The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-23
DISMISSAL ORDER MUSTSTAND.
lHE PRESIDENT Will FIGHT 70
MAINTAIN TT.
sIs says lie WIN Use All Legal Means at HIs
command to Prevent Legislation for
the Restoration OF the Discharged Negro
>oIdiers-He Sends an Agent 10 Texas.

N~NsHINGroN, Dec. 22.-?resident Roose+
Welt has determined TO fight to the last
r-ol TO maintain the stand he has taken
g. ordering the dismissal without honor
g. the battalion Of the Twenty-hfth coiored
ir' n.rv. He has made it plain to those
,tA whom he has talked On the subject
tat in spite Of the criticisms Of his action
md the growing demand for further pro-
,~ec@iucs in connection with the wholesale
tr,irs,als he will go to extremes to keep
tNe cishonored soldiers out Of the army.
To some Of those with whom he talked
to-day the President said frankly that he
would Use all the legal means at his COM
ard 20 prevent the passage of legislation
= congress- for the restoration Of the
negr,r, who were turned out of the mill
try service. Acco riding to the understand
iug of those who heard the President ex-
lain his position. he will do any or all OF
,hIee thirRs TO prevent the annulment Of
Is dr. missal order. His position is briefly
tn.
II Congress should enact a law ordering
tNe restoration to the army Of the dismissed
Deu he will veto the law. II the bill should
le passed over his veto he will seek other
administrative means 10 keep the ex-
soldiers of the army rolls. If these means
E'ould rot he effective 10 carry out the pur-
T,se sought he will seek the assistance
O. the courts, going even 10 the Supreme
tribunal to secure a decision that his order
q dismissal shall stand.
The President made no bones OF telling
is callers that he had nothing to take
back and nothing to regret in connection
with his dismissal order. He gave the inn
preston also that not even the threat of
Impeachment proceedings would deter him
from the stand pat course he had decided
g. follow. There can be no doubt that the
President has his teeth set, and While he
viii not welcome, he will not avoid a fight.
The first step taken by the President in
lis determination to stick by his dismissal
order became known in the departure from
Washington Of Milton d. Purdy. assistant
e. the Attorney General. BY the Presi-
dents direction he il going to Brownsville.
Tex, to conduct a legal inquiry into the
trouble at that place which led to the dis
n,issal of the negro battalion.
II was supposed when the fact that Mr..
purdy had been ordered to Brownsville
first became known that the President
had heen influenced by the demand for a
rehearing Of the case against the dismissed
soldiers and would give consideration to
the report Of Mr.. Purdy. a trained lawyer.
familiar with legal processes and the rules
Of evidence. But it developed later that
the President has sent Mr.. PIrdy to Browns
Vile TO get additional evidence to support
bs action in ordering the Wholesale dis
missals.
Secretary Root, Secretary Taft and others
al the Presidents advisers saw him to-day,
and it is understood that he discussed with
them his determination to adhere to the
dismissal order.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been aroused by the
attacks upon his attitude by Senator Fora
er and others, and the criticism that has
cen directed at him has served only to
rake him all the more set in his adherence
10 the policy which he has mapped out.
1t is evident that the President has q
fight ON his hands. Senator Foraker is
regarded as a good fighter. and there are
Inany others in the Senate and the House
who challenge the Presidents contention
that he had the right to dismiss the negro
battalion without giving each member of
Il the right Of trial by court-martial.
One of the negro soldiers who had to
~ pAl VI NIN oAbAy WAACA 'S ~ N~N
Ianies Of the twenty fifth Infantry we're dis
charged for the Brownsville outrage was
lingo Sanders, first sergeant, Company
j. He was a veteran Of twenty-five
wears standing and considered the best
Gll round soldier in the regiment.
Sanders doesn't want to remain. in pri-
vate life and is trying hard to get back into
the army. He is so years old and knows
nothing to speak Of about any other but
the military business. He il willing TO
recnllst as a new recruit.
There are a few others of the discharged
Tegroes who want to return to the army
also. and they are making Sanders's case
y test case. The sergeant makes a long
Pfhdayit telling his record and OF how he
fought not far from Roosevelt In Cuba.
He also declares that he tried TO And out
tho names Of those who were guilty Of
shooting up Brownsville, but couldn't.
This is his affidavit
He deposes and says he Is so years old;
that he has served for a period OF twenty
five years six months and seven days,
Icing a non-commissioned officer for a
period Of thirteen years and a sergeant
for A period of six years; that he has served
in tuba and the Philippines, two months
in Cuba, and was continually on the firing
ihe mat upon the 2Oth Gay OF June,
about nine or ten miles from Siboney, in
cuba. Theodore Roosevelt came to him and
AZ his special request his company JARED
their supply of bareback with his command.
That in the Philippine campaign he charged
up Comanche Mountain as first sergeant,
North Luzon, on January 5, 1900.
That on January 81. 1901. he captured first
sergeant, corporal. one Mauser, one Rem
ington. near Cabangan; that on March Il
be captured fourteen rifles, one sabre, near
Wilkens Camp.
"Afiant doth further say that he was
garrisOned at Fort Bro WI Texas. on the
18th day of August, 1900, and a member Of
Company B, Tw~enty-ffth Infantry. That on
August IS, 1905, near 4o'clock. Lieut., George
G. Lawson and company commander
said to him: Sergeant, are there any men
in town on pass?' To which be replied: