Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-05-10

him. or what use would it have been
he says is true? We emphasize It: "No
person in an official position dared
tell tho whole truth" How could he
have told il, had he been subject to
the orders Of the War Department.?
Mr.. Scott holds no rank in tho
regular army and is not subject to
the rules and regulations of the great
war machine that has built up the
caste system in this country. When
he tenders his resignation rs Special
Assistant to the Secretary of War, he
is as free as the average citizen
and he can open his own mouth as
, wide rs he plcascs. This is no. true
Of Il trooper in the regular army, who
may have his pension allowance af-
fcctcd by his adverse action. Dr.. Du
Bois then virtually states that he will
proceed with the work for he re-
marks:
! 3. That Notwithstanding The unfor-
tunatc duplication of effort and null
/ tiplying of histories. it is the plain
duty of the n. A. \. G. y. and The
Crisis to compile and publish u com
plctc history of '"rhc Negro in tho
Revolution Of the Twentieth Century,"
Such a history is, therefore, pro-
jcc.cd in three volumes, preceded by
Il brief forecast. The forecast will be
issued as a supplement- to tho Juno
Crisis. 1t will he Il short but complete
history Of the Negro in the war. 1t
will be followed this year by Volume
I Of the full history: Volumes II and
III will appear in 1920 ard 1901.
Every reader of Thu Crisis is ask
cd to help in the compilation of this
history. Please write US imrlcdia'c ely
aud let us know what cooperation
We may expect.
The war has ended on the other
side of the Atlantic, but it sccms TO
have "brokcn out" on this side, pro-
vidcd Hon. Emmett J. Scott sees fit
to meet the issue in the arena Of com
mcnt or in the forum Of debate. DR..
Du Bois continues his attack upon
Mr.. Scott when he says in an open
letter:
Tho Negro world and you will bear
us witness that The Crisis and its
Editor have given you loyal and I'M
selfish cooperation, even at the cost
of suspicion and criticism. We havo
done this, First, because the war de-
manded and had right to demand,
answering loyalty and unity on the
part of the nation and its constituent
groups; and, Secondly, because we
believed that you were doing all that
was possible under very difficult cir
cumstances. A visit TO Europe has
however, revealed to the Editor
state OF affairs in regard to Negro
troops which is simply astounding!
Some Of these facts We are publish
Ing this month and others we shall
reveal later. Meantime, VIC arc with
holding Judgment in your case and
simply asking you publicly three Ques
tions:
i. Did YOU know the treatment
which black troops were Receiving in
France?
2. II. you did Not know, why did
YOU not find out?
3. II you Did know, what did you
do about it?
Hon. Emmett J. Scott can, but will
hc answer these questions? DR.. Du
Bots has on his "fighting clothes"
blind man can almost sec that.
What is the meaning OF these attacks?
What is to be gained by this "war
in Africa?" Has Hon. Emmett J. Scott
been rccreant TO his trust? Dr.. Du
Bots intimatcs as much. II he has
the evidence, let him produce it. If
he is not sure Of his ground, let him
say so. We are free to admit that we
have been puzzled relative to the ST.
lence that has pcrvadcd the hcadquart-
crs or the apartments Of the Special
Assistant to the Secretary of War.
We wondered, if he had "bccn lost in
the shuttle" Did he do all that he
could 20 remedy these conditions? If
ho did not, he is justly subject to
adverse criticism. If he did he should
he the object Of unstinted praise.
His salary, we understand was one
dollar per year and the continuance
OF his allowance as Secretary OF Tus-
kcgcc Institute. 1t is cheap man,
who would have accepted the job at
ten thousand dollars per year. He
proved 4 most convenient buffer to
save white men from personal annoy
anco and in his archives complaints
evidently slept in "inocuous desue-
tude." o, the pity OF it!