Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-24
Unable to Return to Duty Before
February Is.
AGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT
Thinks Latter Justified In His Course
Regarding Discharge of the
Colored Infantrymen.

Edgar \. Mackhn, 18th Infantry, in regard
to the recent shooting affair at Fort Reno.
Okla. of which he was the victim, and
also In regard to the Brownsville raid. In
which some of the members J. his company
are said to have taken part.
In one telegram Capt. Macklin said:
Condition much improved. If no COM
February 10. No traces of assassin yet.
though probably on trail. Miraculous es-
cape
This telegram was supplemented by an
other from Capt. b. j. Edger jr.. of the
medical department stationed a Fort Reno,
as follows:
Your brother, in my opinion. is out of
danger. Both bullets removed and wounds
look very good. There one of the
head, not penetrating the brain, which
fractured side OF the lower jaw. The
other one was of the chest wall, without
entering the chest"
Endorses Presidents Action.
In his telegram to his brother at Balti-
more regarding the Brownsville affair Capt
Macklin indorses the Presidents course in
the matter, in the following words:
THE concerted action was mutiiy be-
cause its purpose was to do violence to the
people who weic entitled to their protec-
ton, and no resentment toward trn corr
munity or any OF the people of Brownsville
for wrongs done or affrontS Offere,. toward
the negro soldiers Il such provocation ex-
listed. could possibly justify such mutiny.
The offense was against the military laws
of the government, and the commander-ln
chief of the army was bound to adopt any
measures that would preserve the discipline
of the army.
What measures were necessary to pre-
vent a repetition of the mutiny must de-
pend on the cause of the outbreak and the
motive that melted the crime. The act of
the commander-in-chief in dismisslng from
the service. in dshonor, the soldiers en-
gagged N Brownsville affair abSO-
lutely necessary to preserve the integrity of
the army, as well as proper military disci-
pine.
The motive of the mutinous outbr TX of
the negro soldiers at Brownsville was I'M
questionably race aversion. The immediate
cause of the dastardiy violence may have
been some offenSe, real or fancied, given y
white people in brownsville to negro SOL
diers. l have seen on authentic statement
that such offenSeS had been given to those
negro soldiers and do not believe they had,
in fact. occurred Blu. whether or not su /
offenSes or insults were given, they would
not have been resented by mutinous con-
cert AM violence, if the town of Browns
vile had been inhabited by negroes en-
tirely."
The Irony Of Fate.
That telegram would seem to justify the
statement attributed to Mr.. Stewart of he
Constitutional League that Capt. Mackln
believed that the negro troops shot up
the town of Brownsville and that he was
the only officer of the entire battalion who
held that belief. 1t appears, therefor, like
tie irony of fate that the President should
have selected Capt. Macklin as the only
company officer to be court-martialed for
alleged neglect of duty in connection with
the affair. The preliminary investigation
showed that Capt. Macklin, who was officer
OF the day, was absent during all the ex-
element attending the assembling of thes
troops under arms, and did not report until
afterward, excusihg himself on the plea
bat Ia bod hnnv nCtD
a telegram from San Antonio. Texas,
says that Gen. McCaskey, commanding the
Department of Texas, in obedience to in
structions from Washington, has appointed
"A general court martial to convene at that
place January next for the trial of Maj.
c. W. Pensone and Capt T. A. Mackiin.
18th Infantry. for alleged neglect of duty III
connection with the brownsville affair. In
view however. vi the condition of Capt.
Macklin, a result of the Fort Reno
shooting, il is likely that the court-martial
date. at least in the case of Capt Maclslin.
That officer says he win not be ready for
duty before February Is.
What the Trials Will Show.
II will be for the military authorities to
determine whether the trial of Major PEN
rose shall proceed on the date selected by
Gen. McCaskey-January 4 neXt-in the
absence of Capt. McCaskey, or whether it
snail be postponed so that the two officers
may be tried together. These court-martial
pruCeed inSS will be of great interest, as
they are expected to develop all the facts
cUunccted with the Brownsville raid and to
settle beyond controversy whether colored
Troops took part in 1t. The trials will! be
conducted in accordance with the laws and
tie regulations, and all witnesses Will be
sworn ana be subject to cross examination
A Is well known, the testimony taken by
tr Brownsville citizens committee and on
loh the President acted, WAS not taken
.I. al IA or s.tt4 Lao
Comm ssion to Hear Testimony.
II was because that evidence has been
attacked as irregular In form and insult
ficlent in weight and substance that the
President has sent another commission -
Brownsville to supply the deficiencies This
commission consists Of Mr. Nj. D. Purdy,
assistant to the Attorney General, and a
corps OF law clerks and stenosraphers and
Major A. p. Biackson of the inspector gen
erals DEPARTMENT OF the army. who is
accompanied by MI w. w. Mischief one
OF Secretary Tafts confidential clerks
These commissioners are instructed to OBJ
tain all the evidence they can in regard to
the alleged participation Of members of the
18th Infantry in the riot at Brownsville
August IL last. 1t is not doubted that they
Nf receive the ready cooperation of Cant
NJ Donald of the Texas Rangers and other
t.,Zyus of Brownsville in their efforts TO
fl the blame the soldiers. This time
oath so far known the army officers
sHd soldiers who were al Brownsville at
the time are not to be examined by the COM
mission. At any rate, none of them Is now
a Brownsville. whore the hearings are to
te held. and no one has been summoned
there 10 testify, 50 far as known
No Soldier Yet Implicated.
That no evidence has yet been adduced
duplicating q single soldier OF participa-
tisn in the Brownsville raid is regarded as
most remarkable. when il Is charged that
frWu ten TO twenty soldiers were engaged
In Il. and considering the strenuous efforts
made TO establish their guilt. The matter
WAS thoroughly investigated by Mai PEN
Toss and his officers. then consecNtiyely BIZ
MAJ. Bfocksom, Col. Lowering and Inspector
Gtnerat Darlington. and next by Gen. A B.
N,;tieton. Judge Advocate General Davis
Gen Ainsworth. the first division of the
gt8tral staff. with Gen. Barry as acting
ch..f OF STAN. and also by representatives
OF The Constitutional League of the United
States.
L. conducting his Inquiries at Browns
vri% Major Blocksom was assisted by A.
c. Hamilton. United States district attor-
ney for the southern district of Texas Gen.
Darlington in his endeavorS to discover the
alleged culprits among the soldiers at Fort
Pr baA "a nf off