Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 February 1908 — PRESIDENT INDORSER [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT INDORSER

His Aotlort in Dismissing th« N* gro Soldiers “Without Honor** is Approvsd. UD OF THE BROWNSVILLE QUIZ Foraker la Defeated in the Stand He Had Taken. 7 ' -■ Matter to Come Up on tbe Senate Floor t- Chargee Against Oar Naval Ufflolenojr Are Cn* tier Investigation. It was decided by the senate committee on military affairs at Washington Tuesday that the shooting In tbe affray at Brownsville, Tex., on tbe night of Aug. 13-14, 1906, was done by some of the negro soldiers of the Twenty-fifth United State* Infantry, and that the testimony taken before the senate committee on military affairs falls to identify tbe guilty parties, Is tbe opinion of eight members of the committee. Four members of the committee voted against this decision, and one member did not vote. Tbe resolution declaring the guilt of the negroes was submitted by Lodge, and was adopted after five resolutions by Foraker, one by Dupont and one by Scott—all of which were offered as substitutes —had been voted down. Foraker led tbe Fight. The vote was reached after prolonged Investigation extending over two sessions of congress and evidence had been taken covering thousands of pages. Practically every negro of the three companies of infantry dishonorably discharged by President Roosevelt testified in his own behalf, while evidence In support of the president was given by many army officers and citizens of Brownsville. Throughout the entire controversy, which in many sections of the country had been made a political issue, the antl-administra tlon fight has been directed by Fora ker. Will Be Carried to the Floor. The fight will be carried to the floor of the senate. The reports of the com mlttee will not be made for about ten days, as Warner, who conducted the examination of witnesses on behalf ot the administration, will be absent from Washington for that period. Action by the committee therefore will be postponed until his return. the reports have been made to the senate it Is expected that Foraker will press the matter to a vote there. If he should secure the same proportion of the Re publican members of the senate Bs he had in the committee the vote will be closer than has been anticipated. The Ohio senator proposes also to introduce a bill to restore to the military service such of the discharged negroes as were shewn beyond a reasonable doubt to have been innocent of any offense connected with the affray. OCK SHIPS ARK ALL RIGHT Vindicated of tbe Charge That They Are Only Tinclads. Experts in naval construction— Rear Admiral Converse, president of, the board of construction, and Rear Admiral Capps, chief of the bureau of construction and reivair —were before the senate committee on naval affairs’ In the investigation of charges against the navy made by Henry Reuterdab) In a recent magazine article. At the conclusion of the extended refutations by Admiral Converse it was stated by Senator Perkins that the apologies of the commmlttee were due the officers for having called them to answer such charges. Chairman Hale assented to this view, and no member of the committee took issue. This incident at the conclusion of the first day’s proceeding is thought to indicate that the Inquiry will be short Tl\e admiral characterized some of the charges as “very unimportant,” some to be “so stated as to give wrong Impressions,” and some to be “absolutely false.” The question whether some naval officer had supplied the information upon which the charges were based was entered into, but nothing was developed of Importance. Two officers— Lieutenant Commander Sims and Lieutenant Commander Hill were mentioned, and both will be examined by tbe committee. Hill bas already been called upon by Secretary Metcalf to reply to certain questions in Ibla regard, and has replied, but his reply is no* published.