Results of the classification of December 15, 1917 to September 11, 1918, in respect to colored and white registrants are shown in the following table:
Colored and white classification compared.    Number.     Percent       Percent
                                                          of total         of
                                                          classified.   classified.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total colored and white registered:
  June 5, 1917, to Sept. 11, 1918            10,640,846   100.00         -----
    Total colored registered                  1,078,331    10.13        100.00
      Class I                                   556,917    -----         51.65
      Deferred classes                          521,414    -----         -----
    Total white registered                    9,562,515    89.87        100.00
      Class I                                 3,110,659    -----         32.53
      Deferred classes                        6,451,856    -----         -----
Percentage accepted for service on calls before Dec. 15, 1917 (report for 1917).
                                  Colored         -----    -----         36.23
                                  White           -----    -----         24.75
It will be seen that a much higher percentage of Negroes were accepted for service than of white men. It is true that enlistments which were permitted white men but denied Negroes, depleted the whites eligible to Class 1 to some extent. Probably there were more Negro delinquents in proportion to their numbers in the south than white delinquents. The conditions under which they lived would account for that. Delinquents, under the regulations, were placed in Class 1. Then there is the undoubted fact that the Negro sought and was granted fewer exemptions on the ground of dependency. Many Negroes in the south, where the rate of pay was low, were put in Class 1 on the ground that their allotment and allowances while in the army, would furnish an equivalent support to their dependents. But whatever the reason, the great fact stands out that a much greater percentage of colored were accepted for service than white men. The following table gives the colored and white inductions by states:
                     Total colored  Colored                     Colored   Per
                     and white      registrants,  Percentage    inducted  Percent of
                     registrants,   June 5,       of colored    June 5,   colored
                     June 5, 1917,  1917, to      and white     1917, to  registrants.
                     to Sept. 11,   Sept. 11,     registrants.  Nov. 11,
                     1918.          1918.                       1918.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States         10,640,846    1,078,331     10.13        367,710    34.10
                     ===================================================================
Alabama                  206,210       81,963     39.75         25,874    31.57
Arizona                   40,179          295       .73             77    26.10
Arkansas                 168,287       51,176     30.4l         17,544    34.28
California               316,302        3,308      1.05            919    27.78
Colorado                  91,556        1,103      1.20            317    28.74
Connecticut              174,820        3,524      2.02            941    26.70
Delaware                  24,559        3,798     15.46          1,365    35.93
District of Columbia      36,670       11,045     30.12          4,000    36.22
Florida                   94,585       39,013     41.25         12,904    33.08
Georgia                  260,197      112,593     43.27         34,303    30.47
Idaho                     45,478          254       .56             95    37.40
Illinois                 707,070       21,816      3.09          8,754    40.13
Indiana                  283,731       11,289      3.98          4,579    40.56
Iowa                     240,703        2,959      1.23            929    31.40
Kansas                   167,266        5,575      3.33          2,127    38.15
Kentucky                 215,910       25,850     11.98         11,320    43.79
Louisiana                179,941       76,223     42.36         28,711    37.67
Maine                     68,104          163       .24             50    30.67
Maryland                 136,501       26,435     19.37          9,212    34.85
Massachusetts            397,698        6,044      1.52          1,200    19.85
Michigan                 411,019        6,979      1.70          2,395    34.32
Minnesota                249,291        1,541       .62            511    53.16
Mississippi              157,525       81,548     51.77         24,066    29.51
Missouri                 334,902       22,796      6.81          9,219    40.44
Montana                   97,073          320       .33            198    61.87
Nebraska                 132,107        1,614      1.22            642    39.78
Nevada                    12,640           59       .47             26    44.07
New Hampshire             41,694           77       .18             27    35.07
New Jersey               332,671       14,056      4.23          4,863    34.60
New Mexico                37,011          235       .63             51    21.70
New York               1,118,035       25,974      2.32          6,193    23.84
North Carolina           228,459       73,357     32.11         20,082    27.38
North Dakota              72,902           65       .09             87    -----
Ohio                     617,001       28,831      4.67          7,861    27.27
Oklahoma                 188,156       14,305      7.60          5,694    39.80
Oregon                    69,520          144       .21             68    47.22
Pennsylvania             902,469       39,363      4.36         15,392    39.10
Rhode Island              59,006        1,573      2.67            291    18.50
South Carolina           144,660       74,265     51.34         25,798    34.74
South Dakota              65,040          144       .22             62    43.06
Tennessee                213,409       43,735     20.59         17,774    40.64
Texas                    460,056       83,671     18.19         31,506    37.65
Utah                      46,099          169       .37             77    45.56
Vermont                   30,882           63       .20             22    34.92
Virginia                 206,072       64,358     31.23         23,541    36.57
Washington               124,125          373       .30            173    46.38
West Virginia            142,144       13,292      9.35          5,492    41.32
Wisconsin                266,219          718       .27            224    31.20
Wyoming                   24,892          280      1.12             95    23.93
Alaska                                                               5
Hawaii
Porto Rico



