The Washington herald., 1907-01-21

II is not improbable that before sun
down the second battle of Brownsville
viii have been fought in the SeHate and
won by the President
This event was predgUTed somewhat in
conferences held yesterday at the homes Of
Senator Knox and Senator Lodge Pre-
ceding this were numerous lesser tele-
phonic conferences which had a favoring
effect on those that followed The Presi-
dent himself took part IN the conference
at Senator Lodges residence
The principal difficulty seems to have
been for the various contending forces 10
match the dexterity Of the colored troops
that shot up Brownsville and got back
into line in time TO answer TO their names.
The Republican Senators 10 save their
faces viii rally around a new resolution.
The conference at Senator KnOx's early
in the day was attended by Senators Al
drich, SpO0ner, and Crane, and toward
the end by Senator Lodge. The latter,
who stands with the President. did not
take a constructive part with the others.
but reserved the right TO accept or reject
the compromise proposed by the other
a resolution drafted by Senator Spooner.
which VIII be urged as a substitute for
the Foraker resolution
This resolution orders an inquiry into
the Brownsville affray by the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs but de-
clares that in conducting the inquiry the
Senate has no right TO 60 into the ques-
ton of the Presidents constitutional and
legal power 10 discharge the men Of the
pegro battalion without honor. The For
aker resolution simply authorizes an in
quiry into the facts, without mentioning
the constitutional matter. At the same
time, Senator Foraker has increasingly
insisted that the constitutional phase Of
the matter was inextricabIy wrapped I'D
with the facts. and has discussed 1t in
that connection.
Besides the Foraker resolution. the aim
is 20 flank the Blackburn resolution. which
indorses the President This. coming from
the nominal leader Of the Democratic
minority, has received the avowal Of sup
port from a number OF Western Senators
who have seldom been consulted by the
leaders OF the majority and now see
good chance 10 put some emphasis on
their mathematical value in a tight polit-
ical situation. There are about twenty
such Senator'S. who would. If the chance
came, vote for the Blackburn resolution.
The leaders. therefore. desire 10 remove
from them, if possible, all temptation by
proposing something else equally as
good, in the taIsmanic words of a former
great leader Of the party.
The Recalcitrant Senator's.
The fate Of the new resolution depends
largely on the phenomenon OF spine in
the lesser Senator's. whose orbits Of Seua-
toriaI activity never bring them into con-
ferences. There viii also be left 10 be
reckoned with Senator Foraker, who
wants the investigation put through for
the sake of getting the facts before the
country believing that when the
truth comes out the Presidents legal and
constitutional right to do what he did
must be debated precisely as a case be-
fore a jury must be argued when the
proof IS IN
II is not intended that the resolution
shall be construed as an Endorsement Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's attitude, or at the same
time question his authority 10 dismiss the
negro soldiers without giving them trial
or hearing. Some of the Republican
leaders would not consent TO any decIara-
ton that indOTsed the discharge order as
legal and constitutional They were anx-
iOUs. however to avoid the spectacle Of
refusal by a majority of Republican
Senators 10 sanction the attempt Of the
Democrats to secure an out and out an
proval OF the Presidents course. They
wanted 10 settle the issue within party
lines. and are confident that the reso-
luton. drawn as a result Of concessions
by both factions. viii meet the approval
of the great majority of Republicans in
the Senate
The new resolution was submitted TO
Senator Foraker in the afternoon. but
he failed to express satisfaction with It.
and another conference Will be held this
morning for the purpose of bringing Mr..
Foraker around to the view that for the
sake of party harmony it viii be wise
at this time to make the concession asked
in return for concessions on the admins
trations side.
The Republican leaders are anxious to
have Mr., Foraker present the c0mpro-
mise resolution in order to emphasize
the fact that the Republicans are not
uiNluTh- bAl iliElt - ITO certainty lLUI
the Ohio Senator will agree He has
declared that he will not vote TO in
dorse the Presidents position. and If the
proposed resolution seems TO him 10 i'm
ply such an Endorsement he viii vote
against il even if every other Republi-
can votes the other way
Presidents Policies Not Involved.
Some Of the Republican leaders resent
the attitude Of the President that vote
against a resolution OF Endorsement of bis
action in the Brownsville matter would
be Il vote against the policies which he
has inaugurated, particularly his policy
with reference to corporations They
contend that the Brownsville affair is en-
tirely separate and distinct from every
other administration matter, and embodies
the plain, clear-cut question whether
President Roosevelt went beyond his con
stitutional and legal authority I'm discharg-
ing the negro troops. They think that
il Is unfair TO claim that the opponents
of the President are actuated only by the
desire to embarrass him. Republican
leaders assert that they have no desire
to have their party in the Senate con-
denim Mr. Roosevelt. and for that reason
they are willing 10 meet him half way in
adjusting the question at issue.
The Democrats intend TO press the
Blackburn amendment ind0rsing the