The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-10-28
NO MIXING N a LLOWED.
White Soldier Who Married Negrsss
Dismissed From Army.
AppEALg no THE PREsIDEHT.

:
Gen. Fred. Grant Recommended,
the Mans Discharge for the II
Good of the MILITARY
Service.
A dispatch from Washington to The
State says President Roosevelt is face
to face with the negro problem in one
OF Its ugliest phases. Private John
Smith of the United States army.
hospita! corps, stationed at Forb
Motto, N. j., has married negress.
His commanding officer, Surgeon
Shallenberger, has recommended his
dismissal. The commanding officer
Of the post refused to endorse this
recon- mmendation. 1t was approved,
however, by the surgeon general.
Smiths plea is that ii the constitu-
Gional commander In chief thinks q
negro good enough to eat with he
should not objectbto private in the
army marrying negress. Smith is q
white. The war department Is en-
deavorlug to sidetrack the case till
after elections.
A dispatch from Washington says
the surgeon general of the army has
concurred in the recommendation of
Ge.a. Grant that John T.. Smith, a
member of the United States army
hospital corps, stationed. at Fort
Mott, N. j., who is said to have mar
ried a negress, be discharged from
the army, for the good of the ser
vice."
recommendation has been for
warded &c the Secretary Of War for hia
action. Smith wrote to the War De-
partment inquirine II N.hera wss an
reason why he should not be permitted
20 marry negro woman, setting
torth that her character was good,
and that he tcould establish good
character for himself by his record.
a special to .sThe Baltimore Sun
from Salem, N. j., tells of the case as
follows: Soldiers at Fort Motta are
awaiting with interest to see what ac.
zion President Roosevelt will take in
connection with the marriage of John
L. Smith, a member Of the hospital
crops, attached to the Forty-second
Company, coast artillery, and Sarah
Wolfert, a Southern Maryland me-
greSs.
Smiths discharge was called for by
Hospital Surgeon Sparrenbsrger, as
soon as he learned that the Wedding
nad taken place, but Smith refused
to sever his connection with his com.
pany. At the time that he was rep
rimanded by his superior Smith is
said to have declared that according
to the 14th amendment to the Oon-
stitution all persons are free and
equa..
II President ROOSEVELT sat a 6
table with q negro" Smith is reported
TO have said. lit is my right to wed
the girl of my choice, regardless OF
creed Oh color"
Smiths refusal to resign and his de-
clardtion that he would not do so uns
I'll bis case had been passed upon by
the highest authorities was the cause
or several conferences among the Off.
GERS OF Fort Mott. Being unable to
decide the case for themselves, it, was
decided that the matter should be
submitted to President r )osevelt.
AS soon as Post Surgeon Sparren-
berg was satisfied that Smith was
married to the negress he communi-
Gated with Gen. Fred. D. Grant. com.
mander of the department. of the east.
In this letter the post surgeon object
ed to having attached to his corps q
man with negro wife. He said there
was much indignation among the ar
tillerymen over the affair, and wound
up by requesting that Smith be dis
charged.
In the meantime Smith wrjte to
Secretary Moody for his decision.
About the same tima, 50 the report is
here, Gen. Grant referred the post
surgeons communication to the Sec
retary OF War. Now the whole mat
ter has been referred to the President
for adjudication.
The Presidents finding is feverish-
ly awaited at Fort Mott.
Back Of the wedding is a story dat
ing from The Spanish American war.
Smith then was a member of the Six
teenth Indiana, stationed In Cuba and
was stricken with yellow fever. He
was ordered to Camp Wyckoff, New
York. For two months he hovered
between life and death and the me-
gress, member OF the Volunteer Red
Cross Society, nurSei him faithfully.
A short courtship followed and Smith
was ordered to Fort Mott, about eight
miles from the city.
Letters followed and Smiths form.
er nurse came to Salem on September
20, where tney were married. Olly a.
few Of Smiths soldier friends attend.
ed the wedding, and the matter was
kept very quiet.