The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-20

three companies or coiOfcd uoops- aitN
II il passed such a law by two-thlrds 4
majority in each hOuse-it would not
make any difference TO the President /
He would not bulge. He would not ad-
nit that IL was a constitutional law |
and would not pay any attention 10 IT,
'.And as 10 resolutions. why. they can |
resOlute I'LL the cows come home. ana
il will not AFFECT me, added the Presl-
dent
Thus the struggle between the Presi- !
dent and his opposition in his own party
has apparently been brought 10 the
point where there can be nothing but
a showing OF strength.
He Is UnconceTned.
The President does not express so
much confidence of the outcome as do
some OF his friends, apparently because
he really has less concern about the
outcome than they. Seemingly, the out
come means less. in his opinion, than
In that OF many other party men.
Indeed, the White House attitude is
that the whole thing is a good deal Of a
tempest in a teapot. So lar as the Ell
feet on public sentiment toward the
President is concerned, there is little
fear in Administration circles Of the
But there is in general AN air Of quiet
10 confidence that the President has the
whip hand and is going to win. The
fact that he so recently won over very
much this same opposition, when the
Senators started a struggle for control
of the Republican National Committee,
has added TO the conviction OF his sup
porters that he will win again in this
AFFAIR.
The parliamentary situation is very
simple. The Foraker resolution. as II
is now pending. provides simply Tor an
inquiry into the facts OF the ARRAY at
Brownsville. TO be conducted by the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs,
To this resolution Senator blackburn
has offered an amendment, characteriZ-
ing the Presidents action in discharg-
ing the three companies Of negro sol
diers as entirely within his legal and
constitutional power.
Trimming Foraker Amendment.
Senator Blackburn offered his amend
ment in his capacity as floor leader Of
the minority. II is not claimed that
there is "a solid minority behind ill.,.
but II is insisted that nearly all the
Democrats viii vote for IL.
Should the Blackburn amendment car
~, there would be nothing left OF the
Foraker amendment that could be con-
strued as criticism OF the President. or
that could AFFORD 10 the Military Com
mittee excuse for making any inquiry
into the legality of the Presidents dis
charge OF the troops.
There would be nothing left save an
inquiry into the facts of the ARRAY.
Those facts have already been yar!ously
inquired into. The administration sup
pOrters are positive that no real In-
quiry could be made that would not re-
suit in Justification OF the President s
action. So there is no fear OF an in
quiry. But. as the question has been
preached of Ind0TsIng the President
and as il must se disposed OF in some
way. the President wants the iHd1Tse-
ment.
II is true that Senator Blackburn
might compromise il all by withdraw
ing his amendment and saving the Sen
ate the embarrassment Of going on rec
ord on the question. But Ii Is declared
that he has no mind 10 do any
thing OF the kind. That would be let
ting the Republicans out Of THEN pain
ful quandary. and the Democrats are
unable TO figure why ii would be gooe
publicans into such a hole, 10 help them
out. The Democrats are enjoying the
situation thoroughly. Tbs President is
TOO. apparently. The great majority o.
Republicans. il must be said, however
they may intend 20 vote are not by any
means enjoying it.
Democrats Want Credit
That Senator Blackburn might with
draw his amendment was strong hop
for a time of the anti-Administratiul
Republicans. But when 1t came on
that If Blackburn should withdraw
either Lodge or La Toilette acting 70
the President. would in all probability
oher it once more, the possibility @
Blackburn changing front dWindled. ]
they are going To be lined up for
vote on the question. the Democrat
want the credit Of forcing the issue.
Senator Lodge called at the Whit
House at noon. He came just a fe'
minutes after Senator Elkins Of We
Virginia. Elkins apparently came q
an emissary OF the opposition. Will
he himself has not very squarely line
up his colleague, Scott, is one Of th
ardent supporters of Foraker. Senatf
Elkins told the President that il look,
q
10 get Blackburn 10 withdraw d
amendment, if possible. and if that coul
not be done. then 10 get the Rcpul
hCans TO act together and. on motion
Senator Lodge, the Presidents persons
representative in the matter. lay il {
the table. If this were done on motto
OF Lodge il would be understood :al
the President had assented TO Il, al
therefore would not be subject 10 Il
construction that he had been defeate
Roosevelt Couldn't See It.
The President did not agree with h
West Virginian. He pointed out tn.
he was unable TO see IL in that Ugh
and that the possibility of an indors,
ment for himself passing by combin.
ton of Republican and Democrat
votes was not SO grievous a menace
some other people considered il. Sen
tor EllIins went away apparently disa
pointed and somewhat ruIfied. Then
little later came Senator Lodge.
The New Englander was in an excee
ingly cheerful frame of mind when
left the President. lie had little 10 sa
A.