The Washington herald., 1906-12-26

what the President intends to do Is
too silly to- talk about, and you
must excuse me from discussing
EX-SENATOR FORAKER
Senator Foraker returned yesterday
! from New York. where he has been two or
three days on business, which, according
TO the understanding in Washington. was
/ connected with the case Of the soldiers Of
| the Twenty-ffth Infantry who were dis
charged without honor as a result Of the
Brownsville riot.
It is said that the Senator conferred
with officials Of the Constitutional League,
an organization which has conducted an
independent investigation Of the matter,
and which has arrived at conclusions that
differ radically from those Of the Presi-
dent and Secretary Taft Gilchrist Stew
art is president Of the league. Andrew 3.
Humphrey is secretary, and George II.
White, formerly q member Of Congress
| from North Carolina, is Of its counsel It
| is assumed that Senator Forakers confer
| ences Were with these men.
Senator Foraker was seen at his home
| last night and his attention was called to
| the published stories OF the Presidents de-
termination TO resist Congressional action
| looking 20 the restoration Of the dis
charged negroes TO the military service.
/ even 10 the extent OF welcoming impeach-
ment proceedings against him. The Sena-
/ tor declined TO say anything further than
the following. which he carefully dictated:
~ think the story about what the Presi-
dent intends 10 do is too silly 10 talk
about, and you must excuse me from dis
cuSsing it,
Apparent Challenge TO President.
/ Il viii be observed that the Ohioan only
characterized the published story as silly.
/ If. however. the Presidents attitude was
correctly outlined in that story. il would
seem 10 be Senator Foraker's intention TO
make his Characterization apply 10 thar
attitude as well. Apparently his purpose
! Is to challenge the President TO make
/ some sort Of a public statement in the
/ premises
/ TWO days have passed since il was as
serted in the public prints that the Presi-
/ dent would veto a bin restoring the dis
charged soldiers 10 the service. should
Congress pass such a bill. would seek TO
nullIfy its provisions through aGministra-
/ tive action, pending a decision of the Su-
Z I lL
/ gress passed the measure over his veto,
and would even so SO far as to welcome
impeachment proceedings IL Congress de-
sired 20 take such an extreme step. The
fact that no denial has been forthcoming
/ in those two days is generally accepted
as an indication that the Presidents posi-
ton was accurately represented in The
Washington Herald and other papers sun
day morning
Published Statements Inspired.
/ The information on which the publica-
| tions of that day were based was i'm
parted 20 four newspaper correspondents
at the White House Saturday afternoon.
Two Of these correspondents represent the
two journals which are the Presidents
stanchest supporters among all the
newspapers Of the country. It is assumed
that Senator Foraker was cognizant of
these facts wh21 he dictated the state
ment here giv3.
L is by no means logical TO expect that
the President will deny a story which was
inspired at the White House. and Sena-
tor Foraker probably thought Of this when
he said what he did. Apparently, there
fore, the issue between him and the Pres
ident is even more sharply drawn than It
was before.
Character of New Evidence.
It is understood that some of the new
Ievtdence which Senator Foraker Will cause
| to be presented to the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs, in the event of the
adoption Of his resolution directing an in
vestigation Of the case by that body. is in
the form Of letters written 10 the wife Of
an army officer in Washington by the
wives Of officers who were stationed at
Brownsville when the trouble occurred.
and prior TO that time. The writer's Of
these letters are said 10 have asserted. in
effect, that the people Of Brownsville were
Of such a character as to make il neces-
sary for the women of the post TO practi-
caily make themselves prisoners in their
quarters. because they feared to 20 about
the streets Of the town.
Statements of this sort have already
been denied, with considerable indigna-
ton by Texans who say they are thor
Oughly COnverSant with conditions In
Brownsville. II is admitted that the
town contains some ''toughs," being
located directly on the Mexican border.
as it is; bUt all suggestions that the
townspeOple are not as peaceable md as
civilized as those of any otae. COM
munity Of similar size in the country, are
cmphatically repudiated.
The Democratic Attitude,
Considerable interest is manifested in
the attitude Of the Democrats OF
Senate toward the Foraker resolution. So
far they have not participated in the
discussion Of the Brownsville case in any
way. and it is understood that this
policy Of aloofness will be continued
unless the situation undergoes material
change Most of the Democratic Senators
apparently take the view that they are
not called on to interfere in a quarrel
which, up to this time, has been con-
fined to the Republican side Of the
chamber
Senator Tillman has been quoted as as
serting that he thinks the President did
an injustice to at least some members
Of the discharged battalion, but he has
had nothing to say on the floor Of the
Senate. Senator Bailey. whose plan il is
to return TO Washington shortly after
the TeCOnvcning Of Congress next week.
and who Is expected TO indicate the
Democratic position. by virtue OF his ac-
knowledged leadership Of the minority
has been quoted in an authorized inter-