The Colorado statesman., 1918-05-11

ready officers in the four regiments
and companies. there are now about
]. 900. Negro officers in the United
States army.
The Attitude of the Negro Soldier.
But all of the foregoing is wholly
physical. One naturally asks what is
the inner feeling of these men How
do they feel about the whole thing
have talked with many of the rank
and file of negro draftees and volun-
teeers as well as of state guards.
talked to one group of half dozen
Negro soldiers in Atlanta, who were
at Camp Gordon, | put the question
something like this:
Il suppose you feel proud to wear
the uniform of your country
Yes" said one.
DO you like the army life
Not very well We have not been
fitted out yet with all of our equip
ment. | reckon we'll like it better
when we git more used to it,"
Would you rather be home
In some ways, yes. We would like
to be home with the old folks and with
our friends, but I don't b'lieve we
colored folks will ever git chance
again like this to serve our country
so for our own race and our country,
we feel it's our duty to go.'
talked with men also at Camp
Meade, in Petersburg, Virginia, and
from the two camps at Newport News
Stuart and Hill. These gave similar
answers the language sometimes
crude, but all expressing the same
loyal spirit colored man who was
made a captain at Des Moines leaves
an aged mother to care for four chill
dren, his wife having died few years
ago. II could probably resign in view
of home conditions, but my country is
first | have made ample provisions
by insurance, etc. for my mother and
children so far as I am able. 1 feel
my country needs me, and l must help
my government in the training of these
unutrained colored soldiers as well as
leading them to battle for the pro-
lection of our own flag" this man told
me- l got similar expression from
very prominent Negro lawyer and
physician. now an officer in the Ohio
National Guard. Thousands of black
mothers and wives and sisters, to say
nothing of fathers, have wept as these
men have left home. and very few, II
any, have raised voice in protest on
account of the past hnfairness which
the Negro has had to undergo.
MIR. Gompers' Opinion.
Mr. Samuel Gompers. of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, expresses
what in my opinion is not only the
Negros sentiment throughout the
country but what is becoming the true
American sentiment when he says;
What will come out of the war Tor
labor In n word, emancipation from
every vestige of wrong and injustice
out of this war the men of labor OF
the democracies of the world VIII
come, standing upright; no longer like
men with the hoe. There is new
concept among mankind-the question
Am I my brothers keeper this war
and the democracies of the world are
going to answer in the affirmative
If | have ready history right there
has never been any great struggle in
the history of the word that has not
! had it's baptism in blood. And the
great cause of human liberty and JUS
tice is being baptized in human blood;
and the spirit of freedom, of human
justice. of human brotherhood will
triumph here, as in Europe. l ask you
to believe in the loyalty of the great
mass of the people who toll"
And Secretary Daniels, a Southerner,