t. v- l < • i
MlUberforce
In the
Mac
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED
by
THE PRESIDENT
at the
56th OPENING
of
WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY
SEPTEMBER 17th. 1918
^llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll^
An Address Delivered
by
The President
at the
56th Opening of Wilberforce University
September 17th, 1918
WILBERFORCE, OHIO,
ECKERLE PRINTING CO,
XENIA. OHIO
WILBERFORCE WAR WORK
T is not my intention to deliver a formal address at the
opening of this University Session of September 17,
1918. There are some thoughts, however, that I wish
to present to you who are assembled here, thoughts
that are concerned particularly with our relation to this
World's War, and its manifold activities.
First of all, those present should know what Wilberforce
University has done and is doing in this respect. From the
entrance of this country into the combat, this institution has
placed itself in the forefront, ready to do its "bit" to insure
victory for the Allies and win the world over to true de¬
mocracy, a democracy that means freedom for all the people.
We have special reason as a race to desire this; and no
matter what the conditions in this country savoring of in¬
consistency, we, as a race and a school, purpose to wave
aside insistent dwelling upon these things and by our at¬
titude, words and works, show our loyalty and determina¬
tion to be a helpful factor in the great struggle which is
going on in behalf of freedom for suffering nations.
To this end Wilberforce has offered itself—its school,
its faculty—to the cause and has been a participant in some
degree in all efforts put forth since April, 1917, when this
country entered the conflict. This University was especial¬
ly prepared to do its "bit," as its students since 1893 have
had Military Training—the only Negro school in all the
country with a military department supported by the Na¬
tional Government. Since 1893 we have had in succession
as Commandants, appointed by the Government, Lieut. John
H. Alexander, a West Point graduate; Lieut, (now Colonel)
Charles Young, also a West Point graduate; Lieut, (now
Major) John E. Green, now in Liberia; Lieut, (now Colonel)
B. O. Davis, who is at this time probably in Petrograd,
Russia, with the Ninth Cavalry; and again our own Colonel
Young. These are all men with international reputation—
^11 except Lieut. Alexander who died very soon after coming
W. S. SCARBOROUGH
President. Wilberforce University
WILBERFORCE IN THE WAR 5
to us and before he had time to win great laurels as have
the others.
To Col. Young, who has voluntarily served us as military
instructor this last year, we must give highest praise and
warmest thanks mingled with deepest regrets that, so far,
the Government has not found a way to put him into active
service for his country, a thing for which we still hope and
pray.
Aside from" the purely military department work Wilber-
force has sent her quotas of men to the First, Third and
Fourth Officers' Training Camps, and has had a goodly re¬
turn of men with commissions, including Captains, Lieu¬
tenants and Sergeants. At Camp Funston this University
had the largest proportion of graduates of any school that
participated in its training, and Clay Hunter (class 16), now
Second Lieut., ranked highest in the entire class.
When the call came for clerks for France, we again sent
our quota, and when the Washington Training Camp, Wash¬
ington, D. C., was established on August 1st at Howard
University, Wilberforce University, which was directed to
send men to take the 47 days' intensive training, sent three
professors and six students—all of whom have done splendid
work and will return to us this day of our opening, trained
to help serve us as may be demanded.
Aside from this we have kept up all forms of war activi¬
ties. Our women and girls have knitted, sewed, rolled
bandages, made comfort kits and have done work as Red
Cross members. A Woman's Colored War Relief Club is
also a part of Wilberforce war wark. At least three ladies,
who have been, or who still are members of the faculty, are
registered with the Red Cross for service.
Our graduates are doing war work wherever we find
them. One woman is already in France connected with
relief work, Miss Kathryn Johnson, Class '98, and others
are reaching out for similar service. A large number is
found in Y. M. C. A. work and as Chaplains, with a steady
increase in these lines.
Our service flag should now contain quite 200 stars and
at least one gold star belongs to us by the death of Harry
Haygood, who was accidentally killed in France.
Added to this work this University was selected as one
of several institutions to which a detachment of soldiers
was sent this summer for 60 days of special and intensive
work in various industrial lines and in military drill. July
15th, 180 soldiers with their officers came to us for this
COL. CHAS. YOUNG, U. S. A.
WILBERFORCE IN THE WAR 7
work, which is being conducted by the Normal and In¬
dustrial Department. Beacom Gymnasium has been turned
into barracks, Arnett dining room into a mess hall and the
hospital devoted to the use of what the government calls:
"Wilberforce University Training Detachment—National
Army."
The detachment as a whole has done credit to itself and
the race by its work and deportment while here. Some of
our faculty and officers have labored through the summer
months in instruction and care of the same, while others
have cheerfully given faithful service for Y. M. C. A. work
as well as for the amusement of these men. Another de¬
tachment takes its place for a similar time and similar work
September 15 and this is to be followed by an increased
number. We propose to do our part and what is possible to
cheer and help all who come to us.
Thus do we see students and professors, men and women
sharing in the war labor of the country and all with zeal
and enthusiasm as is their duty.
