tion 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.