Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-28
Comment Grows Anent Action Of
President Concerning COL
ored Troops.
THE SOUTH IS HISTORICAL.
Praise Mr.. Roosevelt for Determine
ton to "E'irc" Negro Soldiers Who
"shot Up" Texas Town,
Special Correspondence

presidents determination to dismiss
with dishonor from the army OF the
United States, three companies OF the
Twenty-hfth infantry (colored) because
OF the Shooting up OF the town or
Brownsville, Texas, wherein one man
was killed and several persons serious
~ wounded, has created more discus
sion than any one act OF Theodore
Roosevelt since he has been president
OF the United states. That the pendu-
luln will swing back Is q trulsm which
particularly fits the case OF the colored
troops OF the Twenty fifth infantry.
Time was when the south looked upon
Theodore Roosevelt by reason OF enter
tanning at luncheon the famous negro
educator Booker Washington, as ey-
erythlng that was unfit and unhoy.
The north and particularly the NM
England section applauded the pfesl-
dents broadness OF view and saw In tho
Booker Washington Incident a very
personal and very vital exemplitication
OF the Declaration OF Independence,
that "all men are created free and
equal" The pendulum now swings
back. The south Is hysterical IN
tn praise OF the actions Of the president
In Diminishing from the service the threo
companies whose men are supposedly
to have engaged In the riot at Browns
vile. But where New England and the
north complimented the president In
entertaining the first negro educator Of
the land at the White House they are
now found grilNng the action Of the
president and have even gone 80 Tar as
TO raise the question whether the Con-
stitution gives the president the power
TO summarily dismiss l65 men compris-
ing the three companies OF the Twenty
fifth infantry from the service of the
United States and forever refusing
them the right to re-enter the service
TWO DISTINCT CAMPS.
Two distinct camps have sprung up
in the war department growing out OF
the Brownsville episode and the dis
cussion has waged furiously, not only
IN the war department., but IN the
clubs and the Hobbies OF the hotels.
Tariff revlslons, the amendment or the
rate law. ship subsidy and other ex-
tremely important legislation. has been
completely pushed aside for the dismis'
sal OF the three colored companies be-
longing TO the Twenty-htth infantry,
every reason TO believe a congressional
investigation will result. Every con-
gresham In the north who has large
negro population IN his district and
Who perchance may have an enlisted
man In one Of the three companies
which Is 10 be mustered out with dis
honor. will be first In the field with
resolution of inquiry.
The order OF Secy TAFT TO discontinue
the mastering out OF the men was
looked upon as an extremely happy
solution OF very delicate question and
IL was generally thought the president
lust as soon as he could be reached by
cable and after the situation had been
explained to him would support tho
position taken by his secretary or war.
Instead, however, the president came
back with pre-emptory order that the
mastering out should proceed unless II
was clearly proven that the charges
against the men were proved 10 De
wholly without foundation.
The southern Democrat, who has no
love for the negro as Il citizen, but a
profound affection for him as a servant,
sees In President Roosevelt's remark
ahle order a chance TO make political
rapital out of the case and he too VIII
chin I'm I'm order to embarrass Ameri-
cas- leading citizen and II IL safe there
fore 10 expect a very merry time dur
inp the short session Of Congress with
the Brownsville riot furnishing the In
spiratlon
ABOUT SENATOR PLATT.
notwithstanding the assertion Of
Senator Plat that he proposes to con-
tinue as a senator from New York un-
ill the expiration of his term the best
posted politicians IN Washington are
quite confident that the senator will
send his resignation TO Gov. Hughes
before the 4th OF March. Senator Platt
has for more than year past been
broken man physically. He Is so fee
bic that he cannot move from his COM
mittee room 10 his carriage without
assistance and he has experienced great
difficulty In performing his duties AS
chairman OF the joint committee on
printing because Of the strain upon his
mental powers In fact the joint COM
mIttee carried on most OF Its work last
year without the aid OF the senator,
ON top Of all this came the senator's
domestic troubles which proved such q
shock to him that II was expected that
he would resign his Office at once. But
he has decided 20 hold on until the
close OF tho present Congress at least
That he YIN retire with the ending
Of the Fifty-ninth Congress is the firm
belief OF everyone who knows any
thing Of the senator's affairs. Mr.
Plat, however, will doubtless desire 10
name his own successor and for this
reason he will not announce his de-
termination until he writes his reslgna-
ton.
Mr. Timothy L. Woodruff. former
lieutenant governor OF the state. and at
present chairman OF tho Republican
state committee Is an active and
avowcd candidate for the seat. But
Mr.. dWooffuesiensrd
Mr.. W0odruff's residence Is I'm Greater