The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-10-28
NO MIXING G! !. ALLOWED ]. |. 0 E
White Soldier Who Married EegIess
/, Dismissed From Army.
Appeals TO THE pREs1DEnT.
Gen. Fred. Grant Reoomnss ended
tho Mans Discharge for ths
Good of the military
Service.

State says President Roosevelt 10 face
to face with the negro problem in ono
OF Its ugliest phases. Private John
Smith of the United States army
hospital corps, stationed at Fors
Motto, N. j., has married a neeress.
His commanding officer, Surgeon
Shallenberger, has recommended his
dismissal. The commanding of1cer
OF the post refused to endorse thie
recommendation. 1t was approved.
however, by the surgeon general.
Smiths plea Is that II the constitu-
Jlonal commander in chief thinks a
negro good enough to eat with he
should not obiectato private in the
army marrying negress. Smith is a
white. The war department is en-
deavorlng to sdetrack the case till
after elections.
A dispatch from Washington saws
ohe surgeon general of the army has
concurred in the recommendation of
Gel. Grant that John II. Smith, a
member OF the United States army
hospital corps, stationed. at Folt
Mott, N. j., who is said to have mar.
ried neRress, be discharged from
the army, for the good of the SER
vice."
Ihls recommendation has been for
warded to the Secretary OF War for hia
action. Smith wrote to the War De-
partment inquiring If there was any
reason why he should not be permitted
70 marry a negro woman, setting
torth that her character was good,
and that he tcould es'ablish good
cuaracUer Tor himself by bis record.
A special to.3The Baltimore Sun
from Salem, N. j., tells of the case as
follows: Soldiers at Fort Mott, are
awaiting With interest to see what ao-
tion President Roosevelt will take in
connection with the marriage of John
L. Smith, q 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 Sparrenbsrgar. "a
soon as he learned that the wedding
oad 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
10 the l4th amendment to the Com
stitutlon all persons are free ana
equal, q 80. 8
.If President r 3ossyelt sat 30 E I.
Table with a negro" Smith is reported
TO have said. lit is my right to wed
che girl of my choice, regardless OF
creed or color"
Smiths refusal to resign and his de-
claration that he would not do so un.
I'll bis case had heen passed upon by
the highest authorities was the cause
OF several conferences among the off,
GERS OF Fort M0tt. B,ing unable to
decide the case for themselves, it was
decided that the matter should be
submitted to President r )oseyelt.
AS soon as Post Surgeon Sparren-
berg was satisfied that Smith was
married to the nagress he communi-
Gated with Gen. Fred. d. Grant. COM
inander of the department OF the east.
In this letter the post surgeon obiect-
ed TO having attached to his corps a
man with q 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.
ln the meantime Smith wr5te to
Secretary Moody for his decision.
About the same tima, 50 the report il
mere, 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 story dat
ing from The. Spanis sh-A merican 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 lowered
between life and death and the me-
gress, member of the Volunteer Red
Gross Society, nurse1 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. Oaly a
few OF Smiths soldier friends attend.
ed the wedding, and the matter was
kept very quiet.
Merchants With Parker.
Democrats are surprised at the Par.
ker and Davis sentiment manifested
| among the buSinpss man ne N,mv,