Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-04-20
SOLDIERS IN THE BLACK
DIVISION ADVISED TO
ACCEPT COLOR
INSULTS
OFFICERS AND MEN OF NINETY.
SECOND DIVISION ARE AID
MONISHED IN OFFICIAL
ORDERS.

Tho National Association for the
Advancement OF Colored People,
through it's Secretary, John II. Shil-
lady, makes public the following
letter addressedEto the War Depart
mont concerning an order issued on
March 2S, 1913, by command OF
Major General Ballou, Division Com.
mander Of the Ninety-second Division
Camp Funston, Kansas, in which
colored officers and mon are advised
that mo useful purpose will be served
by any action upon their part that
VIII cause the color question to be
raised, and admonishing them to
refrain from going where their
presence will be resented"
The Association directs the War
Departments attention to the fact
that Major General BaIlou's order
concerns Illegal actions taken against
colored, officers and not illegal Or
unworthy acts performed by coloEed
soldiers themselves
C0pies' OF the Division order ahd
the Associations letter follows :
Ninoty-8econd Bivisfon
Camp FhnBt;on, Nansaa, ,,,.r.
.-.s March 2S, 1918. = :.
Bulletin No. 35. -
i. 1t should BIO we'll known to- ali
coiored officers and men that no use
full purpose is served by such acts
as will cause the color question" to
be raised. 1t is not question Of
legal rights, but IL question of policy,
and any policy that tends to bring
about conflict Of races, WITH it's
resultant ,mosities, is prejudicial
to the military interest Of the Ninety
second Division, and. therefore pre-
judicial to an important interest of
the colored race.
=. TO AVOID such conflicts the
Division Commander has repeatedly
urged that all colored members of
his command. and especially the
officers and noncommiss :oncd officers,
should refrain from going where
their presence will be resented. In
spite of tn injunction, ono, OF the
Scrgcants of tho Medical Department
has recently precipitated the precise
trouble that should be avoided. and
then called on the Division Com
mander to take sides lin Tow THAT
should never have occurred and
would not have occurred had the
Sergeant placed the general good
above his personal pleasure and con-
ven.ence.
This Sergeant entered theatre,
as he undoubtedly had legal, right
to do. and precipitated trouble by
making 1t poss BILE to allcge race dis
elimination in the seat lie was & ven.
He is strictly within his legal rights
III this matter. and the theatre man
ager is legally wrong. Nevertheless,
tho Sergeant is guilty of the greater
wrong in doing ANYTHING, no
matter how LEGALLY correct, that
will provoke race luminosity.
). The Division Commander re-
peats that the success Of the Division,
with all that that success implies,
is dependent upon the good will of
the public. That public is nine
tenths white. White men made the
Division, and they can break it just
as easily il il becomes trouble
maker.
4. All concerned are again en-
10 ned TO place the general interest
of the Division above personal pride
and qualification. Avo d every sit
uation that can give rise to racial
'l-will. Attend quietly and faith
fully to your duties, and don't go
where your presence is not desired.
5. This will be read to all organ
iZat ons OF the Ninety-sccond Division
BY command of Maj.-Gen. Ballou:
ALLEN ]. GREER,
Lieutenant Colonel, General Staff,
Chief Of Staff.
Onicial:
EDWARD J. TURGEON,
Captain, Assistant Adjutant,
Act ng Adjutant