The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-07-20
|IuiiS ii17iS ffa0k COlORES
OFFICERS IRun|e CAMP
Fl. DES MONIES, IOWA

opportunity offered by the establishment
OF . camp at Fort De- Moines for the
training Of colored otiices for the ~.
OO colored soldiers - TO come danger.
ously near minimizing its real effect upon
the status Of the Negro in his relation.
have said that il establishment means
that the colored man 10 being put on
trial. Any one acquainted with his HE.
tory knows that the sun has risen toe
high 10 substAntisse such IN opinion.
Again. the presence Of men who in the
days of the pest have laid down their
very lives for the safety and perpetuation
of Americanism u further denial of thi.
position. The Negro 10 simply here from
every state in the Union 70 contribute his
quota 10 the forcss Who are engaged in q
war affecting al nankind alike. . wal
whose ultimate eni u destined to resulI
10 . nobler and hixher conception OF the
brotherhood Of nan, with unfailing hope
in the purposes Of his friends in high po-
sitions and IN inwsvering devotion to
Old Glory the Negro determines 70 do
his Bit - he he's done all the way from
Boston Commons to the csctus covered
plains OF Csrrizal. giving just As good an
account Of himself - at all times when
his metal was bsing tested.
One who 10 unfamiliar with develop
ment OF military organization 10 sstouud-
ell at the remarkable personality of the
men who have brsved the storms of duty
and the wonderful effect il has had in
producing . type Of manhood far above
the average. It should prove of interest
70 mention . lev OF the men into whose
hands the training OF the future offcers
has been committed. There is the in
imitable Captain Z. Y. Steever whose
reputation is Widespread - an organizer
and tactician of pronounced ability. He
10 tireless worker and on the field of
practice and instruction 10 q veritable
bundle Of verves. He 10 succeeding in
injecting the kind OF enthusiasm which
makes for large success. Reserve Major
Albert W. Ford ranks next ~ instructor.
The Major was horn in Kokomo and has
been in military service since 1910. Du-
ring last summe- - commanded . ma
chine gun company on the Mexican bor-
der. As one enters the office In Barracks
No. he is met by a man Of striking
figure, = man whose figure and demeanor
represents 100 per cent. soldier. Perhaps
this 10 due to the fact that he has heen
in the service for about II years, and du-
ring that time has seen duty 40 sergeant
10 q Company of the 18th u. =. lnfan-
try, and the 10Th u. ;. Cavalry. He
was in the Spanish American war and
with the Pershing expedition in Mexico.
Harry Wheeler has gained dis
tinction on account of his msnnerisms,
il such term may designate . man who
has evolved = - stem OF comm and pecu-
culiar tn himsef. lie too has had long
experience aud has the force which il
making him every mans friend. A man
OF unostentatious bearing yet none the
Ices force OF character is Sergeant Elmore
Willis, ComDany ]. 2ith u. >. Infantry
While very strict in dealing with the
candidates be has such winning way
that eli are glad to obey his biddines
Besides being in Honolulu tor some time
he was with General Pershing during
those memorable Mexican dsysr I could
scarcely do credit 70 the situation il I
failed in mentioning one OF the except
Ional ca>es in which q young man has in
q little over two years arisen 10 the rank
OF sergeant. IL may he attributed To the
undisputed fact that he 10 almost saturst-
ei with things militsristic. He is a mem
her OF Company y. 9Th Infantry. In
recognition OF his ability the Office has
designated that he he clerk for Com
panv Of THE camp. have merely styled
out these examples because they repre-
seDt the many to whom reference could
he made, and because they are Of the
type which impress one OF the wonder
ful educational force in the army Of
Uncle sam.
Ii may be that this article j. growing
lengthy, but how can close without
brief mention of t~o Of the most inspiring
moments Of the camp life. The 6rst Of
these was staged when, q few days after
the opening, Captain St>ever called to-
sethsr the men ~ho were " 10 under
his immediate control and in q hesrt-to-
heart talk uttered words Of prsise. Of
caution and Of expectations which follow
ing events have proven we're not void.
IL - the occssion upon winch hsnr.
vbstever Of unanimity of purross hes
developed IN the man the other occa<lon
rss when, on Sunday evening. June
18th, about j.I5 O'Clock Col. BslIou.
who 10 IN charge of the camp, and upon
vhose shoulders rest the responsibility II
u accounting 10 the nstion and the
world. called the men together upon the
extensive grounds and in words that
rang ont full and clear, words thas can
never be forgotten by thoss Who we're
privileged 10 hear them, sounded the
clarion call for devotion 10 principles and
loyalty 10 the great American govern
mens In this hour OF perplexity. AZ the
fourIun,Oo of his rsmarks ss<b -.