                     White         Percent of    White
                     registrants,  colored       inductions,  Percent
                     June 5,       and           June 5,      of white
                     1917, to      white         1917, to     registrants.
                     Sept. 11,     registrants.  Nov. 11,
                     1918.                       1918.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States        9,562,515     89.87         2,299,157    24.04
                     =====================================================
Alabama                124,247     60.25            33,881    27.27
Arizona                 39,884     99.27             8,036    20.15
Arkansas               117,111     69.59            31,768    27.13
California             312,994     98.95            60,148    21.13
Colorado                90,453     98.80            22,487    24.86
Connecticut            171,296     97.98            31,598    18.45
Delaware                20,761     84.54             3,628    17.48
District of Columbia    25,625     69.88             5,631    21.97
Florida                 55,572     58.75            12,012    21.62
Georgia                147,604     56.73            32,538    32.04
Idaho                   45,224     99.44            12,471    27.58
Illinois               685,254     96.91            68,729    24.62
Indiana                272,442     96.02            65,170    23.92
Iowa                   237,744     98.77            65,935    27.73
Kansas                 161,691     96.67            39,778    21.60
Kentucky               190,060     88.02            47,010    24.60
Louisiana              103,718     57.64            27,494    26.51
Maine                   67,941     99.76            15,216    22.40
Maryland               110,066     80.63            24,655    22.40
Massachusetts          391,654     98.48            75,367    19.24
Michigan               404,040     98.30            94,085    23.29
Minnesota              247,750     99.38            73,169    29.53
Mississippi             75,977     48.23            19,296    25.40
Missouri               312,106     93.19            83,624    26.79
Montana                 96,753     99.67            27,142    28.O5
Nebraska               130,493     98.78            29,165    22.35
Nevada                  12,581     99.53             8,138    24.94
New Hampshire           41,617     99.82             8,377    20.13
New Jersey             318,615     95.77            66,527    20.88
New Mexico              36,776     99.37             8,811    23.96
New York             1,092,061     97.68           247,396    22.65
North Carolina         155,102     67.89            38,359    24.73
North Dakota            72,837     99.91            18,508    25.41
Ohio                   568,170     95.83           130,287    22.15
Oklahoma               173,851     92.40            59,247    34.08
Oregon                  69,376     99.79            16,090    23.19
Pennsylvania           863,106     95.64           185,819    21.53
Rhode Island            57,433     97.33            10,885    18.95
South Carolina          70,395     48.66            18,261    25.94
South Dakota            64,896     99.78            21,193    32.66
Tennessee              169,674     79.51            42,104    24.81
Texas                  376,385     81.81            85,889    22.82
Utah                    45,93O     99.63            10,711    23.32
Vermont                 30,819     99.80             6,607    21.44
Virginia               141,714     68.77            34,796    24.55
Washington             123,752     99.70            28,513    23.04
West Virginia          128,852     90.65            39,863    30.94
Wisconsin              265,501     99.73            70,758    26.65
Wyoming                 24,612     98.88             7,828    31.81
Alaska                                               1,957
Hawaii                                               5,406
Porto Rico                                          15,734
Further light on the question of more Negroes in proportion to their numbers being selected for service than white men, is found in a comparison of the Negroes and whites rejected for physical reasons. The following table gives the figures for the period between December 15, 1917 and September 11, 1918:
Colored and white physical rejections compared.  Number.   Percent of  Percent of
                                                           examined    partial
                                                                       disqualifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, colored and white examined Dec. 15, 1917,
  to Sept. 11, 1918                              3,208,446  100.00      -----
    Group A                                      2,259,027   70.41      -----
    Disqualified partly or totally                 949,419   -----     100.00
      Group B                                       88,436    2.76       9.31
      Group C                                      339,377   10.58      35.75
      Group D                                      521,606   16.25      54.94
Total, colored examined                            458,838  100.00      -----
    Group A                                        342,277   74.60      -----
    Disqualified partly or totally                 116,561   -----     100.00
      Group B                                        9,605    2.09       8.24
      Group C                                       27,474    5.99      23.57
      Group D                                       79,482   17.32      68.19
Total white examined                             2,749,608  100.00      -----
    Group A                                      1,916,750   69.71      -----
    Disqualified partly or totally                 832,858   -----     100.00
      Group B                                       78,831    2.87       9.47
      Group C                                      311,903   11.34      37.45
      Group D                                      442,124   16.08      53.08

