The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-20

Nebraska Soldier who Is Husband
of Negro Woman Furnishes War
Department with Hard Nat 10
Crack-RecnIIs That Roosevelt
Himself Dined with Black Man.
MisceEcnRtiOn no Crime In New
Jcrsey--soIdier Has Good Record.
BY II. nj. Larner.
Washington. oct. 19.-The race issue,
In a more demoralizing form than Gen.
Barrys recent recommendation to en-
list negro artillerymen now confronts
the President and the Secretary OF
War. This time 1t is a question of
whether the federal government will
countenance mlscegenation in the
army.
Although the War Department has
tried to keep the subject quiet, it is
known that recommendation for the
discharge for the good of the service
OF Private John I. Smith, Hospital
Corps, for having married a colored
woman. was received by the War De-
partment from Contract Surgeon
Sparrenberger. the medical officer n
vate Smith is stationed
Grant Approves II.
The recommendation was forwarded
by the commanding officer of Fort
Mott to Brig. Gen. Frederick d. Grant,
commanding the Department of the
East, without further Endorsement, but
Gen. Grant, in forwarding the papers
to the department, approved the rec
ommendation for Smiths discharge.
This recommendation was also yester-
day approved by Surgeon General
ORellly, as already told OF In the
Morning News. of the army and the
final settlement Of this important ques-
tion is now squarely before Secretary
OF War Taft and President Roosevelt.
Private Smith is alleged to have
married the negro woman and took her
to the army post at Fort Mott to as
sociate with the white wives of other
enlisted men. He is a native of Ne
braskl, and has been in the army since
lie attained his majority. When it be-
came known at Fort Mott that Smith
had married Sarah Wolfert, originally
from Southern Maryland, it would be
putting It mildly to say that there was
a sensation among the other enlisted
men and the officers stationed there.
Cnn't See what lie Has Done.
Protests we're lodged with DR.. Spar
renberger. who was the immediate SUI
perior of Smith. and who without hes
40 4..t
military channels that Smith be inn
mediately dismissed. for the good OF
the service" This recommendation, 1t
is learned, the commanding officer at
Fort Mott refused to approve on the
ground that there is no law in the
state of New Jersey prohibiting mis-
cegenation.
Gen. Grant and Surgeon General
O'Reilly, however, both expressed them
selves in favor Of the recommendation
and the papers are now on their way
to Secretary Taft. In the meantime
Smith, 1t is understood, has addressed
letter to the War Department In de-
fense Of his conduct. He demands to
know why he should be punished for
marrying a negro, and points to his
character as an enlisted man, which,
he says. always has been admittedly
excellent.
President Ate with Negro.
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, I'm defending his
position, called attention to the fact
that the constitutional commander-in-
chief of the army has entertained n
colored man at dinner which, he Is
alleged to have claimed justified his
marrying a woman of the colored race.
In the meantime. however the War
Department is face to face with a very
disagreeable situation. Only three
weeks before election day the Presi-
dent and his Secretary OF War are call
ed upon TO decide whether or not so
ctal equality between white and black
races to the extent OF intermarrying
will be recognized by the federal gov
ernment.