The San Francisco call., 1906-12-20
Informs Congress That They
Disgraced The Uniform

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1e.-President
Roosevelt's message dealing with his
action in dismissing from the army the
negro troops Of the three companies OF
the Twenty-fifth Infantry furnished the
one topic OF interest in the Senate
session today lively debate fol-
lowed the reading of the message as
10 what should be done with it. Fora
ker wanted il sent to the military
committee with instructions TO make
further investigation should the COM
rnittee deem IL necessary. He said that
in reality much that appeared TO be
testimony was really not testimony,
as much Of il was not under oath. On
objection from Senator Clay the SEN
ate postponed action until tomorrow.
The pension calendar was cleared by
the passage OF more than 200 private
pension bills.
At the suggestion sof Senator Lodge.
President Roosevelt's Panama message
viii be reprinted for the Senate in
normal" spelling.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
ordered the discharge Of nearly all the mem
fffb Infsnfry by name in the exercise of my
constitutional power and In pursuance OF what
after full consideration, / found to be my con
stitutionai duty as commander -in-chief Of the
United States army. ] am glad 10 avail my
seIf ~ fhe onporfunftv Afforded by these resolu-
lions to lay before the Congress the following
h lsses ~ ~ .bs ronnsnfes IN onestion and ss
10 the conspiracy by which many other mem
hers OF these companies saved the criminals
from justice 10 the disgrace or the United
States uniform.
The message called attention to ac-
companying reports of Major Augustus
P. Blocksom. Lieutenant Colonel Leon
ard A. Lowering and Brigadier General
Ernest A. Darlington. inspector gen.
eral, and the President said an effort
had been made TO discredit the fairness
OF the investigation by pointing out
that General Darlington was a South
erner.
Precisely the same action would
have been taken" says the President,
had the troops been white-indeed,
the discharge would probably have
been made in more summary fashion"
SHIELDED INNOCENT MEN
The President stated that General
Darlington was a native of South Caro-
lima, Lieutenant Colonel Lowering OF
New Hampshire and Major Blocksom
Of Ohio. AS II happened, he explains,
the disclosure Of the guilt of the troops
was made by the officer from Ohio and
the efforts of the officer from South
Carolina were confined to an endeavor
10 shield the innocent men, If any such
there were, by securing information
which would enable the authorities to
&Wt44alGl PUNISH the ullle- Inc
President continues:
But I wish it distinctly understood that the
fact of the birthplace of either officer is one
which I absolutely refuse 70 consider. The
the flag and the service is the for all
officers and all enlisted men of the United
States army. and ] resent with the keenest in
dignation any effort 10 draw any line among
them based upon hirthniace, creed, or any other
consideration Of the kind
Referring to the several official re-
Of he 10 ~ TQrox vii lie,
the President said there was conflict
Of evidence as TO whether the citizens
or the colored troops were to blame
for the feeling which eliminated in
the outbreak The President adds:
Ny impression Is that as matter OF fact.
10 these difficulties there blame attached
10 both sides: but this is wholly unimportant
matter Tor our present purpose. as nothing tha {
any excuse or Justification for the atrocious con-
enet Of the troops when in lawless ard mur-
derous spirit. and under Of the night.
they made their attack upon the citizens.
Referring to the midnight attack
upon the people of Brownsville the
President said that from nine to fifteen
or twenty of the colored soldiers took
part in it. He continues:
RAIDERS RUN AMUcK
They ieaped over the walls from the barracks
whomever they saw moving. and they shot into
houses where they saw lights In some of
ititHe houses mere were women ana chliQren.
as the woulG-be murderers must have known.
in one house in which there two women
and five children some ten shots went through
Ht p heigh. Of about four and half feet above
the foor. one putting ont the lamp upon the
tabe The lieutenant of police Of the town
heard the firing and rode toward H. He met
The raiders. who. be stated. about
fifteen colored soldiers They instantly started
firing upon bin. He turned and rode of and
they continued firing upon him until they had
killed his horse. They shot him In the right
arm. 1T afterward amputated above the
elbow a number Of shots also fired al
Two other policemen. The raiders fred sew
eral times into a hotel. OF the shots be.
ing aimed ~ guest sitting iy window. They
shot into a saloon killing the bartender and