The percentage of Negroes unqualifiedly accepted for service, was 74.60% of the number examined; the white men accepted numbered 69.71% of the number examined. The Negroes it will be seen rated about 5% higher physically than the whites. No better refutation could be desired of the charge, having its inspiration in the vanquished, but unrepentant defenders of Negro slavery, mourning about its dead carcass, that the Negro is deteriorating physically, or that the so-called degenerative influences of civilization affect him in greater degree than they do the white man.

CHAPTER XII.


NEGRO SLACKERS AND PACIFISTS UNKNOWN.


SUCH WORDS NOT IN HIS VOCABULARY—DESERTIONS EXPLAINED—GENERAL CROWDER EXONERATES NEGRO—NO WILLFUL DELINQUENCY—STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO MEET REGULATIONS—NO "CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS"—NO DRAFT EVADERS OR RESISTERS—NEGRO'S DEVOTION SUBLIME—JUSTIFIES HIS FREEDOM—FORGETS HIS SORROWS—RISES ABOVE HIS WRONGS—TESTIMONY OF LOCAL BOARDS—GERMAN PROPAGANDA WASTED—A NEW AMERICANISM.



The only phase of the selective draft in which the Negro seemed to be discredited in comparison with his white brother, was in the matter of desertions. At first glance and without proper analysis, the record appeared to be against the Negro. Upon detailed study, however, the case takes on a different aspect. The records of the Provost Marshall General show that out of 474,861 reported deserters, 369,030 were white registrants, and 105,831 colored, the ratio of white reported deserters to white registrants being 3.86, and the ratio of colored reported deserters to colored registrants being 9.81. Everyone knows now that many, yes, the bulk of the reported desertions among both whites and blacks, were not desertions at all. Circumstances simply prevented the men from keeping in touch with their local boards or from reporting when called.


Desertions among white registrants might have shown a greater percentage had they not availed themselves of the exemption feature of the law. Negroes did not understand this clause in the act so well. Besides, as previously stated, many Negroes were placed in Class 1, even where they had dependants, because their rate of pay in the army would enable them to contribute as much to the support of their dependants as would their earnings outside of army service.


