Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1908 — SENATE HIS THE LISE [ARTICLE]

SENATE HIS THE LISE

Report* on the Brownsville ShootUp Pre*ented-Also a Preeid ent’s Message. MAJORITY REPORT BAYS GUILTY Sustain* the President’s Action—Plan for Reinstatement Some Lively Exchanges Between Warren and Bailey -Substance of • ■ the Opinions of the Com* mittee Members. Reports from the committee on mill tary affairs were presented to the senate on Monday in regard to the Investigation of the affray at Brownsville, Tex., which resulted in the discharge without honor of three companies of negro soldiers of the Twenty-fifth infantry. At the game time a message was received from the president calling attention to the fact that the testimony taken by the committee sustains his position in discharging the negro soldiers. He recommends extension of the time for reenlistment of the discharged men who might be found not to fall within the terms of the order.

Four Reports Presented. There were four reports from the committee, the majority being signed by Warren, Lodge, Warner, Dupont, Taliaferro, Foster, Overman, Frazier and McCreary. A minority report was signed by Foraker, Scott, Bulkeley and Hemenway. The majority report found as follows: That In the opinion of the committee the shooting was done by some of the soldiers belonging to the Twen-ty-fifth infantry; that the testimony fails to Identify the particular soldier or soldiers who participated In the affray; that there is considerable contradiction in the testimony, but that taken as a whole and reconciling it wherever possible it proves the case outlined in the majority’s decision. fe> Pith of the Minority Reports. A report signed by Scott says it was impossible to discover the real culprits and recommends the restoration of the discharged men. Foraker’s report says the testimony against the soldiers is unreliable and not to the point, the weight of the testimony showing that the shooting was not done by the soldiers. A report signed by Warren. Lodge, Warner and Dupont says that the testimony shows that the shooting was done by the soldiers, but that all the soldiers were not guilty, and presents a bill to reinstate within one year after its passage such of the soldiers as the president is satisfied are innocent. Foraker’s report presented a similar bill, but requiring the president to take the word on oath of the soldier as to his guilt. For the Benefit of “Ntgirers. Tillnmn said he wanted all the reports and the president’s message printed in a single volume. “I also want in the document.” said Tillman, “the message of thepresident discharging those men and then his message taking it hack.” After taking bis seat Tillman again arose and added in rasping tones, “I wrnnt the entire report so it can be sent out for the benefit of the ‘diggers’ of the country.” Bailey said there seemed to be a race to see who could satisfy the dissatisfied Republicans before the Republican convention and before the general election. “The senator is, of course, giving his views from a Democratic standpoint,” retorted Warren. Bailey replied that people eould not see themselves ns others see them. “And most fortunate It is they cannot,” said Warren. Would Be Ashamed. “But if some power would give the senator from Wyoming power to see the Republican party now he would be more ashamed of this than I have ever been ashamed of myself—that is, if he can be put to shame.” Tillman reverting to his request that the president’s order dismissing tiie men be printed with the testimony at the beginning of the pamphlet, separate from the president’s “more or less arbitrary action,” added that the president had made progress toward giving these negroes justice. The senate agreed to print the several reports and the president’s message ip a single volume as suggested by Tillman.