The Washington herald., 1907-01-04
CULBERSON DEFENDS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
CONTNUED FRoaI FIRsT -.

/ from the Record his former statement
that he would like 10 face Mcdonald In
the same spirit thai is manifested by the
Senator from Ohio" Mr.. Culberson said
Il desire 10 state that Capt. Mcdonald
never has declined an invitation 10 meet
anybody Ia his life, and he is too old now
to change his ways"
This is accepted as meaning that if Mr.
Foraker merely intended 70 convey the
Impression that he would like to cross-eX-
.amine Capt. Mcdonald, the captain would
be- slId 30 De crOss-examined. Senator
Culberson's reference to the spirit mani
tested by the Senator from Ohio" obviods-
y eliminated from his remark any suEges-
dion that Capt Mcdonald was anxious 90
meet Senator Foraker in "a physical en-
counter, unless an encounter was what
Senator Foraker had ia mind: and that he
had any such thing in mind is. of course,
highly improbable.
The galleries were crowded throughout
the whole of the debate, many Of tie
spectators being negroes. one of these
was pointed out as Minso Sanders, the
first sergeant Of one Of the discharged
companies. whose record is said 10 be one
Of the best Of any soldier in the United
States service.
Declares Negroes Were Responsible.
II opening bis speech, Mr. Culberson
said that when the agitation over the
Brownsville matter first commenced il
had been his inclination to remain silent.
But great injustice had been done the
people Of Brownsville, DE said, and il WAS
his intention TO defend them. The dis
charged negro soldiers, he declared, were
responsible for the trouble ia Brownsville
because Of the insults they had offered
10 citizens OF that town A white woman
had been insuIted By q "rufianIy negro
soldier Conditions had finally become
so chaotic that the mayor was requested
to deny the troops the right 10 90 upon
the streets. such an order was made. .
With much emphasis, Mr Culbcrson
pointed out that in the face Of the facts
The people We're asked 90 believe that the +
citizens Of Brownsville "rioted among
themselves. shot and wounded their lieu
tenant OF police, and killed an uuOffeud- /
Ing citizen"
Dir Culberson commended that the Presi- (
dent, as CommauGer-iu-cGief of the Army 4
had the right 10 discharge any soldier 4
without honor. But he admitted that iu I
so far as the order purported 90 dis
qualify the discharged soldier from re-eu- .
lstmeut or from holding any civil Office 4
the Presidents order was imperative +.
'Dscharge without honor Was distinct .
class of discharges recognized by the .
statutes over which the President had
control He read from the statutes and .
from the army regulations made pursuant .
thereto. authorizing such discharges. and F..
added that 30 enlisted men, both white .
and colored, had been discharged ia that .
way the past year.
Mr., Cu!beTsou enumerated tine incidents
leading up 90 the riot. A white woman
had been assaulted by "a cOI0red soldier
There had been q quarrel over the denial
20 the negro soldiers OF equality with the
whites iu some OF the saloons. 4 negro .
soldier had casEed with "a white customs
officer Another negro soldier had been
struck over the head with "a revolver by "A
white customs officer for insulting the
customs officers wife
Army Officers onorabIe.
The officers of the f-.1v who investi-
gated the trouble. he thought. ought 10 be
given credit for some honor. Their wore
ought TO 90 for something. They had in
yestigated the whole matter impartially
and had reported that the soldiers did the
shooting
Il care nothing about the President"
Mr. CulbersOH exclaimed. my personal
relations with him are about as cordial as
those OF the Senator from Ohio"
Pr. Foraker laughed heartily and
biushed furiolsiy. Other senators shared
in the hilarity at his expense.
At this point a Republican Senator sug-
g
This stirred the Texan, who observed.
with some feeling.
'lt anybody wants 20 so to lunch. ne
may 90 L am going 10 read this testi-
nony- / know it is past the lunch hour"
There was some merTiment over the
remark. and Mr.. Culbers0u suggested THAI
the official reporter need not take il
loWn. lie read the testimony Of several
Of the riot.
There never was any question as to
Who dld the shooting at Brownsville" he
Continued until the question was raised
pa tht floor here. He went on to read
rom the resolutions adopted by the ne
5Toes III mass meeting in Fauueil Han, ,
Boston. I'D which they admitted the negro
soldiers dld the shooting 10 revenge them
selves Tor continued insult and outrage
rom The whites. and justified that action 4
Mr.. FOraker's Reply.
MI Foraker promptly replied. He said
be had previously observed that the cues
ion involved was not the race question. h,
md that the Senator from Texas had no
eason 90 introduce it. He did not believe
hat MS resolution, which called for all I
he facts. warranted "a discussion at this ,
inc OF the evidence. We ought TO get I
he facts before we try the case here"
he asserted. That is what / am seeking {
O get-the facts"
lie defended himself against the charge .
4 rejecting on Capt Mcdonald. of the ;
Texas Rangers, and then the Senate was +
onvulsed with laughter as he read the
.e"spdper accounts already referred TO.
rom these accounts. the inference was
Inevitable that Mcdonald was a walking
tAdS arsenal one article contained al ;
eyed comments on Capt Mcdonald upon
lmself and when, in reading it, Mr..
oraker came to the statement that the ,
exams were willing to meet Foraker =
oded no physical discomfort TO the :
'hioan. Mr. Foraker said. THAT is a Y
reat relief 20 me"
1t was at this juncture that Mr. CuI- e
eIson spoke of Capt. McD0nald's willing q
ess to meet Mr. Foraker. Mr.. Foraker e
imply smiled
Senator Lodge then proposed his amend :
lent. and after he had given the opinion u
nat the question Of the constitutionality Il
nd legality of the President action D
'aS entirely separate from the question II
t facts involved in the Brownsville riot n
nd was contradicted by MIR Foraker. g
here WAS some desultOry discussion. and .
he Senate agreed to postpone further =
consideration of the resolution until its IL
ext session. on Monday. 81