The Washington herald., 1907-01-19

It is the belief Of well informed Sena-
tors. both Republican and Democratic.
that the Blackburn amendment Il the
Brownsville investigation resolution viii
be laid on the table.
Except in the event Of change Of plan
on the part Of the Democrats, the amend
ment viii not be withdrawn. If it Is with
drawn. it viii be 10 make place for an
other, declaring that in dischargiEg the
negro troops the President was authorized
by law and justified by The facts. Such
an amendment, or substitute, has been
drawn By Senator Culberson. Obviously.
the necessity Of voting On that point
would embarrass the Republicans even
more than whatever action they may take
on the Blackburn amendment
There was a vast amount Of conferung
among the members Of both parties yes
terday. Mr.. Aldrich was absent. but the
men who with him, outline the course TO
be followed by the Senate majority, got
together ana talked over the situation.
which the wholly unexpected move OF the
Democrats. through Caucus Chairman
Blackburn. has brought about
II was the general opinion Of these men.
as well as Of a majority Of the other Re
publiCaus. that the best way out Of the
predicament in which they find themselves
/ is 70 permit the amendment 10 be brought
TO a vote. and TO lay it on the table after
declaring that this is not the time to pass
on the legality or coEstitutionaIity of the
Presidents dischafge OF the negro troops.
II they can induce Mr.. Lodge 90 make
/ this declaration. they VIII be better salts
/ fed. They admit frankly that the Demo
Gratis have them in a most embarrassing
| corner. and that there is grave danger Of
4 a Republican split in consequence They
do not expect 10 extricate themselves from
their predicament in a way that Will be
wholly satisfactory TO adherents of bOth
the existing factions Of their party. and
their efforts at present are directed
toward the prevention OF an open break.
Democrats stand Firm.
Senator Blackburn has told the Repub-
Iican Senator'S who have gone Sd far as 10
iappeaI to 3lim personally that there is
no power between paradise and perdition
which shall prevail to move the Demo-
Icrats frorn their position With the GER
tain exception of Mr Tiliman. the proba-
ble exception of Afr- Clark. OF Montana,
and the possible exception Of Mr. Teller.
OF Colorado. the members OF the minority
are unanimous in their support Of the
amendment introduced by their titUlar
leader. If il should be decided 10 with
draw that amendment, for any reason
which may be deemed good and sufi-
cient. the other amendment or substi-
tute. already referred to. which would
put the issue Of standing by the President
iup 20 the Republicans even more posi-
lively than it is now. would be offered at
once Furthermore should lae pending
amendment be Withdrawn. and no other
amendment or substitute offered in its
stead by a Democrat. there Is reason to
believe that a Republican Senator would
come TO the front win a proposal similar
In all its essential features 10 the one
originally made by Mr.. Lodge. and more
/ recently by Mr.. BlackbuTn-that Is, that
the legality and consutUtiouality of the
Presidents discharge order be recognized.
While he has made no announcement in
the premises IL is not improbable that
Mr.. La Toilette would do that very thing.
The fate of the dismissed negro soldiers.
per Sc. has long ceased TO be the point
iaround which the Senate contest revolves.
The disagreement between the Republi-
\ cans means nothing more or less than that
President Roosevelt is facing a crisis in
his political career. To some degree-pos-
sibly TO a considerable degree-the fate OF
the Republican party Itself is involved.
Political Question Involved.
The direct question which now confronts
the Senate Republicans is whether they
shall or shall not uphold an act OF the
President which the Democrats. almost
without exception, are sustaining with
degree of enthusiasm which indicates
their belief that a, last they have tangi-
bic weapon wherewith to punish the ma
jority Even If the Republican leaders
carry out their tentative plan to lay the
I amendment offered by Mr.. Blackburn on
the table. after announcing that they do
not believe that this is the proper time
to pass on the legal and constitutional
phases of the Presidents discharge Of the
, troops. there will be many TO point out
that the Presidents party has refused 10
stand by him. and it is not to be doubted
that that would involve political trouble
for the President and doubtless, political
trouble for the party in an even greater
degree
, Talk to the effect that the Democrats
are frightened, or even disturbed. by Mr.
AldTich's threat to meet the Blackburn
amendment with another providing for an
investigation of the whole race question
is obviously without foundation PraCti-
cally without exception, members Of the
minority In both Houses Of Congress de-
clare that they are quite willing TO have
such an Investigation made. They say
they are weary of waiting for stroke
from this club. which has been held over
their heads for twenty years. and that
they are ready TO meet the issue if the
Republicans are
But, they add. they viii see TO il that
election methods in the North. as well as
in the South, are looked into, and they
think that viii constitute an effective
check to the move proposed by the Sena-
tor from Rhode Island. Well informed
members of both parties express the opin-
ion that Mr.. Aldrich's plan may be left
entirely cut Of ali speculation as to the
Ioutcome Of the present situation
There are are fffty-soven Republican
CONTINUED OK SECOND PAGE.