The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-06
MADE ON NEGROES MINGL|NG
 WITH WHITES IN
 BUNK AND CAMP
Decatur Mass Meeting Takes Up Subject and Chaplain Smith Discusses the Incidents He Has
 Witnessed

At patriotic meetings held in Morgan county at Decatur, Albany and Hartselle, on the Fourth the white citizens by telegram which was sent to Senator John H. Bankhead as senior United States senator from Alabama:
 Decatur. Ala, July f. 1919. Senator John H. Bankhead, Washing ton:
 "Citizens of Decatur, Albany and Hart. selle petition the congressman and sena- tors representing Alabama to immedi- ately take all necessary steps to influ- ence the war department to discontinue the rules, or policy, whereby white off, cers belonging to casual companies from being compelled to eat in officers mess and on transports with negro officers, and for immediate change of conditions at certain casual camps in France and demobilzation camps in America where white soldiers have to form in line and eat with negro soldiers, and also at cer- tain camps in America where white sol, diers have to cook for and serve negro officers. The white soldiers of America fought for freedom and civilization. but rot for the abrogation of the sacred principle of white supremacy in civil and military affairs. This telegram indorsed by 200O white citizens of Morgan county. WHITE CITIZENS OF MORGAN COUNTY
 Capt E. P. Smith, former chaplain of the 16th regiment, Rainbow division, who came down from Decatur yesterday morning, described the three meetings cfi md mir in, of the motion to send the above telegram to the Alabama delegation in Congress- It was addressed to Senator Bankhead, becuase he is the senior senator from the state, but was intended for the en- tire delegation in both houses.
 Captain Smith made speeches at De- catur, Albany and Hartsele and read the telegram before it was filed with the telegrap ,mpany for transmission to Washiv
 there was one of the lar ever saw said Captain
 ing the meetings and the
 Il when the chairman read
 and asked those in favor of
 to the Alabama delegation
 went up. There were over
 citizens present, and so far as
 g, not one failed to indorse it
 s5t t to say that in casual camps
 a at Blois. not only were white
 d up with negro troops in mess
 t white officers had to eat in
 officers mess with negro officers
 occupy at night the same bar
 or sleeping quarters. have heard
 at times the same condition of af- existed at St Agnian, which was lacement depot and casual camp
 Also, soldiers who were separated from their command and sent to these various replacement depots have often told me the same story. They expressed their humiliation in no uncertain terms "A large number of negro officers were around the camps of this character and frequently they were placed on duty where they had authority over white troops, thereby producing anything but a pleasant feeling, whether the white soldiers were from the north or the south.
 Some of the boys who went over with the Dixie division in the fall of 1918 told me that they had to line up and eat with negroes at Brest and on at least one occasion at Le Mans.
 At the officers training camp at Con- drecourt. France, at least one Alabama