Jackson advocate., 1942-04-25
Negro Youth Will tFullerShareLn WarEffort-Dauis
Don't Become
Impatient, Davis
Advises Youth

TUSKEGEE, Ala. --(SNS) -
Warning his youthful hearers not
to become impatient, General 3.
o. Davis, Sr., addressing the clos
ing session of the All-Sorthern Me-
gro Youth Conference here Sunday
night, poi'lted out that he has
noticed general tendency In in
fluentie! official quarters to allow
the Negro youth a fuller share In
the war effort"
General Davis, only Negro to
hold this high rank In the United
States Army, was despatched by
the War Department at Tuskeges
Sunday to bring greetings from
Secretary of War Henry l. Stinson
and General George G. Marshall
hief of staff of the United States
Army.
The general's aGdress vas pre-
ceded by the election of William
Hale, Jr., of Nashville, president
of the conference. Miss Esther v.
Cooper of Birmingham was reflect
ed secretary. Charles Anderson was
named treasurer; Lewis Burnam,
organizational secretary and DR.. J
E. Jackson, Jr., Of Richmond, for
mer president, was made director
of public relations and educational
activities.
ACCEPTS SCROLL
General Davis before delivering
his address, accepted q scroll from
the conference to be delivered to
Private Joe Louis, who had been
named the Southern Negro Youth
Of the Year" by that body.
Resounding cheers greeted the
Introduction Of MIR. and Mrs. Con-
RE Miller of Waco, Texas, parents
of Dorie Miller tbs heroic mess
Inan, who manned a machine gun
on the bridge Of his battlesf1ip dur
ing the Pearl Harbor attack.
Dfsputing those who would belit-
tie the Negro as a soldier, General
Davis said: 81 believe that there
is no question about the Negroes
efficiency as q combat soldier
That has been demonstrated in all
the wars in which the United
States has engaged. From Boston
to the battlefields of Europe Me-
groes have distinguish themselves
by gallantry far beyond the call of
duty.
''The Negro officer, he contin-
ued, supporting the present setupi
for the training of Negro officers
as contrasted to the method used
n the last war, 'by reason Of lack
Of preparation and opportunity has
not yet established himself as q
leader Of combat troops IN modern
warfare. AS Negroes we must insist
hat there be no lowering Of the
'eouirements for eligibility for
raining in Officer Candidate
Schools and that the course of
raining must not be weakened OF
'educed on the theory that we are
IN inferior people and cannot ab-
orb the training required for COM
nand and leadership in modern
var.
NOTHING SPECIAL
eve ask for no special considera-
ion or special privileges he said
We must impress our comrades
With the fact that what we Go de-
ire is equal opportunity to share
n the obligations of citizenship
md in the hardships of prepara-
i'm For - L.
Is other people,
Americans have placed far too
much emphasis on race, General
Davis contended, adding 81 think
We should eliminate race altogeth.
II.
"In other words, we should try
o cultivate a spirit Of loyal citi-
;enship. I think racial distinctions
;hould be eliminated from our bo-
iy polite and we should think OF
Ill persons who constitute our ci.
,izenry as full citizens. Buts nv
'riends," he continued, @we must
De patient, as long established Gus
5orns cannot be changed overnight
eve must continually look for
ward to fitting ourselves for the re-
sponsibilities Of citizenship in or
der that we may enjoy the pace
for which we fight, and SO that we
may participate in the benefits OF
OUR form of government, the exist
ence of which is being challenged
oy strong and ruthless enemies
who strive nightly TO overcome US
not only abroad but here at home
by i,asidicus propaganda which aims
at disunity for our people.
sWe should muster ourselves for
a strenuous training program to
enable US to contribute our full
share toward victory as first-caIl
first-class fighting men in the
theatre of operations, as soldiers in
the zone of the interior, or as work.
ers in the field of production.
Actually we are all one great
team, for as wars are fought today
the civilian workers on the farms
and in the factories by the sweat