will say that he should go to West Point.  Well and good; but who is
     to send him?  Next, who will defend him while there against the
     “Unwritten Law” of the white students not to allow him to matriculate? 
          “The first officers of such regiments could be easily picked, made from
     Spanish War veterans and non-commissioned officers of the regular army,
     and second lieutenants from graduates from colleges giving military
     training.  Such an organization officered in this manner would be ideal,
     speaking from my experience as a veteran of the Spanish War. 
          “One thing you may have overlooked:  We are twelve million in this
     country, with an estimate of A million men fit for service. 
          “Suppose at such a crisis as is now transpiring in Europe, this country,
     with its millions of foreign citizens, should suddenly find itself face
     to face with a revolution.  The presence and loyalty of these million
     negroes might mean much for the stability of this government. 
          “I have spoken plainly because I am a citizen; this is my country.  I was
     born here, and shall at all times be found with the flag; hence I ask,
     that in your recommendations, looking to the betterment and enlargement
     of the army, you give the black patriot such consideration, as I cannot
     but feel is due him, the thousands of young colored men who have passed
     through colleges and schools in an effort to prepare themselves for
     filling a place in the world. 
          “I am opposed to segregation, but as it seems, under the present
     conditions of the races socially to be the only way to a square deal, I
     accept it.  There are Irish regiments, German regiments, etc., let us
     then have Negro regiments.  The coming generations will look after the
     rest.  I am, very respectfully,
                                               R.P.  Roots
     400 26th Ave., North, Late Capt. 8th Ill.  Vol.  Infantry.”

“Seattle, Wash., Nov. 9, 1915. 
“Hon Joseph Tumulty, Secretary to the President, Washington, D.C. 
Dear Sir:—­I am enclosing a copy of a letter sent to the Secretary of
War, which I would be very much pleased to have you call the President’s
attention to, and ask if he can approve of it. 
“I was not fully informed as to the President’s policy in regard to
Haiti at the time of writing, and am not now, except through such
information as received by the daily press.  Taking that, in the main as
authentic, I wish to add that I think a Brigade of Colored Troops, such
as recommended in my letter to the Secretary for foreign service, would
be the proper thing for Haiti. 
“It being a Negro Republic, the racial feeling as to the Negro’s