The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-14
OFFICERS OF THE
C0L0RED TROOPS
MAY Be TRIED

Ndclllhbl VII ANbNs IT. llt hlOuDlt IA
the Twenty-hfth Infantry. brought about
by tho riot at Brownsville. Tex. on the
night OF Aug. 13. has not been ended by
the discharge without honor OF the negro
enlisted men of three companies.
The next step is likely TO be the court
martial OF some, IL not all. OF the officers
of the three companies on charges OF fall
ure TO perform their duty that night. Mai.
Penrose. I'm m OF the battalion, Is
practically certain 10 have to face a
court-martial.
The army list gives the officers OF Com
pany Il as First Lieut.. William T.. Ben
nett. Jr., and Second Lieut.. George G.
Lawrason OF Company c, Capt. Edgar A..
Maclin and First Lieut.. James A. Higgins
and OF Company ID, Capt. Samuel +.
Lyon and Second Lieut.. William w.
West, Jr. Capt. Maclin and Lieuts. Hig-
gins and Bennett rose from the ranks.
The others are West Pointers.
1t has surprised some officers on duty
in Washington that nothing has been
done as yet I'm the way Of an inquiry INTO
the conduct OF the officers OF the battal-
ion on the night OF the riot at Browns
vile. IL Is pointed out that extraordinary
efforts have been put forth TO induce or
compel the enlisted men, particularly the
formation that would lead TO the detec-
tlOH Oh the Bu4liN men WHO actually LOOK
part in the riot. These efforts have now
been supplemented by an unprecedented
punishment and still the desired informa-
ton has not been obtained.
But IL is a fact thoroughly we'll under
stood by army officers generally that IL
the commanding officer at Fort Brown or
the officers of the three companies invol-
we'd had done only what might reasona-
bly, have been expected OF them that
night there would have been no necessity
for taking the extraordinary measures
with the enlisted men which ave brought
about the presidents order for their dis
charge.
II don't know anything about the cir
cumstances at Fort Brown hat night"
said an officer OF high rank, but l know
what would have happened at a post
where / was in command II such a dis
turbance had broker out. / would have
had the long roll sounded on the jump and
every man turned out. l would a had
a roll call within five minutes of the firing
OF the first shot, and then / would have
had the quarters OF the men inspected TO
see whose guns were out of their places.
/ would have had every gun inspected to
see IL II had been fired recently, and In
that way within 10 or 10 minutes OF the
beginning Of the trouble l could have
known which of my men were away and
who were probably concerned In the dis
turbance.
That should have been lone at Fort
Brown, and there does not seem TO be
any excuse for not catching at least every
man who left the post and took part in
the riot. Every such man should have
been apprehended on his return, and ev-
cry man not present at roll call should
have had to explain all about IT,"
Nothing has appeared In what the war
department has been willing to make pub
"a, Sn far riding fhn narfnrnnan nee AZ
Fort Brown to show that any Of these
things were done at Fort Brown that
night. Officers here nave asked several
questions which have not as yet been an
swered. They want To know what the
main guard at Fort Brown was doing that
night: what the officers on duty were do
ing, and what the other officers were
about. II is the expectation at the de-
partment hat these questions Will be
taken up officially with the officers OF
the Twenty-ffth. III was said Yesterday
afternoon by an officer who is In a posi-
ton TO know that a combination OF cir
cumstances had operated so far to prevent
the investigation that is now to be made.
but that Ii must be taken up soon.
At the same time II appears that the
president has exceeded his legal author
ity in attempting to debar forever the
discharged men Of the Twenty-ffth from
civil employment. He has no power to
htpdl Ail'St AAlt AiplI SAAii "
except as the head OF the appointing pow
err. OF course. with his prohibition no
subordinate would dare appoint one OF
these men TO any post. even a authorship,
but as a matter Of fact, his prohibition
is good only because he has the power To
enforce il now, and is not binding for a
moment on his successor.
The war department mails are heavy
with letters protesting against the dis
charge without honor of the three com
panies. Most OF these originate in Massa-
chusetts. but nearly every section OF the
country is represented. They can be OF
no avail now. ii is said, because the ac-
ton was taken by direction OF the presi-
dent. who alone can relieve the severity
OF the order.
Most of the communications, according
TO the department, reveal ignorance Of inn
portant facts. connected with the case.
so Acting Secretary Oliver has ordered
the printing in pamphlet form OF the re-
port Of Col. Bixby. who made the orig
NAL Investigation into the rLoting at
Brownsville last August by some men,
bers OF the Twenty-ffth infantry as well
as the further report of INSPECTOR General
Darlington. and these pamphlets will be
supplied to the correspondents.