The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-07
DOES NOT AGREE
With PROF. DAVIS
N. A. Wellington Williams Says
His Race DiSIikes Roose-
veIt'S Action.
HE ENDORSES FORAKER
HAVE A POLITICAL OBJECT IN
VIEW, HE is RIGHT IN THE
BROWNSVILLE CONTENTION.

Editor alladium-Noticing an edi-
torial in the Palladium recently
under the caption. Negroes Strong for
Roosevelt" | could not refrain from
dropping you line, if possible, to cor
rect some statements that seem to
me to be deceptive and misleading.
This editorial referred to, says that
Professor w. S. Davis on his return
from Cuba and the South reports that,
nearly all the Negroes in that section
favor the action of President Roose-
welt in the recent Brownsville affair.
and that their faith in him is so great
that whatever he does they feel is
right Now that is putting it pretty
strong it seems to me- and if true then
the negro of the South is an overcredu
louS weak simpleton and is to be pit
led. But the negro is not half such
fool as some people think or would
have him to be. Professor Davis
stopped over a day or two in the South
on his return home and comes up here
telling an intelligent public that he
has in that short time ascertained what
the feeling of eight millions of people
are concerning the act of the presi-
dent in the Brownsville episode. Then
the reflective remark, their faith in
him is so great that whatever he does
they feel is right as il the negro has
not the sense to know when he is be-
ng mistreated. President Roosevelt
has done us some favors and we will
not soon forget them, but we do not
believe he is infallible. We think he
IAN make a mistake and that, that !
and drastic act of his in dis
Missing those soldiers of the twenty |
fifth is one, and a vast majority of the |
legroes of this country are displeas-
I'd because of it. l have papers before |
ne which are edited by negroes living
n every section of-tiI.s country and 1 /
,now that the race is not satisned /
With the dismissal of those men with
nut any trial Any body that has any
ense of justice knows that IL is not
light to punish the innocent with the
guilty. You do not need any know
edge of technical militaTism to know
hat Many of those men were inno-
ent and did not and could not know
vho the guilty parties were.
In commenting on Mr.. Davis port,
ou say that mot all of the members
5ere guilty of murder but al. united
n shielding those who were guilty of
he raid at Brownsville" Now every
ody knows better than that. | have
cen reading comments in various pa
ers of this country edited by white
70 1ics
ase as if they did not believe what
hey said.
1t makes no difference whether these
oldiers we're white or black, l believe
Ir. Roosevelt treated them wrong.
was member of the eighth I'll. volun-
GERS and spent some time in the army
nd seven months in Cuba during the
war and know some
ling about military life. The com
lissioned officers are finally RESPONSE
lie for the discipline of the men. Did
ley permit the men to go up town and
arry guns when they pleased and
OF know who were away from quar-
,rs? Did not the officers Of the day
now who were on guard that knight? j
he guards should know who went out ]
nd who came in Make them tell.
ourt-martial them. But if the COM
issioned officers did not demand that !
le non-commissioned officers AM Off
,r of the day be strict in their deSclp- Z
n than they, the commissioned off1-
ers were guilty of criminal negligence
nd should have been court-martialed
nd dismissed from the army, and
,me one put in their place that could
: would discipline the men. But you
low that all the privates did not and
,uld not know who were guilty. AS
your statement concerning Mr.. Fora
,r taking the stand he has for pollti-
il reasons and the negroes condem-
g him for it, l have this TO say; it !
axes no differe nee what his motives
e. we believe he is right, and the ne {
oes of this country will not soon q
rget him. Thank God for the broad !
inded white men of this country who
ink every man should stand or fall /
his own merit as man,and that Q
ass are vastly in the majority. 7
\. A Wellington Williams. .