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TO THE COLORED SOLDIERS OF TEXAS: It is an i wind that blows all evil, and it comes neither from the North, East, South nor West. The incidents of war have brought to you a right and privilege of peace, the the enjoyment of which, by the Con stitution and laws of the State, coup led with ‘the kind of education, train ing and advice you have had, you have heretofore been denied. That is the right and privilege to vote, at least in all elections held in this State during the year 1919. You have not heretofore enjoyed and ex ercised this right and privilege be cause to do #0 required you to pay an annual poll tax under the Constitu tion and laws of the State. You have not paid the annual tax be cause you have been told that you were an alien race; that you had no right to vote; that your vote was not wanted; that you had no right to a voice In the government; that your vote would not be counted; thet you should leave all voting to the other pete, attend to rework, go to and go to heaven. But yuan’ cas right of you had been to the colors in defense of that right; and you not only went cheerfully, but you have covered yourselves with glory on the bloodiest battle fields of the ages. Now, you have been honorably dis charged from the army and the nation—and there are many thous ands of you in this great State, the first registration of Harris County alone on June 6, 1917, recording $700—and have taken your places to civil life, where it is as obligatory upon you to do your bit as it was in military life. Almost immediately upon your re turn home, the qualified voters of the State are called upon to adopt or reject four proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State; that is, an election for that purpose is called for May 24, 19198. While you are not armed with a poll tax in which, under the Constitution SS tant Mt ete Sok are ones to the te you, are with a certificate of honorable dis charge from * United States Army, to you that it is the duty of each of you to rise to the level of the cit izens, present yourself with your certificate of discharge at the ballot booth of your precinct on the 4th day of May, 1915, and vote on the proposed amendments according to your best judgment. The first of the amendments to be voted upon May 24 provides for glvy ing women full suffrage and elimi nating the alien voter. If you think your women will be equally protect ed,in their full suffrage as will be other women, you will vote for the amendment; if not, you will vote against it. The third amendment to be voted upon May 24th, is to imprese the salary of the governor. If you think he should have a better salary, you will vote for it; if not, you will vote against it The fourth amendment to be voted none May 24. is to increase no rights should have more pay, but, in the light of all circumstances, both at home and abroad, I believe the Texas Constitution is long enough and needs no more frills. So IT shall vote against the amendments. . Yours very faithfully, M. H. BROYLES, Houston, Texas Address by General John H. Sher burne, Commander of the 167th Artillery of the 92nd Division. Masameting, Monday, May 6, 8 Pp. m, Carnegie Hall opening Nati onal Conference on Lynching. At this meeting whose purpose is to secure for the Negro fair play and equal protection of the few, it is my privilege as well as my duty to testify to the high achievement their service had been In the infan try and cavalry army and they had never served as artillery eiither in the American army or in any other army. When I was assigned to the 167th Meld Brigade the artillery authorities of the expeditionary force were frank in saying that they con sidered the experiment an impocsi bility and I joined the brigade with a Bad heart and a full certainty that the jaws of the trap had at last closed upon me. Even the ever kind French shook their heads I doubt. But after the first day with the brigade my barometer began to go up The first impression was the marvellous spirit of the men, their neatness of appearance, their mili tiae most striking, and they were so earnest in their desire to learn and excel. e tre a ony, however, ts the he refused to believe that the artil lery supporting the Colored infantry was Dol « French artillery. But end above the peineee Wen eae ee ie ‘vena coat, of course the = Wg Seg without criticlem The man looked for leadership but they did not show what they recaled ape ft aowe tastinees gun Si eee Sena ae
Newspaper Details
Dallas Express
Dallas, Texas, US
Sat, May 17, 1919
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Eric S.
USA 06 Aug 2026
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