Why? Have they ever done you any harm?

"Do you enjoy the same rights as the white people do in America,
the land of freedom and democracy, or are you not rather treated
over there as second class citizens? And how about the law? Are
lynchings and the most horrible crimes connected therewith a
lawful proceeding in a democratic country?

"Now, all this is entirely different in Germany, where they do like
colored people; where they treat them as gentlemen and not as
second class citizens. They enjoy exactly the same privileges as
white men, and quite a number of colored people have fine positions
in business in Berlin and other German cities.

"Why then fight the Germans? Only for the benefit of the Wall
street robbers and to protect the millions they have loaned the
English, French and Italians?

"You have never seen Germany, so you are fools if you allow
yourselves to hate us. Come over and see for yourselves. To carry a
gun in this service is not an honor but a shame. Throw it away and
come over to the German lines. You will find friends who will help
you along."

Negro officers of the division told Dr. Moton this propaganda had no
effect. He said the Negroes, especially those from the South, were
anxious to return home, most of them imbued with the ambition to become
useful, law-abiding citizens. Some, however, were apprehensive that they
might not be received in a spirit of co-operation and racial good will.
This anxiety arose mainly from accounts of increased lynchings and
persistent rumors that the Ku Klux Clan was being revived in order, so
the rumor ran, "to keep the Negro soldier in his place."

After voicing his disbelief in these rumors, Dr. Moton said:

"The result of this working together in these war activities
brought the whites and Negroes into a more helpful relationship. It
is the earnest desire of all Negroes that these helpful cooperating
relationships shall continue."

In conversation with a morale officer the writer was told that the
principal problem with the Negroes, especially after the selective
draft, was in classifying them fairly and properly. Some were in every
way healthy but unfit for soldiers. Others were of splendid intelligence
and manifestly it was unjust to condemn them to the ranks when so many
had excellent qualities for non-commissioned and commissioned grade