The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-08-01
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS


In connection with the national de-
fense movement, Negroes are raising
the question of race segregation in
the American army. Negroes are en-
listed in the army, it is reliably report
ed, only in the Oath and 25th Infantry
and the 9th and 10th Cavalry. This
last regiment has been broken up in
to three parts, in widely separated
army posts. This arrangement, prom
inent Negroes charge, prevents train
ing of the regiment as combat unit
and the men are used as "aides, serv
ants, groomsmen and hostlers."
Three Negro Chaplains are assigned
to Negro regiments, II are in the Re-
serve Corps and three are in the Civ
ilian Conservation Corps. 1t is said
there are only two other Negro COM
missioned officers in the army and
neither of these is on active duty.
The Federal Council of Churches
points out that the present situation,
of course, must be considered against
the background of the World War. Ne
groes were subject to the draft as were
the white citizens and apparently were
forced to supply more than their share
of recruits, simply because of their
race.
X X X
Dr. Emmett ]. Scott, Special Assist
ant to the Secretary of War, to ad-
wise on matters affecting Negro SOL
diers, tells what happened. In only
few places were there Negroes on the
draft boards and none anywhere in the
South, DR.. Scott says.
The difficulties that this situation
raised for Negroes are indicated by the
fact that "three local draft boards
were peremptorily ordered removed by
the Secretary of War because of their
fragrant injustice to Negroes"
"Instances upon instances" says
DR.. Scott, "can be cited to show that
the Negro did not get a square deal
in the draft; in many sections he con-
tributed many more than his quota;
and in defiance of both the spirit and
the letter of the draft law, Negro mar
ried men with large families to sup
port were impressed into military SER
vice regardless of their protests and
appeals. :. :"
According to the 1920 census Ne
groes constituted 90 per cent Of the
total population QO.7 in 1910) but
1903 per cent Of all those drafted
from June 5, 1917, to November II,
1913, were Negroes. In the first draft
1928 per cent of all the Negroes reg
istered were called to the colors but
only 2475 per cent of the white men.
In one county in Georgia, Ga per cent
of the white men called in a single
period were exempted, Al per cent on
physical grounds. But only 2.9 per
cent of the Negroes examined by the
same board were excused for all
reasons.
An Investigator found that in some
parts of the South "colored men en-
ployed by planters were exempted if
the planters put in requests for ex-
emption," but independent farmers
with families were "often arbitrarily
drafted, even though they were clear
ly justified in claiming exemption"
<
"The primary concern of American
business today is that our country not
become involved in any foreign war.
Business is not looking for the ad-
vantage of war profits and definitely
is opposed to sending American boys
and young men to fight on foreign
soil.
"This does not mean that business
favors peace at any price. On the con-
trary, it believes that every provis-
ion should be made for the national
defense. Peace for ourselves best can
be assured by providing ourselves
with navy, air force, and military
supplies adequate for any emergency" :"
James S. Kemper, president, Cham
Der of Commerce Of the United States.