The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-12-28

upon him in the Senate for his dis
missal of three companies of negro
soldiers belonging to the twenty
fifth infantry, President Roosevelt
tonight dispatched Assistant At
torney General Milton D. Purdy
to Brownsville, Tex, to collect
additional evidence against the
troops in question, to be used in
answering Foraker; and any other
members of the Senate who are in
clined to criticise the Administra-
ton.
Mr.. Roosevelt, it is understood,
believes Senator Foraker is play.
ing peanut politics in this matter,
and that to further his own politi-
cal ends he is trying to discredit
the whole Administration and to
arouse race feeling. regardless of
consequences.
He is represented as attributing
to Foraker and others who have
talked in the same strain the
shooting of Capt. Macklin of the
twenty fifth infantry by negro at
Fort Reno last night. If Foraker
wants to make an issue of the
matter, as he apparently does, the
President is willing to accept the
challenge. Before Congress meets
again he will be provided with ad-
ditional information regarding the
conduct of the negro soldiers
which even Foraker may not be
able to controvert.
In the meantime be is prepared
to stand by his action against all
the opposition which the Senate
may muster. If Congress passes
bill restoring any one Of the dis
charged men to the army, he will
veto it, and if they pass the meas
ure over his veto he will find some
other means of continuing the
fight.
Senator Culberson of Texas will
be one of the Presidents support
ers. He had a long conference
with Secretary Taft this afternoon
at which the legal phases of the
question were discussed.
Culberson is certain that Fora
ker is all wrong upon the legal
propositions, and that the Presi-
dent had an absolute right to dis
miss the men without honor just
as he did. He will be among the
first to take up the cudgels against
Foraker When the Senate recon
venes.
Senator Culberson said tonight
that he would discuss the Presi-
dents order Diminishing the three
companies of the twenty. fifth in
fantry after the holiday recess.
This statement is interesting, be-
cause it means that Senator Cul-
berson's speech will be in reply to
Senator Foraker, who has taken
up the defense of the discharged
negro troopers.
Senator Carmack has announced
that he will answer the Ohio SEN
ator, whose espousal of the cause
of the negroes has given the incl
dent decided political phase.
There is no doubt that the question
will be the text for the most sem
sational debates that will be heard
in the Senate during this session
of Congress.
President Roosevelt made to day
to callers the unqualified statement
that in his opinion the shooting Of
Capt. Edgar B. Macklin, twenty
fifth infantry, at Fort Reno, Okla,
on Friday night, was very likely
in part inspired by the speech
which Senator Foraker Of Ohio
made on the Senate floor on
in support of the dis
charged battalion of the twenty
fifth infantry and in criticism of
The Presidents policy in dismiss
Dg them.
IF the gentlemen on Capitol
Hill want investigation, they can
nave all they care for" the Presi.
lent is said to have declared be.
iween clenched teeth and forth
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