The president of this Institution, himself, has not been
inactive. Except for a brief respite of ten days, he has been
at his post all summer. He has done, and is doing his "bit."
He was appointed by Mr. Croxton of the Ohio Food Com¬
mission, as one of its members, and was called by Governor
Cox, to be one of his "War Cabinet in the Ohio Branch,
Council of National Defense." He has also assisted as a
member of the committee in looking after Colored Labor in
Ohio. This work has been supplemented by committee work
in looking after the preparations for the detachment already
here, and in obtaining the Students' Army Training Corps
for Wilbeforce University.
The Superintendent of the combined Normal and In¬
dustrial Department has also been kept busy in detachment
work, and serves on the Fuel Commission of Ohio, as well.
To sum up again—men and women are "over there"
doing their "bit" and men and women are over here "carry¬
ing on" for the cause in every way possible.
Our mails have been deluged with requests from other
schools to allow their students to enter the Wilberforce
University quotas sent to Training Camps. They have also
been deluged of late by applications from prospective stu¬
dents who seek the prestige and military training that
Wilberforce University gives. Especially is this so in con¬
nection with the Student Army Training Corps, which the
War Education Committee of this country is now placing in
Wilberforce Boys at 4th Officers' Training Camp, Camp Dodge, Iowa
Left to Right- First Row: (1) Olin Smith, (2) Ralph Scull, (3) Newton Dolphin, (4) Frederick Jones. (5) Capt. Simpson, (0) Lieut. Vivian
, .Tones, (7) Brod.v Pruitt, (8) Webster Lyman, (9) Peter C. Williams. Second Row: (10) Walter Stofer, (11) O'Neil Mitchell, (12)
Frederick D. Bell, (13) Ennis Warrick, (14) Curtis Brooks, (15) Odis Delany, (16) Joseph Duplessis, (17) B. S. Matthews, (IS) A. L.
Foster, (19) Oscar Price, (20) Wm. B. Johnson. Third Row: (21) O. O. Morris, (22) W. B. Broufrhton, (23) Wm. H. Richardson, (24)
Earl Taylor, (25) G. J. Gaines, (20)' John Marrott, (27) Loyd Smith ,(2,S) Napolean Jackson. Fourth Row: (29) Allan Bean, (30) Charles
Points. (31) Virgil Talbert.
WILBERFORCE IN THE WAR 9
colleges approved by the Government, and I am happy to
say that Wilberforce has been selected as one of these
schools.
Concerning this arrangement I quote a brief paragraph
to show the purpose and intent of the Government in taking
charge of the education of the nation in this way.
"College students who thus automatically become mem¬
bers of the military corps must make good in their studies
or be drafted. If they stand well they will be allowed to
finish their course, or be sent to an officers' training school.
If they 'flunk' they may be sent into the national army im¬
mediately as privates. College loafers will be a thing of the
past."
The same writer goes on to say concerning the school
mentioned as instituted at Howard for 47 days. "Wilber¬
force, Hampton and Tuskegee men have the most of the
non-commissioned officers in the regiment, because of their
•previous military experience." We shall hear later from
some of our quota there as to their work and great success.
Wilberforce University has been kept busy since last
November doing its "bit," cheering our departing selectives
and greeting the victorious graduates of three Officers'
Training Camps. We are not through. Today sees the end
of our boys' work at Camp Hancock, Georgia, where thirteen
are a part of the Machine Gun Company, and all graduate
with commissions. Here, I desire to say that one, W. B.
Johnson (class '17), was found so proficient in higher
mathematics that he was sent to Detroit to train in special
lines at the University there. The Artillery Division from
Camp Pike, Arkansas, came back with a majority receiving
commissions as Second Lieutenants.
In fact we may say with all becoming modesty and
pardonable pride that in all the cantonments Wilberforce
students have stood highest as compared with those from
other institutions. We have the word of officers for this
statement and we have the commissions to show our great
proportion among the graduates.
All of this, sketched briefly and only in part, brings me
to other certain things I desire to say at this time.
We are a part of this great war work. All things present
a new aspect to us. We face new situations and confront new
problems daily. We have obtained much as a race since
April, 1917, and we look for much more.
We must be ready to meet changed conditions as the
days pass. We must be ready for the future when the war
CLERKS IN U. S. ARMY.
WILBERFORCE IN THE WAR 11
closes «,s well as for the present. After the war we must be
able as a people to measure up to the promising possibilities.
This applies in principle and in practice to both men and
women, boys and girls. All must be ready to grasp oppor¬
tunities and take the places which will be open to them. We
must have educated manhood to take the place of those who
have gone into service and of the many who will never re¬
turn to us, those who will have laid their lives on their
country's altar. It is vital that we see to it that our ranks
are kept full. There will be a rebuilding era also—a time
of reconstruction, and in many ways and both men and
women must be well fitted for the task—ready to come to
it with clear eyes, purposeful brain, educated mind, hands
and hearts. The present calls especially for young men with
college education. As Governor Cox well said at Otterbein
University only the other day: "The advancement of college
trained men has been rapid, and they are all making good."
