The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-18


Platform Returned to Democratic
Party-Heartily Supported Presi-
i ldent in His Action in Discharging
= Negro Troops-No Truth in Report
That the President had Personally
Solicited His Support in the Matter.
Washington, January 16.-Senate
leaders tonight regard the end of the
Brownsville discussion in sight and it
is confidently expected that before the
close of the week a compromise reso-
luton offered by Senator Foraker just
before the close of today's session will
be adopted. Mr.. Foraker had the floor
to make what he today expressed the
hope would be the concluding speech
on the subject. Whether he speaks to-
morrow or Friday, it is expected that
a vote will soon follow.
Mr.. Foraker today offered a substi-
tute for all of his previous resolutions
on the Brownsville affair, as follows:
"Resolved, That the committee on
military affairs is hereby authorized
and directed by subcommittee Or
otherwise to make and have printed
the testimony for the purpose of ascer-
tanning all the facts with reference TO
or connected with the affray at
Brownsville, Texas, ON the night of
August IS, 1906. Said committee is au-
thorized to send for persons and
papers, to administer Oaths; to sit
during the sessions of the senate, and,
if deemed advisable, at Brownsville or
elsewhere; the expense of the investi-
cation to be paid out of the contingent
fund of the senate"
The language of this provision Is
satisfactory to Senator Lodge and
other supporters of the administra
tion.
The feature of the debate today was
the arraignment by senator Carmack
of republican senators who had criti-
cised the president for his action in
the Brownsville matter. He regarded
it as an attempt to "dethrone" the
president as the leader of the party,
aSnS declared that either the president
3nust be renominated Or the platform
On which he stood returned to the
democrats.
Senators Stone, Money and Knox
followed, each upholding the authority
of the president to take the action he
did, and each favoring an investiga-
tion of the facts connected with the
Brownsville affray.
Senator Carmack in his speech an
nounced that he heartily supported the
president in his action in discharging
the negro soldiers. The action of the
legislature of his state taking the
same position, met his personal views.
Mr.. Carmack then paid his respects
to the president as follows:
Il think it proper to say that any re-
port that senators may have heard
that the president personally solicited
my support in this matter, that he
urged me to forgive and forget GER
tain energetic personal remarks and
begged me to stand between him and
those twin enemies of his administra-
tion, the senator's from South Carolina
%Sd Ohio, is gross eXaggeration. |
WIN not say that it is an infamous
4alsehood because such language be-
longs to the vocabulary of presidential
controversy rather than that of sena-
torial debate.
Nor is it true, as senator's may
have heard, that l have been moved
to undertake the presidents defense
because of my infatuate ddevotion TO
the man I have great admiration
for that strong, brave, large minded
gentleman, the secretary OF war. My
admiration for the president is more
temperate and subdued. In the Ian
guage of Hamlet it waits upon the
judgment. The president once said
that he would see a certain member OF
the Tennessee delegation in hades be-
fore he would do anything for hinl-a
remark entirly gratuitous in view OF
the fact that the person supposed to
have been referred to had never asked
a favor at his hands, but with supreme
indifference to his good opinion had
criticised him when he was wrong and
with like Indifference to dia good oplr-
ion can support him when he is right.
$50 far as the negro race is con-
cerned the only charge thai can be
justly made against the president is
that he has loved the negro not WISE
ly but too well. There IS something
pathetic in the presidents piaintive
recital of all that he has Gone and at
tempted for the negro race. / see there
is 40 man in this country today, not