The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-01-24

were written denying statements OF
| this character, and, as Il net result,
1.-The President issued d statement on
Friday. July 22, 1918, deprecatine and
denouncing mob action, and that is
labout the last that was heard Of the
German propaganda among the Me-
igroes." | have particular pleasure in
bringing this testimony to your atten-
ltion because of the fact that the con-
ference referred to was composed of
some fifty leaders of Negro thought
lard opinion; 1t was called under the
1auspices Of the War Department and
/ the Committee on Public Information.
! an, glad to have had the honor Of
| presiding at the conference referred
The fear that now seems to prevail
lin the South over the Negroes home
looming after the war is, in my opin-
lion. equally without foundation. This
| is the Negroes natural home and here
1.-THE masses of the race will continue
to reside, II is to be hoped. for many
years, in peace and profitable indus
TRY. The Negro soldiers will soon be
returning to their native land the
]only land they have ever known, hi.
defense of which they haye been will
ling To give their lives in time of war,
and In the reconstruction of which
/ they we're eager to give their best
lenergies III time Of peace, Thousands
Of thern volunteered for military and
inaval service regardless of the Sc
lective Service Law, and they will re-
turn no less anxious to perform their
afull duties as citizens and to live IN
peace with their fellow men, asking
lin return only the full protection OF
the law Of their land the guarantee
Iof Life, liberty, and the pursuit Of hap
lpiness.
/ The returning Negro soldier will
Iaas,t BIZ the foul wretch from which to
Islslsink III terror, or d plague from
which To flee III fear, as some seem I'd
think. He will return both physically
land mentally benefited by reason Of
his military training and experience
Itsuring the great world war, and nat
Iurally lie will return 10 the Southland
Iand other sections with broader VII
sion and appreciation of American
Ieitizenship, as well aa with new ideas
lof what liberty and freedom mot li-
aeeu#s3 lpalls nscan, lIe llass elsaaly
i shown his eager willingness to dis
j charge the duties and responsibilities
of American citizenship, and it is de
youtly hoped that fair-minded Amer
leans ii all parts Of the country will
Iealmly and justly recognize the fact
/ that he is, therefore, entitled 10 all Of
the rights and privileges which the
flaws Of our country offer to all other
Iciasses Of our common citizenship.
Primarily the Negro Is the means
Iby which the people of the golden
Southland are nourished and strength
ened through his diligent efforts To
coax out OF the ground DEMONSTRATING
food products. According to the last
official census, Negro farmers in the
South numbered 893,37o, constituting
fourteen per cent OF the total number
| of farmers of all classes in the coun-
try as d whole, while in point of pop
lnlation the Negro race constituted
but i0,7 per cent. of the total popula-
Ition of the United States.
| The Negro is the greatest labor fac
tor IN the South. His loyalty and pa
Itriotism remain unquestioned. A race
composed Of such people cannot be
other than an asset. 1t Is true that
here and there the undesirable and
criminal abound, as in al races you
will find them, but the sane, law
abiding, Industrious Negro is legion,
and millions of them have justly
learned the respect of their various
communities.
! Unf0unded Fear Concerning Return
OF Negro Soldiers.
/ Have no fears that when these SOL
diers DO whom | have referred deturn
from the war, having aided in their
country's triumph, that they will, over
might, as it were, become a menace to
lpublic peace and order. The Negro
soldier will return better citizen be-
cause he has learned the value Of
discipline. He has improved in health
land has a knowledge Of what to avoid,
land what to do in order to maintain
and stimulate healthy mind and
Ibodg. 1t may be safely assumed that
his heretofore ahnormally high sick
land death rate will be lowered, and
this, incidentally, will mean much for.
lour Southern communities.
It would be most unfortunate, in
Ideed, II threatened conditions In tsie
South, which have been repeatedly re-
.ferred to and rightly discouraged by
Southern editors and many OF the
Heading white and colored citizens Of