The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-20
SOLDIER WHO WED A NEGREss.
Ii is Freely Predicted That Neither
Taft Nor the President VIII Take
Any Action I'm This Matter
Till After Election.


The Washington correspondent of
the Baltimore Sun gives a detailed
story of the conditions arising through
the marriage OF Private John 4.
Smith to a negress. as published in
Yesterdays News and Observer, i'm the
following special TO that paper:
Washington, oct. lS.-President
Roosevelt is once more strongly up
against" the race issue This time 1t
is a question OF whether the federal
Government win counternance mis-
cegenation in the army.
Although the War Department has
tried to keep the subject quiet il is
known positively that last Saturday a
recommendation for the discharge
"for the good of the service" of
Private John r. Smith, Hospital Corps.
for having married a colored woman,
was received by the War Department
from Contract Sargeon Sparrenberger,
the medical officer In charge of Fort
Mott. n. j., where Private Smith is
stationed. The recommendation was
forwarded by the commanding officer
of Fort Mott to Brigadier General
Frederick -. Grant, commanding the
Department of the East. without
further Endorsement, but General
Grant. in forwarding the papers to the
department approved the recommen-
dation for Smiths discharge. This
recommendation was also yesterday
approved by Surgeon General O'Reilly
of the army. and the final settlement
of this important question is now
squarely before Secretary of War Taft
and President Roosevelt
Private Smith, who was married to
the negro woman and who brought
her TO the army post at Fort Mott to
associate with the white wives OF
other enlisted men. is a native of Ne
braska and hs been in the army
since he attained his majority When
it became known at Fort Mott that
Smith had married Sarah Wolfert,
originally from Southern Maryland, it
would be putting 1t mildly TO say that
there was sensation among the other
enlisted men and the officers stationed
there.
Acted Without Hesitation.
Protests were lodged with DR..
Sparrenberger. who was the imme-
date superior OF Smith, and who
without hesitation made a recommen-
dation through military channels that
Smith be Immediately dismissed for
the good of the service This rec
ommendation, il is learned. the COM
manding officer at Fort Mott refused
to approve on the ground that there
is no law In the State of New Jersey
prohibiting miscegenation. General
Grant and Surgeon General O'Reilly,
however. both expressed themselves in
favor Of the recommendation and the
papers are now on their way to SeCre-
tary Taft.
I'm the meantime Smith. it is under
stood, has addressed a letter to the
War Department i'm defense of his
conduct. He demands to know why
he should be punished for marrying
4 negro and points to his character
as an enlisted man, which he says. al
ways has been admittedly excellent.
He also declares he has violated no
law Of the State of New jersey and
seemingly defies the War Department
authorities to dismiss him, because of
his marriage TO the negro woman. 1t
is said that Smith. in defending his
position, called attention to the fact
that the Constitutional Commauder-in-
Chief of the Army has entertained a
colored man at dinner which. he is al
legged to have claimed, justified his
marrying a woman of the colored race.
An Unpleasant Situation.
In the meantime, however. the War
Department is face to face with a very
disagreeable situation. Only three
weeks before election day the PreSl-
dent and his Secretary of War are
called upon to decide whether or not
social equality between white and
black races to he extent Of intermar
rying will be recognized by the Fed
eral Government. There is not the
slightest doubt that action on this case
viii, if possible. be delayed until after
the election. Notwithstanding the fact
that the papers have all been in the
War Department since last Saturday
and have been through the mill up 10
the office of Major General f. c. Aims
worth. the military secretary, whose
duty it is to bring the case to the at
tention of Secreary of War Taft.
Secretary Taft will leave this city
Thursday for a speech making tour.
and ii is probable that his departure
will be given as a reason why the case
is not acted upon. The correspondent
OF the Sun is in position to say, how
ever, that as far as routine is con-
cerned the matter could well have
been placed before Secretary Taft to-
day and received his attention J. is
believed that the officials of the adj
ministration will side-step the case
until afer November 8th.