This was a policy with many draft boards, but it is not exactly clear in view of the increased earning power of the Negroes through wartime demands for their labor. Following are the complete figures on so-called desertions, the variances in the several states being given:
                      Total
                      white
                      and colored
                      registrants,
                      June 5,
                      1917, to     Total         Reported     Percent of    Percent of
                      Sept. 11,    white         desertions,  total         white
                      1918.        registrants.  white.       registrants.  registrants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States         10,640,846   9,562,515     380,030      3.47          3.86
========================================================================================
Alabama                  206,210     194,247       3,672      1.78          2.96
Arizona                   40,179      39,884       6,930     17.36         17.40
Arkansas                 168,287     117,111       2,476      1.47          2.11
California               316,302     313,994      15,323      4.84          4.90
Colorado                  91,556      90,463       4,910      5.38          5.43
Connecticut              174,820     171,296      12,416      7.10          7.25
Delaware                  24,559      20,761         686      2.79          3.30
District of Columbia      36,670      25,625         390      1.06          1.52
Florida                   94,585      55,572       1,823      1.93          3.28
Georgia                  260,197     147,001       4,499      1.73          3.05
Idaho                     45,478      45,224       2,242      4.93          4.96
Illinois                 707,070     685,254      21,673      3.07          3.16
Indiana                  283,731     272,442       5,252      1.85          1.93
Iowa                     240,703     237,744       5,283      2.19          2.21
Kansas                   167,266     161,691       3,172      1.90          1.96
Kentucky                 215,910     190,060       2,830      1.03          1.23
Louisiana                179,941     103,718       2,250      1.25          2.17
Maine                     68,104      67,941       2,553      3.74          3.76
Maryland                 136,501     110,066       3,831      2.81          3.48
Massachusetts            397,698     391,654      19,841      4.99          5.07
Michigan                 411,019     404,040      17,222      4.19          4.26
Minnesota                249,291     247,750      10,108      4.05          4.08
Mississippi              157,525      75,977       1,713      1.09          2.25
Missouri                 334,902     312,106      10,549      3.14          3.38
Montana                   97,073      96,753       7,835      8.13          8.16
Nebraska                 132,107     130,493       2,608      1.97          2.00
Nevada                    12,640      12,581       1,392      1.10         11.06
New Hampshire             41,694      41,617       1,428      3.42          3.43
New Jersey               332,671     318,815      15,114      4.54          4.74
New Mexico                37,011      36,776       3,217      8.69          8.75
New York               1,118,035   1,092,061      57,021      5.10          5.22
North Carolina           228,459     155,102       1,175      5.14           .76
North Dakota              72,902      72,837       2,520      3.46          3.46
Ohio                     617,001     588,170      22,846      3.70          3.88
Oklahoma                 188,156     173,851       5,860      3.11          3.37
Oregon                    69,520      69,376       2,023      2.91          2.92
Pennsylvania             902,469     863,106      31,739      3.52          3.68
Rhode Island              59,006      57,433       2,340      3.97          4.07
South Carolina           144,660      70,395       1,107       .77          1.57
South Dakota              65,040      64,896       1,243      1.91          1.92
Tennessee                213,409     169,674       4,389      2.05          2.58
Texas                    460,056     376,385      19,209      4.18          5.10
Utah                      46,099      45,930       1,735      3.76          3.78
Vermont                   30,882      30,819         690      2.23          2.71
Virginia                 206,072     141,714       3,090      1.50          2.18
Washington               124,125     123,752       7,261      5.85          5.87
West Virginia            142,144     128,852       4,803      3.38          3.73
Wisconsin                266,219     265,501       4,663      1.75          1.76
Wyoming                   24,892      24,612       1,734      6.96          7.05
Alaska                                               601
Hawaii                                               184
Porto Rico                                            15


