The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1917-03-03
THAT SPINGARN LETTER

oo1 - O1'eCtf " A'Aah ph1 vi biiO
Baltimore Maryland Afro Ameri-
can in reply to an appeal to Col
ored men to accept Jim Crowism"
and Segregation" at the hands of
the Government that they might
be fitted for leaders in battle
against a Foreign Foe. Editorial
ly the Afro-American says:
Friends of DR.. Joel E. Spingarn,
who know of his square stand for
the liberties of the people in Am
erica thru his association with DR.,
W. b. B. Dubois on the editorial
staff of the Crisis, were astonished
and shocked by his open letter of
Feb. 18th, wherein he advocated
Military Training Camp for Col
ored Men.
The letter states that:
1t is of the highest importance
that the educated colored men of
this country should be given OPP
portunities for leadership. You
must cease to remain in the back
ground in every field of national
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 OPP
portunity to test and display it,"
With all this we heartily agree.
From Crispus Attucks to Sergeant
Bigstaf of Carrizal fame, the col
ored man has been good enough
fighter, but only when he has been
lead by white officers. Colored
officers, with the exception of Maj.
Young and one or two others have
found it impossible to get appoint
ments to West Point or Annapolis,
and in consequence have risen
from the ranks thru sheer ability
rather than thru scientific military
training.
Mr.. Spingarn's letter continues:
There is now just auch an OPP
portunity possible for you, in case
of war, to become leaders and Of
ficers instead of followers and pri-
Yates. Major General Leonord
Wood, of the U. S. Army, COM
handing the Department of the
East, has promised that if two hun
dred of you apply for admission,
he will organize and maintain a
military training camp for colored
men, with just the sort of training
to fit you to serve as officers of
volunteers in case of war;"
Mr.. Spingarn calls the project
in polite language a Military
Training Camp for Colored Men,"
In ordinary terms he is advocat-
ing al annex for the big white
training camp at Plattsburg, N.
Y. The Federal Government has
let it be understood that cannon
fodder" white and black cannot
receive the same instruction in the
same summer camp, and this lead
Mr.. Splngarn to suggest to Gen.
Wood special and distinct Jim
Grow camp for colored men.
AS if to apologize for his advo-
cacy, the letter has this word:
1 do not believe that colored
men should be separated from
other Americans in any field of
HE; but the Crisis is too near at
hand to discuss principles and
opinions, and it seems to me that
there is only one thing far you to
do at this juncture, and that is to
get the training that will fit you
to be officers, however and wher-
ever and whenever this training
may be obtained. If two hundred
of you do not send applications
Immediately, the opportunity may
be lost forever"
Were the crisis too near at hand
to discuss principles and opinions,
why not open Plattsburg to all
Americans without regard to col
or. If the United Ststes wants
the brgins and the Drawn of edu-