The Washington herald., 1907-01-25

Mingo Sanders furnished another SEN
.sation in the Brownsville continuous per-
Torrance yesterday. As a result of his
experience, Senator Foraker could hardly
sleep last night for thinking of the
thunder and lightning he could turn on
in the next act when the curtain rises in
the Senate to-day.
1t will only be when he reads his Wash
ington Herald at breakfast this morning
and learns the truth that he will be
disilIusioned and brought down TO solid
earth again.
In response 10 a notice from Gen Aims
worth the Military Secretary, Mingo Went
to the office of Judge Advocate General
Davis yesterday to qualify for re-enlist-
ment in the army. He. with nineteen
Others of the discharged battalion, has
applied for re-enlistment, and notices
have been sent to eight of the number TO
report here to Gen. Davis. When Mingo
went to the War Department he was
accompanied by his attorney, a negro
named Marshall. The two entered Gen
Davis office and stood at attention.
Gen. Davis objected TO the presence of
Marshall. as he only desired TO take San
ders' statement TO show that there was
nothing in his record that would pre-
vent his being accepted as an enlisted
man. But the attorney stood on his dig
nifty as a lawyer. and insisted on remain
ing with his client. Gen. Davis good
naturedly yielded the point, and proceed
ed to administer the usual oath before
questioning Sanders in regard TO his past.
The Oath stopped.
Here the lawyer asserted itself in Mar
shall, and he cautiously stopped the gen
cral ana told MingO to keep silence He
objected to the oath being administered.
Sanders obeyed his attorney and stood
stock-still- Gen. Davis did not under
stand what was the matter, and tried 10
explain the oath and why it was to be
administered. But the negro attorney
would not admit that he was in any need
Of explanations, He saw a monstrous plot (
in the air and declined TO allow his client
10 be enmeshed. He finally dragged him
out into the corridor, and the two has
tened outdoors before anything dire could
happen to either
Hailing the first approaching street car. /
they made haste 10 reach the Capitol, and
ENSNtG INTO senator EOEdhEE > IoDll anu I
declared that an attempt had been made
by the Judge Advocate General 10 swear /
Mingo into the service again and railroad
him off TO Alaska or the Philippines. so ne
could not be used as a witness before the
Senate Military Committee in the coming
investigation Of the Brownsville affair. |
Both negroes believed what they
said. and supplied all the details Of the /
affair in d way TO make Senator Foraker /
accept their story and believe that an at 4
tempt to do away with Mingo had really /
been made
In a short time the story spread around 4
the Capitol and finally was telephOned 10 /
the War Department A flock Of news I
paper men swarmed into Gen. Davis +
Office to discover from him what had I
taken place That genial officer was more /
bewildered than any one else about the
affair He had not understood why the
negro attorney should have objected 20
the administering Of the oath, and he did
not know what was in the minds Of the
two negroes
All Matter of Course.
When it was explained TO him that
Marshall had got it into his head that the !
plot was to get Mingo back into the army
and run him Off so he could not be
reached by the committee. Gen. Davis
handed out a long and hearty laugh. He
said that he had only done what was
always done in proposing to administer
the oath, and it was for the purpose of
taking Mingo's statement, so he could, II
he proved to have good record, be en- /
listed in due time. There was no com
pulsion or trick in it, he said but just
the ordinary due course Of procedure.
To-day another notice viii be mailed to
AIingo. and ne Will have an opportunity
to have the matter fully explained so he
can understand IL. Army officers are sat
isfied that he is innocent of any wrong
doing. and are disposed 10 help him get
back into the army. so he may not lose
the benefit of mis- long service and title
to retirement They say that he has
been privileged more than enlisted men
usually are in that he, as first sergeant /
was permitted 20 live outside quarters
with his wife. and so had not mingled
with the men Of his company as much as
sergeants usually do and are expected TO
do in order 10 keep the captains advised |
as to the temper of the men. He was /
sleeping at home when the trouble at
Brownsville occurred, and knew nothing
of il until il was all over. There is no !
doubt of his innocence in the minds Of
army officers.