Microfilm Reel 230, File 152, "African Americans"

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All the microfilm scans concerning file number 152, "African Americans," on reel 230 from the Executive Office files of the Woodrow Wilson Papers, series 4 in the Library of Congress finding aid. File number 152a, "Segregation," starts on page 590.

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specific cases of bravery and achievements except San Juan Hill and the recent occurrences in Mexico.

In-as-much as Negro youths are not sent to the Military Academies of the country to be fitted for service to their country we feel that there should be a Military School established especially for their training. We would respectfully ask that an appropriation sufficiently large be made and commission of five members be appointed by the President provided two shall be colored for the purpose of locating and establishing such a school. We believe that the establishment of this school by the present administration will be worth more than all the political offices which could be given to the Race, and will stand as a monument of the devotion of the Negro for his country.

Respectfully submitted, Giles Jackson Theodore W. Jones Benjamin [?] H.H. Price [?]

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[152]

September 7, 1916

My dear Mr. Secretary:

Thank you sincerely for your letter about the suggestion of the Hannibal National Democratic League. I am particularly appreciative of your kindness in suggesting a reply.

In haste Faithfully yours,

Hon. Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War.

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[152]

September 7, 1916

My dear Sir:

I have received and value very highly the address transmitted to me from the Hannibal National Democratic League. The appreciation which the League expresses of the policies of the present administration is very gratifying to us both as a testimonial to their beneficial character and as an indication of the interest which intelligent men, withough distiction of race, are coming to take in the affairs of their government.

The address concludes with the suggestion that there be legislation looking to the establishment of a school for the training of negro youths for military service.

The history of our country shows that from the time the armies under General Washington were organized, down to the present day the negro has been a brave and valuable soldier. I am glad that the military careeer should have been kept open as an opportunity

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[opportunity] to negro men and as an inspiration to them for the performance of patriotic and often distinguished service to their country.

I am inclined, however, to doubt the wisdom at this time of the establishment of a separate school. The whole problem of military training for the youth of the country is undergoing study, and the many recent advances in military science are necesitating radical departures from earlier methods of schooling. The Department of War is now authorized by law to supply military instructors to existing schools and colleges under vertain conditioons, and already the colleges of the country are organizing trained bodies of intelligent young men who are receiving under these laws enough millitary instruction to make them no doubt readily available as a source of supply for reserve officers should a sudden need call for the enlargement of the military establishment. This plan should be followed out and enlarged if necessary, so as to includ colleges of suitable standing attended

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attended by negro students, but I doubt the present wisdom of establishing another institution or considering further steps until the present experiments have been further tested and their adequacy determined.

Very sincerely yours,

Mr. Giles B. Jackson, 511 North Second Street, Richmond, Virginia.

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