The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-07-20

In response to a letter from Dean
Kelly Miller of Howard University,
Secretary Baker issued a statement,
July 7, to the effect that Col. Young
has been restored to active duty.
Dean Miller's letter to the secretary
transmitted the complaint of Attor-
ney Charles S. Gordon of Los Angeles,
which represented the possibility OF
injustice being done Col. Young at |
the present time. The correspon-
dence follows:
My Dear Prof. Miller:
Through you to the students of
Howard | desire to extend my con-
gratulations on their success in pro-
curing the training camp for Negro
officers at Des Moines. Considering
all the circumstances and conditions
existing in our country today, it
certainly was a great victory of the
students of Howard for our race.
Since they have done so well in that
matter, | am inclined to invoke their
aid in an effort originating with me,
for greater victory along the same
lines.
You perhaps have already heard
that Captain Davis, of the Ninth
Cavalry, has been sent to the Philli-
pines with his Cavalry in spite of his
request for permission to remain and
render service with the colored SOL
diers in France. You perhaps also
know that Lieut.. Col. Young has been
ordered to Presidio, our army hos
pital, or medical observation and
&c i,,0 70 INV in
vestigation, enjoying the very best
treatment, in spite of the fact that
health Of his life. There seems to be
a disposition on the part of the ad-
ministration to either isolate our
regular commissioned army officers,
or put them on the retired list, and it
would be contrary to the time honor
ed custom and precedent of the War
Department, to order commissioned
officers into the army hospital, and
then permit them co come out of that
hospital, except on the retired list.
1t is the opinion of men we'll informed
on the subject, in this locality, that
Col. Young will be retired by the
government for the purpose of pre-
venting his further advancement in
the army, and his actual participa-
tion in the present war.
You remember that the only three
commissioned officers in the regular
army, aside from the army chaplain
are Col. Young, Capt. Davis, now en-
route to the Philippines, and Capt.
Green, stationed at Liberia, all of
whom ought to be considered in the
organization of the separate division
Of the 10000 colored troops now be-
ing organized. But it now appears
that neither of these officers will, in
any way be connected or associated
with that division. 1t would certain
ly be as cowardly an act on our part
to sit idly by and submit, without
protest, to the retirement of Young
as it will be on the part of the Wal
Department, through its Army hos.
pital, which brings it about. l am
also informed that an Ohio senator
protested vigorously against the de-
partment's order of Davis to the
Philippines, but of course, without
avail. Isn't there some method which
can be pursued in behalf of our col
ored commissioned officers which
would not embarrass them on on thu
records of the war department?
CHARLES S. DARDEN.
In transmitting this letter Prof
Miller said:
The Secretary of War, Washington,
D. C.
My Dear Sir: | beg leave to sub
NIT the enclosed complaint agains
the War Department. l am indis
posed to believe that any department
1f fha nf ha TTnitpI
States would place stumbling bloc
in the way of the patriotism of tn
humbles America citizen. I beg t
hope that the War Department
through an authorized statement
will set at rest all such suspicious a
are contained in the enclosed com
munication.
July 5, 1917.
KELLY MILLER.
In response to Dean Miller's lette
on July 7, the War Department is
sued the following statement:
Dear Dean Miller:
I have received your note of Jul
S, and return herewith the complain
which you enclosed. | am very hal
py to tell you that the work at De
Moines Camp is progressing remark
ably we'll, and the reports have frol
1t are very good. The spirit of tn
men is fine, and apparently this Ell
campment is going to do very gres
deal of good, both to the country an
to the men involved.
Your correspondent write chief
concerning Lieut.. Col. Young, a co
ored officer of the regular army an
graduate of West Point, and ma
with a fine record for service in tt
army. Some time ago board Of o
ficers passed upon his health ar
found him completely incapacitate
for service; not obviously and visibl
but because, unfortunated, Of the
finding that he was afflicted with
chronic disease. My recollection
that 1t was Bright's disease. tt
report of the board was approved
the surgeon general, but in view
the fact that Col. Young's reco