Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-12-24
LODGE REPLIES IN FAVOR OF
EXECUTIVE.
EIGHT EYE WITNESS ES
Several People Actually Saw the
Crimes Conmitted-Both Houses
Adjourn for the Holidays-Presi
dent Signs the Urgency Deficiency
Bill.

Washington, Dec Ex-senator For
aker occupied the attention OF the
senate in its last session before the
holiday recess yesterday in an ex-
tended criticism of the basis of the
presidents action in discharging the
negro troops on account of the Browns
vile raid. He was replied to briefly
by Senator Lodge, while Senator
Scott sustained the demand of the
Ohio senator for a full investigation
by the senate military committee.
The resolution directing such an in
vestigation is before the senate for
action at its next meeting
The senate adjourned until Janu-
airy 3.
Senator Foraker, in the course OF
his speech, said in part:
THE president says this is the most
atrOcious crime ever committed. Ii
these men committed the crime and
did shoot up Brownsville, l agree with
him. I have no sympathy with that
sort of thing and it might be that it
was done. But what / want to cali
attention to is that the president has
misconceived both his constitutional
power and the evidence in this case
The president says the guilt of these
men has been established by testi-
mony of scores of eye witnesses as
shown by the report of Major Block
son. I have counted the witnesses
in the report Of Major Blockson and
there are just q of them A score
would mean at least 20. Their testi-
mOny was taken ~ self-constituteo
citizens committee and no Oaths we're
administered"
Only Eight Eye Witnesses.
Senator Foraker then went through
the evidence in question; reading ex-
tracts from the testimony and elimin-
ating as EYE Witnesses those who
said they had not seen those who did
the shooting until be had reduced the
number OF actual eye witnesses to
eight. AS TO these he remarked that
their testimony was utterly unsatis-
factory and insufficient" to find men
guilty of the crime of which they
were charged Senator Foraker prom
ised if given an opportunity to exam
inc witnesses to produce testimony
that would throw additional light .On
the matter.
He repeated several times during
his speech that be. believed the presl
dent had been imposed upon. But,
he added, 4 believe he is a big
enough man, and just enough man
to undo what he has done when he
finds out the true situation
Senator Foraker went into an eIab-
crate defense Of the sixteenth Ohio
regiment, which the president cited
a precedent in the case. He said that
not only did this case furnish no pre-
cedent, but there was no such prece-
dent to be found
Reply by Lodge.
Senator Lodge followed in defense
of the president, but said he would
| like to examine the evidence of both
sides before he reached a conclusion.
There is q question of justice IN
volved,'' he said, mot only to the men
discharged, but to the president ana
| the SECRETARY Of war, who have given
much time and consideration to the
painful duty imposed upon them
Senator Lodge pointed out that the
record of the 18th regiment shows
that at four other times since 1885
it had been involved in similar es-
capades. Turning his attention to
the testimony, he secured consent to
have much Of it inserted in the con
gressional record with his remarks
Senator Scott concluded the debate
| by commenting that he had been in
conversation with a retired army Of
ficer who had commanded the 25th
regiment for 16 years and declared it
to be as reliable as any in the service
Negro troops, he said, were the only
ones who nevr failed to win a battle
against Indians.
If l have studied the story of the
! Spanish-American war accurately" he
concluded, Il am right in the conclUl.
sion that if It had not been for the
10th cavalry possibly we would not
today have the privilege of having
that gallant soldier, that splendid
| nrocidopf in tho uyhi4o horoos,