The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1919-11-22
Southern Delegation Defeated
On Question OF States Rights

strated the straight forwardness OF
policy and sincerity of intention on
which principles it was founded. Con-
siderable anxiety was felt before the
opening of the meeting on the ques-
ton of eligibility of Negroe to mem
bership in this body in states OF the
South, where the establishment OF
Negro posts or the admission of Ne
goes to memberships in posts. was
determined by State posts. 1t has
been practically impossible for Ne
groes to secure membership in such
q body in states like South Carolina,
Virginia and Georgia, because of the
restrictions of State posts of eligible
members.
C. c. Middleton, of Victory Post
No. 2, Savannah, Georgia, has for
severa months attempted to secure
a charter for this post thru the Geor-
gia division of the American legion
The final election vas sent with
checks and application for charter
and an ultimatum to the effect that
applications for charter can be made
by posts composed of Caucasians.
A representative number of col
ored delegates We're present; K. G..
Long, Omaha, Neb.; c. NJ. Cain of
Atlantic City, n. :; William Wallace,
Shreveport, La. Walter Fearouer, st.
Louis, Mo-; Martin n. Marshall, De-
troit Mich. J. NJ. Whitmore, Little
Rock, Ark; F. w. Perkins, Denver,
Col; Alex Mann, Washington, d.
c.; Allen r. Farrell, Philadelphia Pa.
Ernest r. Mckinney, Pittsburg, Pa. !;
Charles C. Middleton, Savannah, Ga. ;
Thomas David, Little Rock, Ark; Ed
gar A. Love, Baltimore, Nd; F. X.
Stewart, Fort Wayne, Ind; James
Richards, Chester, Pa; A. W. Prior,
Boston, Mass. Henry J. Walker, St.
Paul, Mimi.
lie SOuliittiI dtltSdliOil III Ntlatu
drew up the resolution for presen-
tation before the body, proposing sub
posts for Negroes which would act
as auxiliaries to regular posts. The
officers of these posts were to be
white and only white persons would
be permitted to represent these posts
In conferences.
The committe on eligibility headed
by Major J. S. Spingarn of New
York, after consultation with the
southern delegation received from
them what they termed a gentle
mems agreement on their yord of
honor as southern gentlemen" that
as compromise they would not
bring up the question of eligibility
or present their resolution. The sin
cerity of this proposal was questioned
Immediately by c. C. Middleton, col
ored physician from Savannah, and
counter resolutions were drawn up.
The fight for eligibility of Negroes
was waged with the support of the
entire Negro representation, espe-
cially from Pennsylvania and the de
legation from Illinois, headed by Col
Foreman, Commandant of the lllinoi:
Division. The report of the eligi
bility committee was accepted as fol
lows:
SECTION X.
Any person shall be eligible fol
membership in the American Legior
who was regularly enlisted, drafted
indicted or commissioned, and who
served on active duty in the Army
Navy or Marine Corps of the United
States at some time during the perioc
between April 6, 1917 and November
/ II, 1918, both dates inclusive, or who
/ being a citizen of the United States
at the time of his entry therein
served on active duty in Naval, Mill
larry or Air forces of any of th'
/ Governments associated with tht
I United States during the Great War
/ provided, that no person shall b.
entitled to membership (a) who be
ing in the Army, Navy or Marine
Corps of the United States durini
said period, refused on conscientious
political and other grounds, to sub
iect himself to military discipline o
unqualified service, or (b) who, be
ing in such service, was separated
therefrom under circumstance
discharge and has not subsequently
been officially restored to an honor
able status.
SECTION ii.
There shall be no form of class o
membership except an active mem
bership as hereinbefore provided.
J. J. McSWAIN, chairman.
A. DONALD SLANEY, Sec.
The support of Colonel Forema
NJ i H.