The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1918-11-07

New York, Nov. AT a mon
ster patriotic meeting Saturday
night at Carnegie Hall, under the
auspices of The Circle of Negro
War Relief, the principal speaker
was Irwin S. Cobb, the famous war
correspondent, who has recently
returned from the French front,
where he was witness to some of
the most important battles of the
present conflict Of the Allies
against Germany. Mr.. Cobb's
theme was "The Negro Soldier"
and his remarks were Of special
interest because of his intimate
contact with the colored American
warriors during their trying "bap-
tisms of fire"
Prominent among other speak
ers who were heard on this occa-
sion was Emmett J. Scott, secre-
tary of Tuskegee Institute, Ala,
and for eighteen years the conf
Dental secretary of the late Book
er T. Washington. He was ap-
pointed a little more than year
ago by Secretary Newton ID. Ba-
ker as a Special Assistant to the
Secretary of War, to advise him
with reference to the many deli
cate problems growing out of the
relation Of the 12,000,0 900 Negroes
of this country to the war, and to
indicate to his people how they
might render the most effective
aid in bringing victory to the
American arms.
The Negro's Part in the World
Wide War.
DR.. Scott prefaced his address
with the declaration that this is
Che peoples war-not white
man s war, not a black man s war,
but war of all the people under
the Stars and Stripes for the pres
ervation of human liberty thru
out the world" In this conflict
for liberty and worldwide democ-
racy, DR.. Scott said "The Negro
is proving to be notable and in
spring figure" He warned his
people not to be deceived by unof
fetal statements or expressions
that peace is near, declaring that
an enduring peace will never come
until the enemy is decisively beat
en-, and pledging the continuance
of the loyal black battlers in the
forefront of strife to the very fin
ish-until an honorable peace has
been enforced or obtained.
Nearly 100000 Colored Americans
Under Arms.
DR.. Scott noted that there are
now overseas, at grips with the
master infancy of the civilized
world or awaiting the call to act
i've combat, nearly 100000 gallant
black soldiers, the fruit ana flow
er of the Negro race. These, he
said, represent a response of more
than so per cent Of the total num-
ber of Negroes registered in the
draft, and larger proportionate
number than has been true Of 9TH
.er racial groups registered under
the first draft. "And this num-
ber," added DIR. Scott, takes no
account of the sturdy, outstanding
men of my race who are members
of the four crack regiments OF
the Regular Army, nor Of the H.
000 brawny men who came into
service through the National
Guard organizations, such as the
Fighting Fifteenth of New York,
which has. along with others, won
mperishable fame on the battle
field in France. " He pointed with
pride to the fact that while the
Negro represented only 5 per cent
of the first draft registration the
race has actually contributed 15
per cent to the number called to
the colors under said draft. He
noted also that in every 100 in the
first draft examined for service,
proximately 36 per cent of the Ne
rroes were accepted, while only
q per cent of the whites were ac-
eepted. difference of II per cent
in the Negroes favor for physi-
cal quality. This, he contended,
1issipates the ancient yarn about
the black race being a deteriorat-
INC or tlecadent people. Relative
" fever colored men claimed ex-