The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-30
THE BROWNSVILLE ,svEsr1cArIoN.
1t Ha. subsidized Into a. Intense Play
for Political Advantage.


Several United states Senators, tar.
rying in Washington to attend the
Brownsville hearing, are augmentine
the political activity and interest. The,
are occasional callers Eat the White
House offices and are playing a little
politics along with other men in pub
lie life here. The Brownsville hearing
as a matter of fact, has degeneratet
into political controversy, and TIL,
two sides to it are striving rath.l
to bring out matter. that will help il
politics than to arrive at the fact:
and the truth. The aged Senator Pet
tus voiced a prevalent feeling around
Washington the other day when h,
called at the White House offices ant
complained of the entire proceeding
as the Senate was without constitu
tionaI authority to decide the case an!
way and could only make a report 70!
the information of its members. III,
said the investigation had become /;
farce, and dropping into Latin, spoke
of the proceeding as "damnum absqu'
iniuria.''
The Republicans of the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs, which il
conducting the investigation, are di
vided. Senator Lodge heads the fac
ton that is trying to uphold the Presi
dents action in discharging the battai.
ion of colored troops accused of shoot
ing up the town of Brownsville. III,
has on his side Senators Warren, o
Wyoming, and Warner, of Missouri
Republicans, and they are CONSTANT,
playing for the support of the South
ern Democrats on the Committee. Sen
ator Foraker, of Ohio, who first cham.
pioned the cause of the discharged ne
groes, and Senators Scott, of Yves
Virginia, and Bulkeley, of Connecticut
all Republicans, believe the negroes
have not had square deal and are try.
ing to bring out that point. Senator
Hemenway, of Indiana, a Republican
really sides with Senator Foraker, bu
some time ago the President asked him
to help Senator Lodge in conducting
the Administrations case and he con-
sented. He did not feel that he could
well decline. Since then, however
Senator Hemenway has been gradually
losing interest. He does not believe
in the side of the case presented b.
Senator Lodge, ct al, and is attending
but few sessions of the committee
The proceedings for the examination
of witnesses are. anything but judicial
although it would be expected that a
Senate committee. sitting virtually n
a judicial capacity and composed large
" of lawyers, would insist on the OBJ
sitting evidence.
Instead of that. however, the play
for political advantage is very intense
All the evidence taken is printed, and
from it the Senators will frame up
their speeches when report is made to
the Senate at the next session of Con-
sress. During the Summer and Au-
tumn, wherever there is fight for the
negro votes, extracts of the evidence
will be used pro and con. 1t will be
used in Ohio, where the Taft and For
aker forces are fighting for all there is
in them. For in thisi- case Secretary
Taft stands with the President. and
whatever is established to the disad-
vantage of the President is to the dis
of Secretary Taft.
The hearing is allowed to drag along,
as neither side is willing to close it,
hoping that something. may be brought
Probably the hearings, will be con-
tinued for several months yet. certain
ly for several weeks. A great deal of
ground is being gone over again and
again; witnesses are being questioned
and re-questioned on the same topics.
Senators on the opposing sides are
showing considerable temper.