The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-20
TAFT CALLS HALT.
Secretary of War Stops the Dis
charge of COlOred Soldiers.
He Sets Aside the viii of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
PROTESTS POURED IN.
Steps Have Been Taken to Con-
test Order in Court.
Further Action will Await Word
From Chief Executive.

New York, Nov. 2O.=secretary Of
War Taft got here from New Haven
last night and went to the home of his
brother, Henry w. Taft. He declined
to talk about the delay in carrying out
the order for the dishonorabIe dis
( charge of the negro soldiers.
Golfers has received a dispatch
from its correspondent who is travel
ing with the president in reply 10 one
sent asking if Mr.. Roosevelt would not
suspend action in regard to the negro
soldiers until he got home. The reply
says the presidents views are clear
} and unchanged that the disband-
ment is due to him and that the presi-
/ dents view is that the negro soldiers,
in refusing information necessary to
! the apprehension of the men who
! committed criminal acts at Browns
vile, Tex. struck at the very heart of
military justice and discipline. Had
white troops done the same thing, the
reply says, they would have suffered
the same penalty. In conclusion the
reply says:
BE the offenders black or white.
/ the president proposes to combat race
antagonism. His action in the Browns
Vile matter was taken in the face of
much adverse influence and advice be-
fore he left. There can be no amelior-
alton of the penalty until the men con-
| cerned show their sense of duty, as
| citizens and soldiers by giving up the
offenders to Justice
Taft Suspends Order.
Washington, Nov. 20-Because OF
clamor in certain quarters against the
order of the president dismissing with
out honor the members of entire
I battalion of the. Twenty-fifth infantry.
negro troops, and because of his belief
| that IN part the order was illegal. Sec
retary Of War Taft has accepted the
! responsibility for suspending the exc
i rlatfOf1 of tho until he
from the president.
The secretary knows that the men
\ have already engaged counsel in the
person Of James T. Green, who pro-
poses to test the action of the president
in the courts.
Expected at TT. Reno.
TT. Reno, Ok Nov. 20.-The order
from Washington to hold in allegiance
| the order discharging the negro troops
without honor did not come as a com
plete surprise at Ft Reno. Military
men who have watched the extent OF
the public feeling against the discharge
orders have believed that the war de-
partment would delay the carrying out
of the project until further inVestiga-
ton was made 1t is believed here that
Secretary Taft is responsible for the
abeyance order. During his recent trip
of inspection Of the military posts IN
the south it is understood that General
w. S. McCaslSey, the head of the de-
partment of Texas, made the secretary
thoroughly acquainted with the history
of the entire affair at Brownville.
Before the order was received from
Washington "a members of company 3
had already been discharged without
honor. The weather was cold and dis
agreeable. AS the soldiers were paid
off and dismissed they We're orderly
and well behaved. None displayed any
The only comment was one in keeplnS
with that of soldiers.
Why Discharge Order Was Made.
Washington, Nov. 20.-The three COM
panies of the TWenty-fifth infantry
were ordered discharged because it is
not safe to have them in the army.
They cannot be trusted and for the
protection of the public and the pre-
servation Of the discipline Of the army
their discharge is necessary. Acting
Secretary oliver of the war department
said today:
THE idea seems to prevail that the
men were ordered discharged because
they refused to tell on their compan-
ions and because they are black. Moth
ing could be further from the truth.
These soldiers shot up q town. All OF
them refused to tell anything about the
disgraceful affair at Brownsville which
resulted in murder The companies are
shielding murderers. There are men IN
the companies who are criminals o< tho
worst sort. Every effort possible has
been made by the war department TO
find the guilty men, but without avail.
If these companies were permitted to
remain in the service and were to shoot
up another town and again endangcr
the lives of citizens the war department
would be in an indefensible position. 1t
is impossible to court martial each Of
the men in these companies. for "A
charge cannot be preferred against ev-
cry one of the members Of the compan-
les. The government has no means OF
Furnishing the crime committed exceDt
by discharging all the men,
They Must Show Roosevelt.
New York Nov 2O.-A cable from
President Roosevelt declining to sus-
pend his order discharging colored
troops of the Twenty-ffth regiment
unless the facts as known to him are
shown to be false but expressing his
Willingness to hear new facts bearing
on the case, was made public today by
Gilchrist Stewart of the Constitutional
league.
No Further Action Now.
Washington. Nov 2O.-Secretary
Taft will return to Washington this
afternoon and until his arrival there
will be no further action concerning
the three comp panies of the Twenty
fifth infantry sentenced to dismissal
for their participation in the riot at
Brownsville. Texas. The case will not
be formally disposed Of until instruc-
tions are received from the president.
Clark in Command.
Oklahoma City. Nov. 20.-Major
clark has been placed in command at
Fort Reno in place OF Major PenrOse.
1t is stated that Major Clark is the
ranking officer. but had not previously
assumed command