Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
SPIRITED DEBATE
IN THE SENATE.
Brownsville Case Under Discus
sion Yesterday Afternoon.
Mr.. TILLMAN CONCLUDES
Followed by Mr.. Patterson in Defense
of President.
SOME VERY LIVELY COLLOQUIES
Interruptions by Tillman, Money,
Culbertson and Others-Debate
to Be Resumed Tomorrow.

Senator Tillman yesterday after
noon in the Senate continued his
sensational arraignment of Presi-
dent Roosevelt because of his dis
mlssal of three companies of tho
18TH Infantry, colored. The debate
on the Brownsville affair was re-
newed with dramatic effect, being
prolonged until nearly E o'clock.
Senator Patterson took up the
thread of the debate at the conclu-
sion of the at times fiery remarks of
the South Carolina senator. He de-
clared that Mr.. Tillman did not
speak the sentiments of the best
people of the south The announce
ment was made that Senator NAL
lory of Florida will speak on the
Brownsville affair tomorrow. The
day was one of intense interest. and
throngs crowded the Senate corri-
doris waiting for admission to the
galleries.
After Senator Tillman concluded his re-
marks the floor secured by Senator Pat
terson who gave as an excuse for speaking
the fear that the people of the country
might believe that the views of the senator
from South Carolina We're those OF all the
southern democrats. He denied that Mr..
Tillman REPRESENTED the best thought Of the
south in his declarations concerning their
attitude toward the celored race.
1t was announced that on Monday Sena-
tor Mallory will speak upon the Brownville
affair, and 1t is expected that Mr.. Foraker
will have something further to say as soon
as the President sends the balance of the
testimony taken concerning the actions of
the colored soldiers on the 18th Infantry.
Mr.. Foraker will seek to have a vote on his
resolution as soon as possible. but the ten
dency of senators to talk about the affair
may delay the taking of vote to another
day. There is no disposition on the part of
any of the senator's either republicans or
democrats, to prevent An investigation into
the facts of the Brownville affair, and a
vote will be taken as soon as every one
who cares to speak on the subject has had
an opportunity to do
The Discharged Soldiers.
After The Stars report was closed yes
terday Senator Tilman commented on the
discharge of hundred and sixty seven men
of the 18th Regiment whose SKINS he said,
are black.
He denied that these men had broken their
oaths of enlistment. because only twenty Of
them had at any time been charged with
completely in the raid on the night of Au-
gust 18th.
Il have read all the testimony and all the
exhibits said Senator Tillman, and /
have been unable to discover wherein sin
a nf
The President has said that his action
was not in the nature of a punishment to
these men.
IF that is the case" he declared, why
did he discharge them?'
He denied that there any evidence of
mutlny, treason or conspiracy on the part of
of the 167 men who had been discharged
without honor. Murder had undoubtedly
been committed, and there a conspr-
acy to murder, and he believed that the
murder and the conspiracy to murder was
on the part of men in the companies OF
men who had been discharged. But at no
time had more than twenty men been be-
lieved to be involved in it, although 167 had
been discharged. He wanted to know why
the President had not sought to obtain the
necessary evidence and convict the guilty
and leave the innocent alone.
He said that when these troops were sent
to Texas 1t was against the protest of a
Texas senator, and against the protest of
the representative of the district in which
Brownsville was located But the War De-
tests. The department had been told that it
was almost inevitable that conflict would
take place. But that suggestion was brush
ed aside as of no moment These colored
soldiers, he said, were sent there in the face
of their known records. as officia ly set
forth, for lawlessness and brutality
The records showed Them said Senator
Tfllman. Ito be a set of cutthroats when
they We're ordered to Texas" He then re-
ferred to instances of contact between the
soldiers and citizens and said that when
the commanding officer was told that SOL
der had attacked white woman on the
street in broad daylight had pulled her hair
and mistreated her, he did not think the
matter was W nth taking up, although the
woman who was mistreated was of high
character.
Maj. Penrose Criticised.
During the latter part of Mr.. Tflman's
remarks he criticized Maj Penrose in lack
ing efficiency and character He said the
major would not credit charges against the
negro soldiers because he believed the peo-
Pile of the town were prejudiced against
them. He wanted to know why it took the
President so long in securing proper mill
tary investigation. 1t might have been
made effective if it had been held while the
men were still in the service.
I'm his impulsive way" said Senator TILL
man-and then speaking in an undertone
added, Il am impulsive myself and / sup
pose l should make allowances for an i'm
pulsive mantle President announces that
If these men would not testify as to who
was guilty in the coored companies he
would discharge them all"
The dispatches. he said, showed that the
War Department knew of the intense feel
ing in Brownsville, and that the people We're
so wrought up and enraged that if the
troops had not been removed they would
simply master the whole battalion.
He said that Maj. Penrose, while Sow TO
act, had really made the only suggestion
that was practical for discovering the cul-