The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-28

number had gone to ask if they might
be allowed to take part in it. waited
until this messenger had returned and
said that he was told that they would
be given position in the line in just
a little while. After little an officer
called them to place in one of the
companies being formed. They re-
NAMED in position for a few minutes
Then they were called aside, and / no
ticed that an officer was talking to them
and presently the five Negro soldiers
withdrew. / was interested to know the
reason and asked them the cause for
the strange action One of them replied
that the officer had told them they
would have to take a subordinate posi-
ton, that is position inferior to the
white soldiers, or they could not march
in the parade. He remarked that in
that case they would not march at all,
and they walked away grieved but
without remonstrance.
Feeling that great wrong had been
done to some of Uncle Sans soldiers,
I registered my protests to company
of officers, and was told that, in po-
lite way they were given to understand
that they were not wanted. An officer
asked me if / cared to have my son
march beside a Negro soldier. / re.
piled that under these circumstances |
would be ashamed of him if he refused.
Now, Mr.. Editor, have no brief for
the Negro race. / do not advocate So
cial equality between the races. I can
see how segregation might be advan-
tageous to all concerned, but / do hold
that taking those soldiers out of the
line Wednesday was carrying the race
question too far. This act was very in
discreet and calls attention to eondi-
ton existing in our nation which, II
not needed, will destroy our whole sys-
tenn. We have something over twelve
million Negroes in the United States.
1t is estimated that in fifty years we
will have between forty and fifty mil
lions of black people. Nor is this all,
they are moving north in large quanti-
ties. 1t is very likely that in fifty
years they will be scattered largely
through the entire country. These peo-
pie are becoming more and more edu-
Gated and wealthy. The Negro citizens
in the future will be just such citizens
as we white people train them to be.
They will love this country just in pro-
portion as their institutions afford them,
with the whites, common protection,
and secures for them reasonable recog-
milton for service rendered.
1t can readily be seen that if we go
on refusing to them what is just rec
ognition, if we continue to call them
"niggers, if we continue to refuse
them recognition in patriotic parades,
especially recently returned soldiers we
are breeding class of people that are
not likely to endure without protest.
Here is fertile soil for the I. w. w.
In the near future the organized Negro
voter will be the "'balance of power
at the ballot box. He is fast learning
that the two old parties care nothing
for him, only as voting asset. In not
many years hence the Negro will de-
stroy this government, or save it. He
will save it if we allow him to preserve
his self respect, if we make him feel
that it pays to be a man, if we make
hi feel that when he goes to war for
Uncle Sam and returns, he will have
honorable recognition with any other
man for the same service rendered. The
Negro is an American and he wants to
continue to be one. He is willing to
Saw the wood and draw the water.'
He only asks equality under the law, a
man s chance. 1t does not lessen our
obligation to the Negro if we call to
mind the bad characters among them.
The pot should not call the kettle |
black If you consider the large num-
Der of Negroes in this country who have
light skins you will get my point here.
President Wilson is abroad preaching
democracy. He may well return and
teach us anew the first principles of our
profession.
Respectfully yours,
REV. r. f. J. THOMPSON.
Palo, Iowa.