Sunday Chicago bee. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??, 1942-03-01
Hon, ARTHUR w. MITCHELL
Of Illinois
In the House of Representative
Wednesday, February Is, 1912

In the House of Representative
Wednesday, February Is, 1912
MIR. MITCHELL. Mr.. Speaker
startling revelation in connec-
ton with the downfall Of Singa-
pore, made by responsible au-
thority, is to the effect that the
largest contributing factor to the
defeat of the defending forces was
Britain's refusal and failure to
use the native soldiers. While
Britain's treatment Of her native
soldiers was unjust and ,contribut-
ed to the failure of the British SOL
der himself, it is far better than
the treatment which the American
Negro soldier receives at the
hands of large portion Of our
civilian population, and ! think,
the War and Navy Departments
themselves.
I am putting in the Record
here letter on this subject,
which carries excerpts from a
confidential report l have received
from Texas. l have had similar
reports from many other sections
Of the country. I know it is the
duty Of the War Department to
see to it that Negro soldiers are
safe from attacks by civilians in
camps and in their maneuvers. A
casual look at what is now taking
place in some parts Of the coun-
try will convince one beyond all
doubt that Americas attitude to-
ward Negro soldiers is worse and
more abominable than the attl-
tude Of the British soldiers and
the British Government toward
the natives in and around Singa-
pore. Just as Britain is failing
to win in this conflict, due in
part to its own discrimination,
America might suffer a like fate
if we insist upon destroying the
morale of one-tenth Of its fighting
strength. Again | plead for JUS
tice and recognition for the Negro
citizens of America, especially the
South, where these outbreaks
have been most frequent.
The letters follow:
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES
House Of Representatives
Washington, D. c., February -,
1912
MAJ. GEN. ROBERT DONOVAN
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
My Dear General:
During this crucial crisis
through which the world, and
particularly the United States, are
now passing, nothing is more i'm
portant than complete unity and
cooperation in our own land and
country, Success in this strug-
gle is possible only through full
cooperation of all Of our citizens,
particularly our armed forces.
Recently there have occurred
several uprisings in the South be-
tween white civilians and uni
formed Negro soldiers. The NOR
ale Of the Negro has been ire
mendously lowered by the treat
ment Of the white civilian popu-
lation toward Negro soldiers in
some Of the camps in North Caro-
lima, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Texas, and other Southern states.
Hundreds of complaints have
rome to me from these places. In
some Of these States there has
already been the shedding of
blood and the de- truction of life
In others the threat is imminent.
| am writing to call your attention
particularly to the situation in
the Eighth Corps Area, ard quote
from a confidential report which
[ have dealing with the situation
at Houston, Texas:
"This past Saturday night while
a group CT soldiers from Filing
ton Field and Camp Wallace were
seated in tavern in the heart
of the Negro section of the third
ward, policeman (White) came
into the place and ordered You
niger soldiers to listen to him
while he delivered a lecture to
them on their iniquities. One in
telligent sergeant, resenting the
appellation, told the policeman
that he was Not a niger SOL
der, we are American soldiers.
The policeman answered him by
saying you are a niger soldier
if | say so, ard if you don't like
it I'll kill YOU
when he saw the temper Of
the soldier rising he sent in. a riot
call and several squad cars re-
sponded. From each car came
several policemen and some white
military policemen. When they
saw and heard what was going on
they backed up the officer in what
he said, the white policeman tell
ing them they were in the South
and were niggers and that they
would be treated as such as long
as they were there. To give the
boys credit they did not back up
an inch. They reiterated they were
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