The best co-operation in any cantonment city between the Negro churches and the camp authorities was probably that in Atlanta. The Congregational church here had a spacious basement, a good library and a well equipped gymnasium, and a trained worker organized and worked with the girls’ clubs. A special Sunday afternoon service was held and after this there were refreshments. Other large churches in Atlanta were also active. San Antonio followed closely in such endeavor; and in Augusta, Ga., one church sent a wagon load of watermelons to the soldiers, and another twenty gallons of ice cream. In all the cantonment cities ministers from the various churches preached in the camps and they often took with them their church choirs. Some of the national religious bodies sent camp pastors to the soldiers, and these men sometimes spent as much as three days a week addressing those in uniform and visiting the hospitals.
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The General Wartime Commission of the Churches was constituted by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America soon after the nation entered the war. This commission was composed of more than a hundred men chosen from the different religious bodies which were dealing with the problems raised by the war, and its activities were conducted through committees charged with specific phases of war work. Reports of conditions in the camps led to the Appointment of a Committee on the Welfare of Negro troops. This consisted of Bishop Wilbur P. Thirkield, chairman, George Foster Peabody, Dr. R. R. Moton, Dr. James H. Dillard, J. R. Hawkins, Thomas Jesse Jones, Rev. M. Ashby Jones, Bishop R. E. Jones, Robert E. Speer, Rev. Henry A. Atkinson, Rev. W. H. Jernagin, and Rev. Gaylord S. White.
In order that the Committee might have definite information for its work, two Negro men, Charles H. Williams and Rev. G. Lake Imes, were appointed as field secretaries. Of their work Dr. Thomas Jesse Jones, executive secretary of the committee, wrote as follows: “One of these, financed by the Phelps-Stokes Fund, made careful observations of conditions in and about the cantonments where colored soldiers were located. The reports prepared by this worker showed such a thoroughness in ascertaining the truth and such a constructive point of view in the recommendations made as to win the cordial approval of the War Department and all the agencies co-operating in the care of the soldiers. The second worker devoted his time to the study of the churches in their relations to colored soldiers. On the basis of these observations he assisted the churches to plan their activities so as to be of real help to the soldiers in the community.” The reports of the field secretaries were sent direct to the War Department and on the basis of them conferences were held with the Secretary of War and the various welfare organizations. It was in this connection that the Special Assistant to the Secretary of War, Dr. Emmett J. Scott, labored unceasingly to remove discrimination and adjust difficulties. Members of the committee, though in an unofficial capacity, often assisted directly. Bishop Thirkield visited various camps and cantonment cities and conferred with army officers, chambers of commerce, and Rotary clubs, always with a view to improving conditions. Mr. Peabody on a number of occasions went to Washington and conferred with the President and the Secretary of War with reference to the Negro soldiers. In a most uncompromising manner he always advocated a square deal. Dr. Moton was frequently called into conference with President Wilson and Secretary Baker and was also asked to go to France to investigate the situation when damaging reports had been spread in both America and France with reference to the conduct of Negro officers and soldiers. Dr. Jones was also called into conference and toward the close of the war went to France under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A.
Thus, while there were many difficulties and an enormous amount of work to be done in the different welfare agencies—whether the Y. M. C. A., the Red Cross, the Community Service, or some other—there were loyal souls who were laboring unceasingly for the comfort of the Negro soldier and also for the final consummation of victory for the great cause in which all were engaged.
CHAPTER VII
THE STEVEDORE
Very early in the war it was found that there was a serious shortage of common labor in the American army. France was unable to supply her own needs, and therefore not at all able to assist her allies. To supply the American need for common labor Negroes were suggested, G. K. Little, assistant engineer at Mobile, Ala., writing to the chief engineer that they were “loyal and willing to obey all orders irrespective of weather conditions or other hardships” and generally “peculiarly desirable.” It was the plan of these engineer service battalions to work wherever they could help and to do whatever was necessary. Forty-six such battalions were formed. The first four consisted of white men and the others of Negroes.
The stevedores represent that part of an army about which little is said because it does the rough, unskilled work; yet no group renders a more valiant service or contributes more to the success of an army than do these men.
This was especially true of the 150,000 Negro stevedores in the Great War, who played an important part both at home and abroad. Included in the term were the engineer regiments, the depot brigades, and the service, labor, and development battalions. Some officials have said that the Negro stevedore rendered the most magnificent service of any Negro organizations in France. Their work was undoubtedly appreciated by the War Department and by most citizens; yet honors were not conferred upon them as upon the fighting men. No brass bands came out to greet them on their return. Few had opportunities to win the Croix de Guerre or the Distinguished Service Cross, although they often performed deeds of bravery while working behind the lines in the range of the big guns.