The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-04
:" BROWNSVILLE"
BEFORE SENATE.
Culberson Defends the People Of
Texas and Says Roosevelt
Was Right.
FORAKER is .FAcETIous
Lodge, Too Ill to Speak, Asks
Postponcment Until
Monday.
FORAKER is .FAcETIous

Monday. tea
WAsH1NGTON. January 3.--Soon after
the Senate met to-day Senator Forakers
resolution providing for an inquiry by the
Senate into the discharge Of the negro
troops of the Twenty-hfth Infantry on
account of the Brownsville. Texas, cpl
code, was laid before the Senate and Sem
ntor Culberson made an address on the
subject. He said tnut III. would have kept
quiet but for the fact that great injustice
had been done the people of Brownsville.
Senator Culberson said that the con-
duct of the negro soldiers had been very
Irritating to the Brownsville people, and
especially 80 to the wotnen He related
that on August 4th last, the day before
the Shooting up Of the town." crimi-
nal assault had been committed by one
of the soldiers on the wife OF u reputable
citizen, and said that no arrests had been
made for the crime. Mr.. Culberson de-
Tended Captain Mcdonald, OF the Texas
Rangers. to whom Mr. Foraker had re-
ferred because OF Major Bloxoms refer
encc to him man who was 80 brave
that he would not hesitate to charge hell
with a bucket of water MIR. Culberson
also said that no knew Major Bloxom TO
Roosevelt for his dismissal of the troops,
MIR. Culberson sad the fact that the
troops were negroes had had nothing to
do with their discharge. Confusion as to
the legal questions involved was, he said,
irresponsible for the statement that the
President had no authority u make the
discharge.
The Presidents constitutional authority
and the authority given him by the Arn-
cies of War clearly covered the case, and
made his action legal. he declared. He
contended that discharges for criminal
offenses are covered in the Articles OF
War. as are also discharges made to
effect punishment.
Boston Approval.
Mr.. Culberson said that there was a
distinction between discharge without
honor and "a dishonorabie discharge"
In the former case the President could
exercise his discretion, as he had done
In this instance, while a dshonorable
discharge could only be made as the re-
suit OF court-martial. He instanced
several cases 10 sustain his position. To
establish the motive actuating the negro
soldiers in creating the alleged disturb
ance. Mr.. CulbersQn read resolutions re-
Gently adopted by negro citizens OF Bos-
ton, which admitted that the soldiers
shot up the town and said they were
determined to do for themselves what the
Uniform of their country would not do
protect them from insults and punish at
the same time the authors OF their
misery"
Disclaiming any partisanship for the
President, Mr.. Cufberson created wave
OF nerriment by saying. Il have nothing
to do with the President in this matter
] care nothing about him. My personal
relations with him are about as cordial
as those of the Senator from OHIO (Mr.
foraker)." In all fairness, Mr.. Culber-
son said, the country ought to know
that the report made to the President
was reliable.
After reading much of the testimony
taken before the Brownsville grand jury.
Mr. Cuiberson drew the conclusion that
the fact that no Indictment was returned
was not an evidence of the weakness of
CT the case, but rather OF the fairness
of she people OF Brownsville, who did not
wish to do Injustice TO the innocent The
evidence, he commended, proved beyond
doubt that the shooting was done by the
negro soldiers, but failed to identify the ,
guilty ones.
Negro Question.
He concluded his speech by a brief
reference to the negro question in gen
erai, saying it had existed from the early
history of the country down to the pres
ent time. and stu continued to be the |
most important and the most dangerous
question which confronts the American
people. He referred TO the growth Of
this question. leading to the Civil War. |
wherein nearly million white men lost |
their lives. To-day, he said. the condi- |
ton of the black race. with It's ages of |
slavery, Its ignorance and poverty, eX-
cited the deepest sympathy of the great I
M, H. f tIr,FS auth,
But" he continued, in spite of the |,
past, with its conflicts and sacrifices, |
sorrows and destruction of life and prop
erty. this problem is still the greatest
with which We have to deal. 1t involves
labor, education, suffrage, social order,
civil liberty, self-government and the
integrity of the white race The end
no man can see. Southerners feel deeply !,
and profoundly on this race problem and !
Ats ultimate solution
Senator Foraker at once took the floor. |
remarking that it belittled the present |
question to make 1t a vehicle for discuss !
ing, the race question. He did not propose |
to discuss that question or the merits
of the Brownsville affair. He wanted his
resolution adopted, which would insure
further inquiry, and his present purpose
was to defend himself regarding tho
criticism charged against him for men
tioning Captain Mcdonald.
Commenting on Senator Culberson's
Statement that Senator Forakers speech
Two weeks ago had offended certain
Texans and had reflected particularly !
upon Captain Mcdonald. the Ohio Sena- !
tor said he did not know what Mcdonald
resented, unless 1t was the term gentle
man.
To Hell With Bucket.
Mr. Foraker read from the Cincinnati
Enquirer an account of Captain McDon-
Pld's resentment commenting freely as