Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-11-17

TO make against anybody, and no
grievances to redress.
There are men In the companies
who have served twenty-five years
or more. aud whose sleeves are COW
cred with service stripes Several
OF the nOn-commissioned officers are
approaching the retirement limit.
They have been in Indian campaigns
in Cuba, ami In tbs Philippines.
They have numerous discharges with
excellent" for their character rat
ing. But they had made the Browns
vile affair a race issue. and they
took exactly the same stand with re-
gard 20 DC that Negroes generally
through the South take in regard to
assisting in the capture of their fell
lows accused OF crime.
Cen Darlington came back from
his investigation completely bafled
as Tar as the facts of the Browns
vile riot were concerned.
The procedure By which the men
viii be punished comes TO the Amer
lean Army directly from the british
practice The authority 20 discharge
an individual or a regiment without
trial and without explanation is hold
20 be fundamental. and comes from.
the right Of the Crown to protect
itself as from mutiny or other form
or treason. In this case Il is held
mat the men threw away their on
portuuity TO be heard when thew
refused 10 talk to Gen. Darlington
ana cannot now claim any right Of
appeal. The army regulations pro-
vide that dishouorable DISCHARGE
cannot be imposed except after trial
but that discharge without honor
may De given either after the report
OF board of officers or bv the al
rect order Of the President or the
secretary of War Tn such a case
no explanation Is necessary.
such discharge does not forfeit
the travel pay of the soldier
allowance 20 take him back TO the
place Of enlistment=nor does n bar
MIN from obtaining a pension ON his
service if otherwise entitled to if
TO- does bar him from re-enlistmont
and 10y THAT fact cuts him off from
the privilege of retirement. II docs
not legally bar him from civil en-
nioyment under the Government. ae
General Darlington recommended
ana the inhiction OF that punishment
depends upon the length of the OFF,
cial memory.
10 is not disbandment OF the 3
com panios- 40 once upon the dis
charge OF the men now on their rolls
no Ie'r uiDng officers viii 60 70 work
To hI the ranks again. The ro~i-
ment was established bv law and mo
president is required to maintain 7
Two regiments OF infantry ana two 4
OF cavalry, whose enlisted strength /
7hail Zoe Col0rod men, The law
dates back Co 1856. at the time of 4
me REORGANIZATION of the army upon \
me close or The civil war what tho
meet OF this wholesale discharge mn
ON Jhe recruiting OF Colorod mon
VIII oe 10 U.s. TOO early yet TO say. 1t
would not surprise officers at the
war Department TO see the whole
matter come I'm for a Congressional
Trims 90 tho approaching session.
EVERY army officer I'm WASHINGTON
Nho would say anything about the
'hair to-day had only regret 10 ok
press. not that the order was fssuod
lnt that 10 was necessary to- issuo A.
t was recognized everywhere that
The situation OF characterization nan
'een created which could find no
'thcr solution.
Col "Bill' Pitcher of Tho Twcn-l
l-seventh Infantry. known through
'nt cuba os Ten Dollars. Ten DAYS"
rom his Provost Marshal service
'urine the first Intervention. is IKE
y To nave ou unpleasant time exc
lalnine the newspaper interview
% which he expressed an unrestrain
d opinion ON the subject of colorcd
roops. Tho Presidents order for
n explanation was forwarded To-
'oi- Pitcher on Monday. and 40 will
be- some time before his reply is re-
elVeI Men who know him well
aN that the reported interview
would be stamped 10y "a literary critic
s genuine ON its inherent evidence.
M it that proves To- De the fact n
.ourI-martiol is certainly awaiting
he Colonel