                       Total         Reported     Percent       Percent
                       colored       desertions,  of total      of colored
                       registrants.  colored.     registrants.  registrants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States          1,078,331     105,831       .99          9.81
============================================================================
Alabama                   81,963      10,835      5.25         13.22
Arizona                      295          64       .16         21.69
Arkansas                  51,176       4,770      2.83          9.32
California                 3,303         268       .08          8.10
Colorado                   1,103          91       .10          8.25
Connecticut                3,524         682       .39         19.35
Delaware                   3,798         303      1.23          7.98
District of Columbia      11,045         616      1.68          5.58
Florida                   39,013       8,319      8.71         21.32
Georgia                  112,593       8,969      3.45          7.97
Idaho                        254         108       .23         42.51
Illinois                  21,816       2,911       .41         13.34
Indiana                   11,289       1,199       .42         10.62
Iowa                       2,959         517       .21         17.47
Kansas                     5,575         255       .15          4.57
Kentucky                  25,850       1,524       .71          5.90
Louisiana                 76,223       5,962      3.31          7.82
Maine                        163          29       .04         17.79
Maryland                  26,435       2,410      1.77          9.12
Massachusetts              6,044         665      1.67         11.00
Michigan                   6,979       1,015       .25         14.54
Minnesota                  1,541         621       .25         40.30
Mississippi               81,548       8,112      5.15          9.95
Missouri                  22,796       1,791       .53          7.86
Montana                      320         114       .12         35.63
Nebraska                   1,614         229       .17         14.19
Nevada                        59           3       .02          6.08
New Hampshire                 77           3       .01          3.90
New Jersey                14,056       1,535       .46         10.92
New Mexico                   235          40       .11         17.02
New York                  25,974       4,062       .36         15.64
North Carolina            73,357       4,937      2.16          6.73
North Dakota                  65          19       .03         29.23
Ohio                      28,831       4,048       .66         14.04
Oklahoma                  14,305       1,223       .65          8.56
Oregon                       144          18       .03         12.59
Pennsylvania              39,363       6,599       .73         16.76
Rhode Island               1,573         251       .43         15.96
South Carolina            74,265       4,589      3.14          6.18
South Dakota                 144          27       .04         18.75
Tennessee                 43,735       3,573      1.67          8.17
Texas                     83,671       5,388      1.17          6.44
Utah                         169          11       .02          6.51
Vermont                       63           4       .01          6.35
Virginia                  64,358       4,935      2.39          7.67
Washington                   373          30       .02          8.04
West Virginia             13,292       2,013      1.41         15.14
Wisconsin                    718          73       .03         10.17
Wyoming                      280          63       .25         22.50
sweeney_026s
NEGRO TROOPS NEWLY ARRIVED IN FRANCE, LINED UP FOR INSPECTION.


sweeney_027s
NEGRO TROOPS ON A PRACTICE RUN NEAR THEIR CAMP IN FRANCE.


sweeney_028s
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, U.S. ARMY PRESENTATION OF BANNER TO NEGRO STEVEDORES FOR WINNING FIRST WEEK'S "RACE TO BERLIN", MARSEILLES, FRANCE.


sweeney_029s
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, U.S. ARMY NEGRO WINNERS IN STEVEDORE CONTEST BEING ENTERTAINED BY 134TH INFANTRY QUARTET AND BAND AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE.


sweeney_030s
GOING TO FIGHT FOR UNCLE SAM. TYPICAL GROUP OF NEGRO SELECTIVE SERVICE MEN LEAVING FOR THE TRAINING CAMP.


sweeney_031s
NEGRO TROOPS ARRIVING IN FRANCE. A COMPARISON WITH THE UPPER PICTURE SHOWS THE RAPID TRANSFORMATION FROM CIVILIANS TO FIGHTING MEN.


sweeney_032s
"MOSS'S BUFFALOES" (367TH INFANTRY), SERENADING FAMOUS MILITARY CHIEFTAINS IN FRANCE. IN WINDOW AT LEFT STANDS GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES; AT RIGHT GENERAL GOURAUD, COMMANDER OF THE FOURTH FRENCH ARMY .


sweeney_033s
HEROES OF THE BRAWNY ARM WHOSE SERVICE WAS NO LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THAT OF THE COMBATANTS. A DETAIL OF NEGRO RAILWAY BUILDERS ENGAGED ON THE LINE FROM BREST TO TOURS .


sweeney_034s
NEGRO ENGINEERS BUILDING ROADS IN FRANCE. AN INDISPENSABLE FEATURE OF THE SERVICE OF SUPPLY.


sweeney_035s
NEGRO TROOPS IN FRANCE ENJOY AN OLD-FASHIONED MEAL.


