The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-05-17
COL0RED OFFICERS and
The REGULAR ARMY
Chief of Staff Revokes Finding of Army Board Which
Declared Negroes Disqualified for Officers and
Leaders of Men Record in all Wars Show
Race is not Deficient in Moral Fiber

Special to The Wis. Weekly Blade.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. May 15.-Let-
ters have been forwarded to the War
Department by Bishop Charles Spencer
Smith as chairman OF the Commission
on After War Problems. Of the A. NJ Z.
church, w. T. Andrews, editor OF The
Daily Herald, Baltimore, Nd and
others Of like prominence in public af-
fairs, calling attention to an endorse
ment which had been placed on the ap-
plication filed by colored officer who
had been overseas. relative to his fit
ness for admission into the Regular
Army. The endorsement, or recon-
mendation, signed by A Board of offic
ers. appointed to investigate the quail
fiCations of candidates for assignments
in the reorganized United States Army,
after summing up all citations and OBJ
serN atoms, was as follows:
The Board recommends that he be
not examined Reason: unqualified by
reason Of the qualities inherent in the
Negro race: an opinion of the Board.
based on the testimony of five white
officers serving with the S6Sth Infan
try. Negroes are deficient in moral
fiber rendering them unfit as officers
and leaders Of men"
War Record OF Negroes Refutes Absurd
Finding Of Army Board
The writer's of the communications
to the War Department. in addition to
cOndemning the injustice to the officer
involved made it quite plain that the
cofored people of the country resent
most strenuously the reflection upon
the race as a whole in the bald declara
ton that Negroes are deficient in NOR
al fiber. etc" and regard it as an un
sustained indictment Of the entire race
as a group Of incOmpetents and fail
ures. They declared the charge to be
absolutely descredited by the written
record of the brilliant achievements of
cOlored officers under fire in the liercest
Oifensives of the war. and by the pub
lished testimony of General Pershing.
of Colonel Hayward. and of a score of
French officers of highest military
standing. all of whom had the advan-
tage of knowing exactly how the col
ored commanders bore themselves at
cEHcfaI periods en- the field of battle
The Objectionable memorandum is
refuted, the writer's assert, by the un-
broken chain of valorous deeds and
herOism Of Negroes in all the wars Of
the Republic from Bunker Hill to Car
rizal and in France from Verdun to the
siege of Metz.
No Exclusion of Any Officer or Ac-
count of Color
DR.. Emmitt j Scott. Special Assis
tant to the Secretary Of War taking
up the matter directly with the War
Department. made this repy upon the
of the officials having charge
of the question at issue. in letter ad
dressed to Editor Andrews, Of the Balti
more Herald
With reference TO the marked copy
of The Daily Herald. containing an cd
itOrial, quoting an endorsement placed
upon the discharge of a colored lieuten-
ant who applied for retention in the
service. | beg to say that this whole
matter has been before the War De
partment. and | am pleased TO inform
you that the Chtef Of STAFF has person
dIlv directed the Commanding General
ut camp Meade TO revokc the finding.
he has also directed that IN the matter
of c0IOred officers being commissioned
IN the ArmU. there IS TO be ma exclusion
on account Of color
Il am sure you will be pleased that
this action das been taken by the War
Department. and I personally share
with you and the entire race the salts
faction Of feeling that the finding quot
cd by you. and winch was placed upon
tho record of the colored officer. will
not appear on his permanent record as
fled "a the War Department"
Tile answer OF Dr. Scott TO the editor
OF the Baltimore Herald will serve as
a reply 70 the many iuquirers who have
shown an anxiety 70 know the status
Of colored officers who desire 70 be re-
tainod for service in the Regular Army.
Tie government or India conducts
two cinchoua plantations and factory
IN Bengal which In the last thTes years
have produced more than 10000 pounds