New-York tribune., 1907-01-04
LODGE FORCES ISSUE.
OUTGENERALS FOR4KER
Senate HAST Pass on Presidents
Right to Dismiss Negro Troops.
Iron The Trihrra R,,rn.,,

Washington Jan. 3+-Ar. Lodge executed q
clever coup in the Senate to-day. and not only
prevented TIE adoption Of Senator Foraker's
resolution instructirg the Committee on Mill
tarv Affairs 70 investigate the Brownsville tro
ble but forced the issue on the first OF NJ
ForakeT's charges against the President so +bo+
the Senate will be compelled to exr-ass its
opinion by an aye and no vote as to whether or
not the President exceeded his constitutional
and legal authority in dismssing from the army
those members Of the 25th Infantry on whom
suspicion was cast by the Brownsville outrage
Senator Lodge accomplished his purpose by
Offering an amendment. the joint production of
himself and Senator Spooner. TO the Foraker
resolution. making it refer 10 the '.discharee
by the President OF the United States in his
constitutional and legal authority as commander
Fl chief" OF the men Of the 25th Infantry Mr.
Foraker Immediately objected TO the Lodge
amendment which would commit the Senate to
definite rejection OF the first Of Mr.. Foraker's
propositions, namely that the President had
Exceeded his constitutional and legal author
fly" and on the statement of Mr. Lodge that he
was suffering from cold and unable TO address
the Senate in support Of his resolution the dis
cussion. which promises to be animated and
brilliant, went over, 10 be resumed when the
Senate meets again on Monday
Senator Lodge win address the Senate at some
length in support Of his amendment and will
probably be followed by Senator Spooner, who
Will also support the amendment. 1t is regarded
as a safe prediction that the amendment Will
be adopted after spirited debate and the For
aker resolution, as amended, will than pass IN
less Mr.. Foraker should abandon ii in disgust
which is not likely.
There is comparatively little opposition TO an
investigation by the Committee Military At
fairs of the facts OF the Brownsville affair. once
-f7a rla1 +lar f,R-
thority has been disposed Of and many friends
of the administration will even welcome an IN
vestigation, as they are confident II will serve
only TO demonstrate to every unprejudiced per-
son the propriety and wisdom of the course of
the Executive.
MR. CULBERSON DEFENDS PRESIDENT
Senator Culberson spoke at considerable
length to-day. defending the people of Browns
Vile from the implication that they shot up
their own town and murdered themselves in
desperate attempt to bring discredit the
Negro troops Mr.. Culberson charged that a
criminal assault a white woman of Browns
Vile had been made by of the Negro SOL
diers and that when this reported TO Major
Penrose, commanding he gave orders that none
Of mis- men should be permitted 10 enter the
town without pass. This. the Texas Senator
asserted the chief cause of the resentment
which eliminated in the shooting.
Senator Culberson made several points
against Mr.. Foraker in the course of his speech
for instance. when he said In the discussion
Of the law involved.it is Of 10 more consequence
70 inquire whether or not = Sc men were dis
charged because they We're Negroes than it is
10 inquire whether not this discussion arose
here because they were Negroes" And later
Mr. Culberson protesting that ne had no special
interest in defending the President, said: 81
care nothing for the President. My personal
lations with him are about cordial those
OF the Senator from Ohio TA1r. Forakerl"
Mr. Culberson- found in the evidence submit
ted 10 the Senate the testimony Of numerous
witnesses. who declared that they Negro
soldiers firing their rifles and pistols. and he
also read the testimony OF several witnesses.
given under oath before the grand jury. which
seemed 70 establish the guilt of the troops.
In defending President Roosevelt for his dis
Inissal of the troops Mr. Culberson said the fact
that the troops were Negroes had nothing TO do
with their discharge Confusion to the legal
questions involved was. he said, responsible for
the statement that the President had no author
ity 10 make the discharge. The Presidents
Constitutional authority and the authority given
him by the articles of war clearly covered the
case and made his action legal, he declared.
Mr. CulbeTson defended Captain Mcdonald. Of
the Texas Rangers. to whom Mr.. Foraker had
referred because of Major Blocksorn's reference
TO him as a man who was so brave that he
would not hesitate TO charge hell with a bucket
OF water" Mr.. Culberson also said that he
knew Major Bocksom TO be gentleman
Mr.. Culberson closed his speech with refer
ehce 20 the Negro question in general. saying it
had existed from the early history Of the coun-
tgy TO the present tiIne and still continued TO be
the most important and the most dangerous
question which confronts the American people
be referred to the growth Of this question
leading to the Civil War, in which nearly a
million of white men lost their lives. To-day
he said sthe condition Of the black race, with its
ages Of slavery, its ignorance and poverty. ex
crted the deepest sympathy Of the great body OF
the white people OF the South.
Speaking in part for the people Of Texas
and plainness Of speech is best" he said, at is
not improper to say that they have dealt fairly
and generously with the Negro in all essentials;
IL education, in charity, in helpful sympathies
and in the protection Of life, liberty and prop
e.ty. But I would not be candid with you If 1
did not say that IN other respects their purposes
are equally resolute and uualterable. They are
opposed to political domination by the ignorant
or vicious; they opposed to social equality
with the Negro; they aDe opposed to every ten
dency which will ultimately be destructive of
the purity and integrity of the white race. And.
ahove all these vital they NAV be.