The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-12-29
PRESIDENT WILL not REINSTATE
COLORED TROOPS.
Said He Will Risk Impeachment
Rather Than Recede From
Stand He Has Taken--Said to
Be a Political Game of Ad.
ministration Enemies.

ian says:
The administration is preparing to
fight to the last ditch In maintenance
of its position with respect to the dis
charge of battalion of the Twenty
fifth (colored) infantry against any &C.
ton, no matter how extreme, that
congress by any possibility may take
President Roosevelt Saturday sent
Milton D. Purdy, assistan to the at
torney general, to Brownsville, Texas,
to obtain aff1davits of citizens regard
ing the riot on the night of August IL
last, and these af1davits the president
intends to have ready to meet the re-
newal of the attack against him by
Senator Foraker whercongress recon-
venes after the holidays.
Persons who called at the White
House Saturday declare that the presi-
dent was aroused to the highest fight
ing pitch by the attempts being made
to discredit his action on the Browns
Vile affair and that he is more deter
mined than ever not to take a single
backward step nor make any move
tending to the construction that he
admits having misconceived either his
powers in the premises or the testimo-
ny that guided him when be issued
his order of wholesale discharge.
Ready to Risk Impeachment.
If congress passes till restoring
the discharged soldiers to their former
positions in the army, or removing the
disability to re-enlist placed upon
them, the president will veto it.
congress pass a measure by a two
thirds vote over his veto, he will dis
regard its action, being willing to risk
impeachment proceedings if his ene-
mics want to carry the war that far
until the supreme court Of the United
States has decided that the appointive
power no longer rests with the chief
of the nation, but is vested in the leg
islative branch of the government.
These statements are strong. They
are authentic, however, and those
who are cloee enough to the president
to understand his position thoroughly
and have talked with him during the
last "a hours entertain no doubt as. to
the lengths he will go to to sustain his
right as he sees it. Not single SOL
dter among those of the three copma-
MES discharged without honor" will
be reinstated in the army by the pres
ident of the United States unless he
proves his innocence of the charges in
gross made against the battalion to
the satisfaction of the president. That
is The ultimatum from the White
House to it's critics at the Capitol.
That the most critical ordeal of the
Roosevelt administration lies just be-
yond the merry holiday sason seems
probable at this writing. The Browns
Vile affair seems destined to overshad-
ow all matters of legislative interest
and make the contest between the
president and his enemies-largely
within his own party-stand out as the
most prominent feature Of the present
session Of congress.
The deep political game that to some
extent underlies the attack that has
begun, which has received attention
in administration as we'll as senatorial
orioles, will Oe certain to add zest to
the conflict. It Is conceded now that
Mr.. Foraker will carry his point in
demanding an investigation by q sen.
ate committee Of all facts connected
with the discharge of the battalion
and compelling the attendance of wit
nesses and the presentation of papers.
The Foraker resolution, as it now
stands, places the proposed investiga-
ton in the hands Of the military aft.
airs committee. Senators Of all fac
tions have oppressed q desire to hear
both sides Of the case, if there be two
sides, and that insures the investiga.
ton.