Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-26
ROOSEVELT AND THE NEGRO
Brownsville Incident is Offset to Pooksr
Washington Luncheon.
SOUTH APPlAuDs PRESIDENTS ACT
Pcndulum swings hack Rs n Result
Of Dismissal of CoIored Troops
Who Took fnrt In
Texas Riot.
lFrom a star Correspondent.) )

presidents determination to dismiss with
disliouor from the army OF the United
States three companies OF the Twenty-ffth
infantry OtOloredl beenusc OF the shooting
up of the town OF brownsville Tea,
wherein one man was Killed anu several
persons seriously wounded. has created
more discussion than iny ono act OF T'heo-
dore Rousevclt since he shas been president
of the United states.
That the pendulum viii swing back =
truism which particularly iits the case
of the colored troops OF the Twenty-fifth
infuntrl. Time was when the south looked
upon Theodore Roosevelt by reason OF his
entertaining at luncheon the famous negro
educator. Booker Washington, as every
thing that was uuht and unhOly. The
north, and particularly the New England
section, applauded the presidents broad
ness OF view and saw i'm the Booker Wash
: ingtOn incident Il personal and vital ex-
culplidcation OF the Declaration OF hide
pendencc that "all men are created free
aud equal Tho pendulum now swings
back The south is hysterfcal in praise
OF the actions Of The president in dismissing
from the service the three companies whose
men are supposed 20 have engaged la the
riot at Brownsville But where New Eng
land and the north complmented the
president In entertaining the first negro
educator of the land az the White House.
I they are now found grilling the actor Of
3 the president and have even gonc so far
as TO raise the question whether the con-
F. stitution gives the president the power to
summarlly dismiss ts5 men comprising the
three companies Of the Twenty fifth in
fautry from tho service Of the United
states and forever refusing them the right
to re-enter the service,
Two Camps iu war Oaice.
I Two distinct camps have sprung up in
I the War department growing out OF the
( Brownsville episode and the discussion has
Waged furiously not only in the War de-
psrtment. but in the clubs and the lobbies
of the hotels. Tariff revisions. the amend
ment OF the rate law. ship subsidy and
other extremely important legislation have
been completely pushed aside for the dis
ruissal Of the three colored companies and
out Of this discussion there is every reason
TO believe congressional investigation will
result. Every congressman in the north
who has a large negro population in his
district and who. perchance. may have an
enlisted man in one OF the three companies
which is to be mustered out with dishonor
4 will be first in the field with a resolution
ofinauiry
The southern democrat. who has no love
for the negro as a citizen, but u profound
sneclion for him as servant, sees m
! President Roosevelts order chance to
mako polltieal capital out OF the case, and
he, too. will chip in in Greer TO efnbarrass
Americas leading citizen. aud it is safe
therefore to expect merry time during the
short session with the Brownsville riot
/ furnishing the inspiration
PiattA ResiEnaslon Looked For.
( Notwithstanding the assertion of Senator
! Platt that he proposes 60 continue as a
( senator from New York until tho expra-
/ tion Of his term, the best posted politicians
! I'm Washington are confident that the sena-
/ tor Will send his resignation to Governor
Hughes before March l. Senator Plat has
for more than a year past been broken
/ man physically. He is so feeble he cannot
/ move from his committee room to his car
rage without assistance and he has ex-
porienced great difficultly In performing
I his duties as chairman OF the joint COM
mittee on printing because of the strain
upon his mental powers. In fact, the joint
! COMMITTEES carried on most Of its work last
year without the aid OF the senator on
top Of all this came the senator's domestic
I troubles which proved such a shock TO
I hin that It was expected he would resign
I his once at once. But he has decided TO
, hold on unul the iclose Of the present con-
gress al least. That he will retire with the
I ending OF the Fifty-ninth congress is the
/ firm belief Of everyone who knows anything
Of the senator's affairs, MIR, Plat, how
/ ever. will doubtless desire to name his own
successor, and for this reason he viii not
announce his determination until he writes
his resignation,
Timothy l.. woodruff, former Lieutenant
governor OF New York and at present chair
man of the republican state committee, is
an active and avowsd candidate for the
seat But Mr.. Woodrufrs residence is in
Z Greater New York and the upstate repub-
Hcans arc not likely TO permit the election
I az another New York City men 60 the
senate without a vigorous contest. There
sra already IN the field number OF candi-
dates for the toga, Including =. II. Butlor,
proprietor of the Buffalo News, and \
/ Y. Y. FFanchot, the present superintendent
OF public works While Mr. F'ranchot's
name has not been extensively discussed,
/ il is known 90 a few politicians here that
ne is after the ONCE, ana II is understood
he has the earnest support Of Governor
Higgins as we'll as Of most OF the present
of8cers OF the state government. Mr. Fran
! ehot has made an excellent reputation IN
his present Office and is said to be a man
whose elevation to the senate would be
credit 10 the state.
Another senator who viii soon retire, u
current reports are true, Is Mr.. Proctor OF
vermont. Senator Proctor has had about
an she honors that can come TO man
ana he is besides well advanced ia years.
! IN September last his son was chosen gov
esnor OF vermont and now the report is
that early in the comiag year the senator
wiu retire to make way for his son, who
viii resign the governorship IN order that
he may b. appointed 70 A. the vacancy
caused by the proposed retirement Of his
distinguished father.
Many Chairmanships Vacant.
The death OF Congressman Hit, for ten
years past chairman OF the foreign affairs
committee OF the house. and the previous
suicide OF "Bertls' Adams OF Pennsylvania,
the second man on that committee leaves
the race for the chslrmanship Of this im-
portant body between Robert g. Cousins
OF Iowa. Charles y. lands of lndisna and
James Breck Perkins OF New York. Mr..
Cousins, the ranking member Of the com
rnitteeg has the chairmanship OF one OF the
minor committees az the present time and
Is also a member Of The committee on naval
affairs SIR. lands. who ranks second, is
tlr chairman OF the COMMITTEES on printing,
which OF course he would have 10 rfVrf ~,