sweeney_036s
NEGRO MACHINE GUNNERS ON THE ROAD NEAR MAFFRECOURT, FRANCE. PART OF 369TH INFANTRY.


sweeney_037s
CAPTAIN HINTON AND OFFICERS OF 1ST BATTALION. 369TH NEGRO INFANTRY ON ROAD NEAR MAFFRECOURT, FRANCE.


sweeney_038s
AUTO HORN WARNS AMERICANS OF COMING GAS ATTACK. SOLDIERS DON MASKS AND SOUND THE ALARM. INSERT, LEFT CORNER, MACHINE GUNNERS.


No elaborate defense of the Negro will be attempted in the matter of the desertion record. It is not necessary. The words of Provost Marshall General Crowder, the man who knew all about the selective draft and who engineered it through its wonderfully successful course, completely absolved the Negro in this connection. The following quotation in reference to the above figures is taken verbatim from the report of General Crowder to the Secretary of War, dated December 20, 1918.
"These figures of reported desertions, however, lose their significance when the facts behind them are studied. There is in the files of this office, a series of letters from governors and draft executives of southern states, called forth by inquiry for an explanation of the large percentage of Negroes among the reported deserters and delinquents. With striking unanimity the draft authorities replied that this was due to two causes; first, ignorance and illiteracy; especially in the rural regions, to which may be added a certain shiftlessness in ignoring civic obligations; and secondly, the tendency of the Negroes to shift from place to place. The natural inclination to roam from one employment to another has been accentuated by unusual demands for labor incident to the war, resulting in a considerable flow of colored men to the north and to various munition centers. This shifting reached its height in the summer of 1917, shortly after the first registration, and resulted in the failure of many men to keep in touch with their local boards, so that questionnaires and notices to report did not reach them.

"With equal unanimity the draft executives report that the amount of willful delinquency or desertion has been almost nil. Several describe the strenuous efforts of the Negroes to comply with the regulations, when the requirements were explained to them, many registrants travelling long distances to report in person to the adjutant general of the state. 'The conviction resulting from these reports' says General Crowder, 'is that the colored men as a whole responded readily and gladly to their military obligations once their duties were understood."
So far as the records show, there were neither "slackers" nor "pacifists" among the Negroes. Hon. Emmett J. Scott, Special Assistant to the Secretary of War, said that the war department had heard of only two colored "conscientious objectors". When those two were cross-examined it was revealed that they had misinterpreted their motives and that their objections proceeded from a source very remote from their consciences.


Pacifists and conscientious objectors came principally from the class who held religious scruples against war or the taking up of arms. The law permitted these to enter a special so-called non-combatant classification.


It is a well known fact that Negro religionists are members of the church militant, so they could not be included in the self-declared conscientious pacifistic sects.


Neither was the Negro represented in that class known as draft resisters or draft evaders. A very good reason exists in the fact that opposition to the draft came from a class which did not admit the Negro to membership. Practically all draft resistance was traceable to the activities of radicals, whose fantastic dreams enchanted and seduced the ignorant and artless folk who came under their influence.


The resisters were all poor whites led by professional agitators. Negroes had no such organizations nor leaders.


The part played by the Negro in the great world drama upon which the curtain has fallen, was not approached in sublime devotion by that displayed by any other class of America's heterogeneous mixture of tribe and race, hailing from all the ends of the earth, that composes its great and wonderful population. Blind in a sense; unreasoning as a child in the sacredness and consecration of his fealty; clamoring with the fervor of an ancient crusader; his eye on heaven, his steps turned towards the Holy Sepulchre, for a chance to go; a time and place to die, HIS was a distinct and marked patriotism; quite alone in "splendid isolation" but shining like the sun; unstreaked with doubt; unmixed with cavil or question, which, finally given reign on many a spot of strife in "Sunny France"; the Stars and Stripes above him; a prayer in his heart; a song upon his lips, spelt death, but death glorious; where he fell—HOLY GROUND!
"The fittest place where man can DIE Is where he dies for man!"