New-York tribune., 1907-01-20
PRESIDENT SPEAKS OUT
Talks ON BROWNSVILLE.
Tells Senator'S Blackburn Amend
ment Ought To BE adopted.
FF-oTn ne Tr1bl,na p.reon

washington, Jan l9.-The President, replying
;he questions OF numerous Senators regard
ing his view OF the Blackburn amendment 10
Senator Forakers resolution. has told them
frankly that he believes st ought to be adopted.
and that he viii regard a vote against the
amendment or for motion to table II as vote
against himself and his policy in dealing with
trusts and unlawful corporations The Presi-
dent expressed this view 70 Senators Warner,
Hensbrough, Lodge, Beveridge. La Toilette and
many others who called on him to-day and
asked his opinion.
The President believes that Senators erTod
who questioned his legal right 70 discharge the
enlisted men OF the 18th Infantry; that this wa@
subject wholly outside the province OF the
Senate. but that. his authority having been so
questioned. the honorable and manly course to
pursue will be 20 adopt the Blackburn amend
nenf, which Is a concise and logical expression
cf the views set forth by Senators Lodge.
Spooner. Knox. Hepburn and others. Nor does
the fact that the appointment emanates from a
Democratic source appeal TO the President as
constituting in any sense valid objection.
To some Of the Senators who called the Presi-
Gent said that ne believed the antagonism
toward himself OF those who dislike his anti
trust policy might well come TO an issue now
as later. and those who are fighting him might
Well bs brought out into the open this
does not believe that any who has at heart
only a. sincere desire to investigate the facts
connected with the ARRAY at Brownsville
object 70 the Incorporation in Senator Foraker's
resolution OF the amendment offered by Senator
Blackburn. while he is convinced that such op-
position exists comes largely from those to
whom HIS policy in dealing with the great cor
porations is most repugnant- A vote to table
the amendment the President would regard
merely a subterfuge
We might Just as we'll have the matter
;hrashed out TO finish right now,' remarked
of the Presidents Senate friends. outlining
his conversation with the President IF the
gentlemen who have beer criticising the Presi-
dents course possess the courage of their con-
sfctons let them declare by thei- votes If
they- vote down the amendment II will place
:heI2 on record as against the President. If
they vote 10 table the amendment the vote will
still be against the President for # will prove
that they are unwilling 10 give expression of
confidence 10 which he IS clearly entitled under
all the rules OF fair game"
othe $ tc whom the President expressed these
s1ews were Senators Elkins, Warren, Piles
Burrows and Sutherland. OF course the Presi-
dent feels that the entire Brownsville affair in
the United States Senate is no creature Of his.
but he does feel that since Senator Foraker.
doubtless with the moral support OF GER
tain Senate leaders. has seen At. in open de-
hate, 20 question his authority 10 dismiss Ger
tain members OF the 18th Infantry. his friends
in the Senate cannot refuse 20 adopt the words:
Without questioning or denying the legal right
OF the President 20 dismiss enlisted men from
the army Of the United States" which is the
text Of the Blackburn amendment.
With the assertion that vote on the Black
burn amendment may split the party. the Presi-
dent IS not concerned for he feels that all re-
sponsibility for splitting the party must rest on
Senator Foraker and his unnamed allies. and not
the friends Of the Executive,
. IN view Of the attitude Of the President, Il Is
believed that Senator Lodge VIII feel II incum-
hent on him 10 Inform the Senate leaders, prob
ably Tomorrow. that he purposes TO vote for the
Blackburn amendment Senator Spooner viii
doubtless follow suit and then the large
tingent Of Senators who would be unwilling TO
cast vote against the President Will fall into
line. Senator's Beveridge and Warner received
an announced addition to their number to-day
In the person Of Senator Hansbrough. who as
sured the President he would stand by him 10
the end.
The Presidents assertion Of HIS views in this
matter clearly puts it up TO the opposition in the
Senate Senator Crane Obliged to leave the
city last night but Senate Aldrich has kept in
dose touch with the situation by long distance
telephone and when ne heard that the President
had picked up the gauntlet thrown down in the
Senate. he changed his plans and viii stai- for
Washington Tonight instead Of Tomorrow. as
be had intended. Senator Crane will probably
reach Washington in the morning and
ference among Senators Lodge. Spooner Knox.
Aldrich and Crane is scheduled for tomorrow.
There was some talk this morning OF calling
caucus whip Senators Beveridge and Warner
into line, but that plan has been abandoned,
now that the President has braced up so many
~ his friends in the Senate. and il is suggested
that q caucus 10 bring Mr.. Foraker into line
might he more 10 the purpose. Even Senator
Knox, who had asserted his willingness to vote
Cor a motion TO lay the Blackburn amendment on
The table, because OF the fact that Mr.. Black
burn took the wording Of his amendment almost
Nerba tim from the speech of the Senator from
Pennsylvania and because he agrees absolutely
with the purport Of 'he troublesome proposition.
s. dsincned 10 vote against IL In the face of the
expressed wish Of the President to the contrary.
II is REGARDED as noteworthy that the only
members Of the Senate who have openly gone
on record as criticising the President are
Messrs Foraker and Tillman. No Republican
Senator except Mr.. Foraker has given express
EioD 10 any view which by the most liberal con-
strrotion could be interpreted as antagOnistic
10 the wording Of the Blackburn amendment.
What has been said in the cloak and commit
tee rooms is not record. that all the Re-
publicans With the exception OF Mr. Foraker
may not find il difficult accept the Black
burn proposition as the easiest way out Of the
situation although there are many. no doubt,
20 whom such course would be unwelcome.