The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-05-29

WASHINGTON, D. C.-In the May
issue of The Crisis magazine. DIR. W.
T.. B. Dubois. Editor. attempts to "quiz'
DR.. Emmett ]. Scott, Special Assistant
TO the Secretary of War. regarding Ger
tain conditions said to exist among
Negro troops In France and, in the
course of public addresses. recently
delivered by DR.. Dubois in Washing
ton, ID. c., and Richmond, Va. made
yeiled insinuations concerning the way
and manner in which he claims DR..
Scott has been looking after the vel
fare of Negro soldiers overseas.
When the matter was mentioned to
DR.. Scott. he said:
''Yes, I have read DR.. Dubois ques-
ti0ns as propounded and sent around to
the colored newspapers through his ed-
vance sheets. Apparently he seeks to
discredit one who, according to his own
testimony. has been laboring in the
War Department under very difficult
circumstances" and who has never
failed during the war to take a firm
stand for tie rights of Negro soldiers
at home and overseas. In the first
place | do not recognize the usurped
right of DR.. Dubois to call me to ac-
count of my stewardship. am willing
to leave to that loyal, unbiased, and
sane jury of twelve million cOlOred
Americans. whose interests l have en-
deavored to represent in the War De.
partment, the verdict as to whether or
not have done my full duty. l am
now preparing an account of my stew
ardship which will be presented to
that Jury at the right time and in the
proper way.
Ia the representative capacity have
been serving during the war necessar-
lily welcomed the loyal and unselfish
cooperation" of all cOlored Americans,
whether of the radical or conservative
type, but again quoting the words of
DR.. Dubois, my association with him
during the war has been CAT THE
COST OF SUSPICION AND CRITI-
CISM. for have been repeatedly warn
ed that he is neither unselhsh nor sin
cere.
1t is rather amusing, however. to read
on pages and Of the same issue of
THE CRISIS, wherein DR.. Dubois as
sumes the self-appointed task of in
einuating my alleged neglect or failure
to do certain things or everything" in
the article headed my MISSION" he
says 81 went to Paris. What did
do when got there? First, THERE
WE'RE CERTAIN THINGS THAT /
DID NOT DO. But it did not
follow that because / COULD NOT DO
EVERYTHING l COULD DO MOTH
ING
How Complaints We're Handled
Now. it was precisely the same when
I came to Washington and began 20
labor under very dificalt circum-
stances las Or. Dubois states it) in
che War Department There we're GER
tain things that | did not do" and l
soon found that IL COULD NOT 10
EVERYTHING" but there were G
number of important things coaEd
do and lid do for the benefit of Nero
soldiers in camps az home as well az
overseas. Of course. no sane person
would ask or expect a man holding a
confidential! position in great Depart
ment of the Government to reveal in
public print official and confidential in
formation, but rs proof o. the fact that
complaints concerning Negro soldiers
overseas reported to me by Negro of.
ficers. Negro Chaplains. and Negro and
other American civilians. did receive
prompt action at my hands, submit
at this time just 4 few OF the many let
ters which have received from Negro
officers who actually served overseas
and from other men who brought spe
cific complaints aAt grievances of Ne
gro soldiers overseas la ny Office for
attention. These lctterg cypress ap.
probation of the satisfactory and, in
most cases. the effective way in which
have taken up and handled all such
complaints
BE it remembered that American
white officers and soldiers had their
hardohips, troubles and grievances. as
well as the Negro troops belonging to
the American Expeditionary forces
some Of which they had to endure and
all Of which it was not possible for
even the War Department in Washing
ton altogether to remove or remedy