Division Commander to take sides in a row that should
never have occurred had the Sergeant placed the general good above
his personal pleasure and convenience. The Sergeant entered a
theater, as he undoubtedly has a legal right to do, and
precipitated trouble by making it possible to allege race
discrimination in the seat which he was given. He is strictly
within his legal rights in this matter, and the theater manager is
legally wrong. Nevertheless, the Sergeant is guilty of the greater
wrong in doing ANYTHING, no matter how legally correct, that will
provoke race animosity.

"The Division Commander repeats that the success of the Division,
with all that success implies, is dependent upon the good will of
the public. That public is nine-tenths white. White men made the
Division, and they can break it just as easily if it becomes a
trouble maker.

"All concerned are again enjoined to place the general interest of
the Division above personal pride and gratification. Avoid every
situation that can give rise to racial ill-will. Attend quietly and
faithfully to your duties, and don't go where your presence is not
desired.

"This will be read to all organizations of the 92nd Division.

"By command of Major-General Ballou:

"ALLEN J. GREER,
"Lieutenant-Colonel, General Staff,
"Chief of Staff.

"Official:
"EDW. J. TURGEON,
"Captain, Assistant Adjutant,
"Acting Adjutant."

It was an altogether modern type of Negro that informed the commanding
general quietly, but firmly, that he had seriously impaired his
usefulness by the tone of his bulletin; that he had proposed a principle
which did not bode good for the future of white people of the world when
seven-tenths of the world's population was of darker hue. It is to
General Ballou's credit that he admitted the question to debate,
listened to reason, and capitulated.

But a certain type of southern statesmanship was not amenable to reason.
Despite the wishes of the President of the United States, there were
published in the "Congressional Record" articles describing the peril
involved in arming and training any black peoples for modern warfare.
What measure of offense these articles gave to Morocco, to India, to
Latin America, to Japan, to China, to Africa, loyally supporting all the
cause of F