Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-21

tunity to determine whether they are inno-
cent or guilty.
the opinion that the amended resolution
was practically Identical with the one Of
fered by Senator Blackburn. Senator
Money sarcastically remarked that was
very agreeable to see the republicans max
ing sacrifices on the order, but that, In
fact they are as far apart as ever before
over the real meaning of the resolution.
Senator Tillman said that the resolution
means what the English language means
when 1t Is written by man who under.
stands 1t. and that 1t Will be 30 construed
by the public. Senator Tillman then
launched into his general speech on the
Brownsville affair. which viii be found in
another column.
The First Foraker Resolution.
Reference to the several resolutions which
have been offered bearing upon the present
controversy will show the progress OF
events up to the now interesting stage
Senator Foraker, December 20 last. intro
duced In the Senate q resoluiiS- providing
for reopening the Brownsville case in order
to hear the side of the dismissed negro
soldiers. The resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That the committee on mill
take such further testimony as may be
necessary to establish the facts connected
with the discharge Of members of Com
panies B. c and D. 25th United States In
to send for persons and papers
and administer oaths, and report thereon
by bill or otherwise"
Senator Lodges Amendment.
In a speech which he made in the Senate
and in conversation with senators he .fnti-
mated that the investigation should also
question the constitutionality of the Presi-
dents action in dismissing the troops In
the manner employed-~by the executive
This led Senator Lodge, upon the reas-
sembling of Congress after the holiday
to Senator Forakers resolution. as follows
after the word discharged insert BY
the President of the United States in the
exercise of his constitutional and legal
authority as commander-in-chief
Friction in the Ranks.
Immediately there was friction within the
republican ranks. 1t was found that
number Of senators were unconvinced of
the constitutionality of the Presidents
action and would not vote to affirm It, But
they realized that a deplorable S uation
would arise II the issue should be made
and a vote demanded which would dis
close the doubt existing among republicans
as to the Presidents legal :-round for his
course
So the leaders got together and told both
down that the constitutional point should
not be raised: that the only question at
issue was proposal to hold an investiga-
ton to determine facts and not to pass
upon the constitutional base. This course
was taken in the interest of party harmony
and to prevent disclosure Of existing diff
ferences Of opinion among republicans
Foraker's Substitute.
Senators Foraker and Lodge yielded to
4 ha hon h1, fheir
colleagues. The result was the offering Of
a substitute resolution by Senator Foraker
January 16. In presenting it Senator Fora
ker announced that it was a compromise.
ITO meet the differing views OF senator's
he said. II offer the resolution l send to
the desk. which. I understand. will meet
their objections" The resolution provided
Resolved. That the committee on mill
tary affairs is hereby authorized and d.
rected. by subcommittee or otherwise, to
take and have printed testimony for the
purpose of ascertaining all the facts with
reference to or connected with the ARRAY
at Brownsville Texas on the night of
August 1914, 1906. Said committee Is au-
thorized to send for persons and papers, to
administer oaths to sit durin, essions Of
the Senate and. if deemed advisable. at
Brownsville or elsewhere. the expenses Of
the investigation to be paid from the con-
tingent fund of the Senate
Harmony having been restored In the re-
publican ranks. everything seemed pro-
pitious for the adoption Of the resolution
of investigation. to which there was no
serious objection. President Roosevelt had
said he did not care how much Congress
nor in fact what Congress
might do. He announced to callers that
Congress could go so far as to propose
to restore the troops and he would hold up
the law until it could be appealed to the
Supreme Court.
Thu nlo Z h,,y
Then came the Blackburn amendment to
the Foraker resolution. offered January II.
1t proposed to insert after the words "Re-
solved that these words: Without aues-
tioning or denying the legal RICH: of the
President to discharge without honor en-
listed men from the army Of the United
States"
This was taken by the republican leaders
to be clearly a democratic trick to force a
vote on the issue which by ccmplete party
agreement the republicans had avoided
raising. The republicans proposed to table
the amendment. as not being germane to
the resolution and Of going beyond the
scope of the action proposed by tine reso-
luton.
At that Juncture President Roosevelt de-
cided that he desired ''vindication." He
told his friends that this Brownville affair
In the Senate was all part of concerted
attack upon him by hostile interests in the
oeidte anu lie WOulQ Insist upon a showing
Of hands to determine who stood with him
and who stood against him. That was the
Saturday night.
Conferences Yesterday.
All day yesterday there was a confer
ence among the leaders Of the Senate and
with the President In an effort to reach
another compromise. President Roose-
welt spent two hours at Senator Lodges
house. supposedly going over the situa-
ton.
Meantime a number of senators assem-
bled at Senator KNOCKS house including
Senators Aldrich, Crane, Spooner and Kean
Senator Lodge also came in during the
afternoon.
One object OF these conferences was to
try to give assurance to the President that
he was mistaken in raising a great bug
aboo of trust opposition" out Of this az
fair. 1t was explained how all factions
in the Senate had tried to prevent any
questioning Of his constitutional author
ity and to confine the case to simple in
vestigation, of which surely he had no
occasion to be afraid. as he was so con-
ident of his ground all the way through
the Brownsville affair.
A Democratic Trick.
1t was explained over and over again
that the Blackburn amendment was only a
democratic trick, in the opinion Of these
senators and the President Was ur1ed