The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-06
NO LIGHT ON RIOT.
Harris Testimony Contains
Little Information.
HE BEHAVED; HAD NO TROUBLE
Other Men Objected 10 Discrimina-
tiOnS Based on Their COIOr-Chafed
looms Through Back DOOrs-First
witness Concludes Testimony.

The Senate Committee on Military At
fairs resumed its investigation of tho
Brownsville, affair yesterday. with ex-
Sergt. Israel Harris, of Company y, still
upon the witness stand.
The examination was largely rcpeti-
ton of what was gone over by the wit
ness Monday. A few new facts were
brought out but tho committee gained
no information concerning the names of
the soldiers engaged in the raid.
Under redirect examination by Senator
Foraker. Harris declared that the men
were dissatisfied with service in Texas,
because OF the treatment accorded them
BY the citizens. and several OF them
whose enlistment expired. refused 10 re
enlist there. lie had, himself, made up
his mind not 10 re-enlist, II his regiment
was to remain In Texas.
The witness declared that he had
listened 10 the shooting down town when
he was aroused by the firing. The shots
sounded to him ike those from Winches-
tiers and siX-shooters. and mixed firing,
rather than reports from Springfield
rifles. He would not be positive that none
Of the shots were from Springfelds, but
he could distinguish none. Senator War
ner sought to show that it was at least
unusual that the witness, aroused at mid
night, and responding to call 10 arms.
which was also unusual and indicated
trouble. should in the confusion give his
attention 10 determining the character Of
the guns being fired in the town.
ordered 10 leave Fort Brown after the
raid, il marched down the main street
between rows OF citizens armed with
WinchesterS and siX-shOoters, and that
these citizens followed them TO the vail
road station. The soldiers had orders not
90 look about lie had not heard that the
governor of Texas had offered "A reward
for information leading to the apprehen-
sion of the men VINO did the shooting.
No Conspiracy of silence.
TT has been charged said Senator
Foraker, chat there was q cons piracy
of silence among the men not to talk
about the affair. DO you know anything
about that?"
NO. sir, ] never heard of it,
From what YOU saw and heard OBJ
served Senator Oveman, you do not
believe any OF the men OF your company
were engaged in the fringe"
II do not believe they We're" replied
Harris.
"Or any of the men Of the other com
panies?"
Il do not know about them
The witness said that DE personally
had no trouble in Texas, because ne be-
haved. Asked IL the other men would
have avoided trouble If they had be-
hayed, he said that some OF the men did
not look at the matter In the way he did
They wanted TO 20 TO places and be
treated the same a. other people They
did not like 60 go 90 the saloons and be
forced 10 enter the relr- door TO spend
their money. Some Of them considered
that they had been insulted. As for him
self he did not frequent places where he
knew he was not wanted. and thus
avoided trouble. The reason be did not
want 10 re-eulist was because there were
times He wanted 10 90 To places. and he
was deferred from going because he knew
he was not welcome. He wanted 10 70
i'm the front door the same as other men.
and if he could not he would not go al
all. He preferred service In the North.
where he could get better treatment
This concluded the testimony Of the
witness. and the committee adjourned. 10
meet agaiu to-day.