. 1t would be a source of encour- +
agement to the patriotism which this /,
race has always evinced under most
untoward circumstances. on the other
hand, should the nation refus~ to ac-
cord to the negro this measur Of rec
every consideration of patriotism and.
fair play, II might serve 10 intensity T
his just grievance. which Just now al! (
patriotic citizens devoutiy wish TO as
suage.
6. There can be no dead line in
democracy. The nation cannot afford
TO say to any aspiring element of the
population: Thus far shalt thou go
and farther. This is 4 war of |!
democracy. war in which all must /
be permitted TO serve on the highest I
level OF their powers.
I. The negro young men in the col /
1eges and universities of the country /
are eager to enter this camp for the
over thousand have volunteered their
services. AS is fitting. Howard Uni /
Nersity has taken the lead in this move
ment. This institution is supported
mainly by the government of the
United States. In return 1t stands |
ready to render compensatory service !
not merely by furnishing leaders of
this race along the milder pursuits of
peace. but also in the sterner emer-
Rencies of war. This national negro |
university, with its fifteen hundred stu
dents and four thousand alumni has, |
by formal declaration. offered itself. !
mind. body and estate, to President !
Wilson at this hour OF national peril
The entire colored race is looking to
the President, to Congress and TO Sec
re,ary Baker TO establish this training
camp as speedily as practica BILE. Let /
all good Americans. white and black /
that divide and perplex and rally
around our standard bearer Woodrow !
Wilson, in this titanic struggle for the |
democra tization of the world.
KELLY MILLER,
Howard University |
Local college and high school men
are being urged to Join the movement