Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-01-10
A SHORT SESSION
The Senate Was Occupied Two and
One Half Hours with Browns
vile Controversy.
ADJOURNED UNTIL MONDAY
Foraker Asked for speedy Action On
His Resolutlon-Lodge Offers
Amendment culbertson Dis.
cussed Race Question.

Washington, Jan. AFTER two
weeks Of vacation, the Senate sat for
two and a half hours Thursday and
then adjourned until Monday. The
session was devoted entirely to the
further discussion Of President Roose-
velt's order dismissing the negro
troops of the Twenty-fifth infantry
for shooting up Brownsville, TEX
as). Senator Culberson of that state
defended the order, bringing to its
support many points Of legal con-
struction and justifying the action by
many quotations in connection with
the ARRAY. He closed with an impas-
stoned statement of the position OF
the South on the negro question,
which he declared to be the most VI
tai and dangerous problem before the
American people.
Senator Foraker replied briefly, ex-
pressing his intense interest In hav-
ing speedy action on his resolution
for an investigation. Senator Lodge
proposed an amendment to this solu-
ton which has the effectfof admitting
the Presidents authority as comma1-
der-in,chief Of the army to take the
action he did and Of restricting the
investigation to the occurrences In
Brownsville. On motion Of Senator
Hale the resolution was given the
right of way Monday.
The senate resumed its session at
noon Thursday The galleries were
crowded and senator's eyinced more
than the usual interest in the open
ing ceremonies. Senator Foraker's
resolution providing for an inquiry in
to the discharge Of the negro troops
Of the 25th infantry was called up.
Senator Culbertson in an address
on the subject said great injustice
had been done the people of Browns
vile. The conduct Of the negro SOL
diers had been very irritating. He
related that on August 4, the day be-
for the shooting up" Of the town, a
criminal assault had been committed
BY one Of the soldiers on the wife OF
q reputable citizen and no arrests had
been made for this crime.
In defending President Roosevelt,
Mr.. Culbertson said the fact that the
troops were negroes had nothing to
do with their discharge. Confusion
as to the legal questions involved was,
he said, responsible for the statement
that the president had no authority
70 make the discharge The presi-
dents constitutional authority and the
authority GivSn him by the articles Of
war clearly covered the case and
made hia action legal, he declared.
Mr.. culberson read resolutions re-
gently adopted ~ negro citizens Of
Boston which admitted that the SOL
diers shot up the town. and said
thsy were determined 70 DO for them
selves what ne unifOrm Of their coun-
try would not do-protect them frsm
insults and punish at the same time
the authors Of their misery"
Mr.. Calberson created merriment
by saying:
II have nothing To DO with the
president In this matter. care
nothing about him. Ny personal re-
lations with him are about as cordial
as those Of the senator from Ohio
(Foraker)
He concluded his speech OF an hour
and a half BY brief reference to the
negro question IN general. saying
that Il is the most important question
before the American people.
An amendment vas offered By Sen
ator Lodss to oOnfine The inquiry By