The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-29
BLAMES NEGROES
General Nettleton Reports on
Brownsville Affair.
Major Penrose Called son Car
pet'' by President.

Brownsville, Tex, Nov. 29.-That the
discharge of the three companies of ne
gro troops of the Twenty-ffth infantry
is justified is the gist of report made
by General A. B. Nettleton of Chicago.
General NettIeton is an ex-assistant
secretary of the treasury and served in
the Union army in the civil war. He
was asked to make an investigation of
the shooting in Brownsville by the citi~
zens' committee.
General Nettleton has embodied his
findings in letter to the secretary OF
war He says in part:
AS a citizen of Illinois, as an anti
slavery advocate when that phrase had
meaning, and as veteran who served
in the Union army throughout the civil
war, I shall at least not be suspected
or prejudice against negroes. Without
rehearsing details, I wish to assure you
that this absolutely unprejudiced in
vestigation, made after local excitement
had subsidized, confirms in every partic-
ular the conclusions reached by the
two army officers sent here by the war
department, on the strength of which
the president took his action, as well as
the clear and temperate statement pub
lished Immediately after the tragedy
by Mr.. Kelly, chairman Of the Browns
vile citizens committee"
After summarizing facts as to the
killing of one citizen, the manning of
the chief of police, the firing of VOlleys
into and through notes, saloons ana
many private residences and the terror
izing of the entire town, the letter con-
tinues:
1.-The we'll attested evidence is that the
negro troops We're treated here with the
same consideration that negro soldiers
of like bearing are treated in most gar
risOn towns of the northern states; that
the street conduct of some of them was
often aggressively and causelessly in
solent toward white men and women;
that there was no provocatiOn for the
murderous raid by the soldiers, unless
1t can be called a prOVOcattOn that the
drinkers among them were provided
with separate bars in certain saloons
and that on two occasions Individual
insolence was resented by individual
citizens, both of whom were Republi-
can federal officials.
There was no riot and no street
row. as many newspapers persist in
calling the occurrence 1t was simply
a most cOwardly conspiracy to terrify,
wound and kill unoffending men, Wo-
men and children at the hour of mid
night when defense or resistance was
impossible, and was not even attempt
ed. Evidently not an opposing shot
was fred
General Nettleton's letter sharply
raised the question of what were the
white officers of the garrison doing on
the night of the raid
Major Penrose Must Explain.
Washington, Nov. 29.-Unless Ma
jor Penrose, who was in command of
the battalion of the Twenty-fifth in
fantry, discharged by the presidents
order, repudiates an interview credited
to him regarding the negro soldiers
he will be court martfaled. Yesterday
the Washington newspapers printed a
dispatch from Ell Reno, in course of
which Major Penrose was quoted as
having said as the last soldier was dis
charged, There goes the last of the
best disciplined, best behaved and best
regulated battalion in the entire
United States army"
After reading this dispatch Secre-
tary Taft discussed it with President
Roosevelt. As. a result the secretary
directed that a telegram be sent to the
officer asking him if he had been ac-
curately quoted. Unless he can con-
vince the secretary that he did not use
the language attributed to him he will
be suspended and then court mar
tailed. Both Secretary Taft and Presi-
dent Roosevelt are very sensitive re-
the action of Mr.. Roosevelt in order
ing the discharge of the negro SOL
diers.
Representative j. N. Garner. who
represents the Brownsville, Tex, dis
trict in the house, was at the war de-
partment today in cOnsulta ton with
General oliver, assistant secretary of
war. regarding the riots which re-
suited in the discharge of the negroes.
He told General Oliver that some OF
the newspapers had printed stories
that the people of Brownsville were
responsible for those disturbances. He
stated that If such reports had reached
the war department through official
sources he would submit evidence
proving that the negroes alone were
responsible. General Oliver informed
him that the department had not re.
ceived any reports of that character.
Ell Reno. Okla. Nov. 29-Majos
Penrose of Fort Reno said last night:
II am being investigated and any re-
port have to make viii be sent to
Washington. I have nothing to say
now"
Major Penrose declined either to
confirm or deny the report that he had
characterized the discharged negro
troops as the best battalion in the
United States army.
TAYLOR GETS LETTER.