We know that to be true of our men. And the educated
woman is needed for the work the same as the man and she
too will make good. "Scientific knowledge and trained skill
are now needed badly, and will be more so in the future."
Dr. Claxton, the United States Commissioner of Education,
in his latest circular to schools emphasizes this by saying:
"The call upon this country for men and women of the
highest and best training will be large and insistent." This
in turn is re-emphasized by President Wilson, who says:
"After the war there will be urgent need, not only for trained
leadership in all lines of industrial, commercial, social and
civic life, but for a high average of intelligence and prepara¬
tion on the part of all the people." We are included, and all
this calls for intensive work in education on our part.
How we are to do this becomes our problem here. It can
be solved by the attitude of every one here. As already
indicated, the days of the loafing student are over. We
must all work or fight, as well as work and fight if called
to colors.
One problem has worried many friends because ours is a
co-educational institution and we have an army camp here.
The situation is undoubtedly going to call for wisdom on
the part of the student body—both boys and girls and on
the part of the faculty as well. It is going to call for discreet
action, cautious conduct and vigilant watchfulness so that
all interests may be made safe.
In its September Bulletin, Fisk University has said some
things along this line that are worth while to quote rather
Wilberforce Boys at Fort Des Moines Officers' Training Camp.
WILBERFORCE IN THE WAR 13
te W- to r to. to to to to ■ la to to. to. to to
than take time to formulate in other words our own resolve
which is precisely the same:
"It is the determination of the University, based on
necessity, to maintain a very rigid discipline this year.
Chaperonage will be continuous, and vigilant, Our own boys
will be under military discipline according to future train¬
ing arrangements and they and the girls, will be too busy
for the former amount of 'social life.' Teachers and officers
will be too busy as well as too wise, to occupy themselves in
providing special privileges, the boys will live a highly edu¬
cational military life, a masculine life, and the girls will live
an equally efficient, busy school life." The paragraph
further says that if there should be any student—and I
would add teacher and employee also—not content to ac¬
commodate himself or herself to this situation, he or she
will have an early invitation to go elsewhere. This is a time
when every patriotic citizen must fall into line and into step
without delay and without complaint.
This means that in the possible reorganization- of many
things for new work we must expect to meet many un¬
expected situations, but we must understand that it is a
part of doing "our bit," and students, faculty and officers
must join in sharing cheerfully in whatever changes may be
demanded here and in whatever sacrifice of convenience and
even of comfort that they may be called upon to make. We
are in fact entering upon a soldier's life—all of us—in many
ways and we will gain by it in what Dr. Purlington in an
April issue of the New York Independent presents "as the
common war virtues of energy, productivity, loyalty, nerve,
optimism, enthusiasm, leadership and self denial." So to
the point is that splendid article that I am going to sum¬
marize his facts as things we, as a Negro school, must do
toward solving our problem of preparation for present and
future—things we, as a school, must learn as does the
soldier.
Be willing to take hard work on less pay for a huge
altruistic purpose.
Regard methods and principles and not simply results
and appearances.
Occupy all time—account for every five minute period.
Use organization and team work.
Obey any order from a superior officer without thinking
of protest, argument, doubt or delay.
Choose garments for economy, durability and purpose.
Wilberforcians at the Third Officers* Training Camp, Camp Funston, Kas.
WILBERFORCE IN THE WAR 15
Get a complete fresh, moral apparel—an entire change
from old habits.
Rise early—retire early.
Put your big job first and give up everything that may
cause mental, moral or physical injury.
Show your growth by exhibiting a purpose high enough
to overlook and strong enough to overcome all temporary
failures, hardships, losses and defeats.
Above all, be in command of self—of your physical,
mental and spiritual forces, no matter what the effort costs.
Strive to reach that altitude where all changes and
necessities may be met and viewed, quietly and serenely.
Added to this, I say, study and study hard.
At the beginning of this unusual year of intensive work
—of endeavor to make oneself fit for whatever present or
future may put before one, I am going to ask, how many of
those present will now pledge to put self under this splendid
soldier's discipline? How many will see the worth of this
serious, strenuous effort? How many of faculty and offi¬
cers and students and friends of Wilberforce University will
respond as indicated to the call of "EYES TO THE FRONT,
FORWARD MARCH" for the success of Wilbeforce, its
students and soldiers, the race and the Allied cause ?
W. S. SCARBOROUGH,
President.
Since the above was written, the Students' Army Train¬
ing Corps has been permanently established at the Uni¬
versity with both units—A and B. The "Detachment" has
by order of the War Department become the B unit of the
S. A. T. C. It was formerly under the command of Captain
Ostermaier, but both A and B units have now been placed
under the general command of Lieutenants P. R. Piper apd
M. H. Curtis. They are assisted by our men who were sent
to the Howard University Camp for intensive training. At
present the two units have about 400 men and are doing
good work.
Ready To Leave For Camp Sherman.