The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-26
And "Grilled" in New Eneland
as Result of Brownsville
Episode"
WHEREIN HE DISCHARGED
NEGRO TROOPS FROM army
Discussion Wages Furiously in Wash.
fngton and 'Tis Said a Resolution
OF Inquiry Will he introduced When
Congress fonvenes-Political Cant.
tai Being Made OF the Episode.

The Presidents determination to
dismiss with dishonor from the army
OF the United States three companies
OF the twenty-fifth infantry, colored,
because of the shooting up" of the
town of Brownsville, Texas, wherein
one man was killed and several per
sons seriously wounded, has created
more discussion than any one act of
Theodore Roosevelt since he has been
President of the United States. That
the pendulum will swing back is a
truism which particularly fits the cas-.
of the colored troops of the twenty
fifth infantry. Time was when the
South looked upon Theodore Roosevelt
by reason Of entertaining at Luncheon
the famous negro educator Booker T
Washington as everything that was
unfit and unholy. The North, and par
ttcularly the New England section, ap-
plauded the Presidents broadness OF
view and saw in the Booker Washing
ton incident very personal and very
vital exemplification of the Declara-
tion OF independence. that "all men are
created free and equal" The pendulum
now swings back. The South is hyster
ical In praise Of the actions of the
President In dismissing from the ser
vice the three companies whose men
are supposedly to have engaged in the
riot at Brownsville. 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 grilling the action
of the President, and have even gone
so far as to raise the question whether
the constitution gives the President the
power to suinmarily dismiss 1e5 men
comprising the three companies of the
twenty-fifth infantry from the service
Of the United States and forever refs.
Ing them the right to re-enter the
service.
Two different camps have sprung up
in the war department growing out
OF the Brownsville episode and the dis
cussfon has waged furiously, not on.y
in the war department. but in the clubs
and the lobbies of the hotels. Tariff
revisions, the amendment of the
rate law, ship subsidy and other ex-
tremely important legislation. has been
completely pushed aside for the dis
missal OF the three colored companies
belonging to the twenty-fifth infantry,
and out of this discussion there Is
every reason to believe a congressional
investigation will result. Every con-
gresham in the North who has a
large negro population in his district
and who perchance may have an en-
listed man in one of the three COM
panies which is to be mustered ont
with dishonor, will be first in the field
with resolution of enquiry.
The order of Secretary to discon-
tinue the mastering out of the men was
looked upon as an extremely happy
solution of the very delicate question,
and 1t was very generally thought the
President just as soon as he could be
reached by cable and after the situa-
tion had been explained to him, would
support the position taken by his sec
retary of war. Instead, however, the
President came back with a peremp-
tory order that the mastering out
should proceed unless it was clearly
proven that the charges against the
men were proved to be wholly without
foundation.
The Southern Democrat, who has
no love for the negro as citizen, but
a profound affection for him as a
servant. sees in President Roosevelt's
remarkable order a chance to make
political capital out of the case, and
he, too. will chip in In order to en-
barrass Americas leading citizen, ami
1t is safe, therefore to expect a very
merry time during the short session
of congress with the Brownsville rict
furnishing the inaniration