The Washington times., 1906-12-21
FORAKER ATTACK
. GOES BY BOARD
President Considers That
Brownsville Incident
Is Closed.
QUESTION UP TO CONGRESS
Executive VIII Have Defenders If
Matter Is Investigated by
Senate.
QUESTION UP TO CONGRESS

4 War Department officials have given
little attention to the attack made upon
the President and War Department by
Senator Foraker in the Senate yester-
day, on account of the dishOnorable
dismissal of the three companies of
colOred soldiers OF the TWenty-hfth IN
fantry. II is believed that neither the
President nor Secretary Taft will take
any further cognizance of the case, as
the report has been made in answer
10 the Senate resolution calling for
all information on the subject, and
such new evidence as has been pre-
sented is not considered as sufficient to
warrant a reconsideration on the part
of the President. So far as the Presi-
dent and War Department is con-
cerned. the case IS now finally closed.
In case the Senate should proceed
with an investigation of the Browns
vile riotlng and the conduct of the
negro troops on its own account. the
War Department Will have nothing 10
say. 1t viii take no account in the
premises. neither hindering nor aiding
such an investigation. as all the in
formation in the hands OF the depart
ment has been placed before the Senate.
In case a committee from the Senate
should be sent to Fort Reno, in Okla
homa, where the men were discharged,
and 10 Brownsville, where the rioting
occurred last August, the department
Will extend every courtesy TO facilitate
The work OF the Investigators. but it
viii not aid in the work itself
Officials Are Reticent.
While both Inspector General CARING
ton and Major Blockson. of the inspec-
Iion division of the army, have their
own views concerning the attacks made
upon their reports by Senators Foraker
and Penrose, neither feels justified, nor
a. liberty, 10 make any reply, nor enter
into any controversy. There Is moth
ing that L care 10 say" said Major
Blockson, who made the original inves-
tigation for the department at Browns
vile My report stands for itself. In
that / gave carefully and accurately the
results OF my thorough investigation.
In the meantime the department IS
looking after the COurtmartial OF the
Two officers Of the IWenty-nfth lnfdn-
try. against whom charges have beeh
preferred by the department, on the
ground that they were neglectful OF
their duty in allowing the soldiers to
leave the reservation with their arms.
1t is the feeling among some of the
higher officials that since the President
and Secretary Of War have stood nrm
on their decision not TO give the dis
charged soldiers an opportunity to re-
enlist, they Will take an equally firm
stand concerning the conduct OF the
white officers OF the regiment who might
be found IN any way responsible Tor the
actions OF the soldiers on the night OF
the Brownsville rioJtng.
Senators Defend President.
That the President and the Secretary
of War will not be without strong de-
tense il. the Senate in reference 10 the
discharge of three companies of the
Twenty-fifth Infantry was made plain
yesterday in the course OF the debate
on the Foraker resolution. calling for an
of the whole Brownsville
fair by the Military Affairs Commit
Tee of the Senate
Senator Lodge took the floor briefly in
the Presidents defense, and it was clear
that q number of other Senators would
have done so had there been oppOrtun-
ity The question is left pending until
after the holiday recess, and il is likely
1T that time there Will be vigorous re-
rlies 10 Senator Foraker's scathiug ar
raignment of the Administration policy
ln this affair.
Senator Lodge in his speech said that