The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-09
REP. SLAYDEN
ON ARRAY
Texan In Congress Scores
CoIored Troops.
HE STANDS BY PRESIDENT
Compromise May Be Reached In
Dispute Over Brownsville
Shooting Case Dismissals.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-An echo OF
the Brownsville assault by negro sol
diers OF the Twenty.ffth infantry was
heard In the house when Representa-.
tive Slayden (Tex.) told anew and with
considerable detail the story OF that
August night OF last year when the
colored troops, as alleged, shot up"
the town Of Brownsville, In his state.
Incident TO the story Of the shooting
and defense OF the citizens OF Browns.
Vile Mr.. Slayden devoted much OF his
time TO a careful analysis OF the condi-
tons OF the white and black races and
said that race prejudice was at the bot
tom OF the assault.
"In the history OF the negro troops In
the United States" said Mr.. Slaydon
zone finds many chapters that tell Of
violent breaches OF discipline, OF riot.
Gus aud mutlnous conduct. OF murder
and race hostility"
In declaring the negro race 10 be un
III for American soldiers the Texas
congressman said he had In view only
the circumstances Of their service. lie
did not lmpeach their physical courage
This Is n virtue" he said. that be
longs TO nearly all men. and II there i
any difference between savage and civ
ilized man In this respect the superior
lty possibly lies with the savage. who
IL undetcrred from rash ventures by
thought Of the consequences"
Mr.. Slayden spoke OF the sympathy
that Yields people into a homogeneous
political and social mass. but said that
Il "has never existed and never will ex-
ist between negroes and Caucaslans."
lie paid tribute 10 the soon 10 be
British ambassador 10 this govern
ment. whose clear mind and high
character all Americans admire"
Mr.. Slayden traced the history OF
the Twenty Infantry aud said that
IL had "a particularly vicious record"
aud, going into particulars. he said
that while stationed nj Fort Meade
\. ID. IN the summer OF 1885 a corporal
OF that regiment murdered a citizen
aud the people Of the community
lynched the murderer. About three
weeks after the lynchng lftecn or
twenty negro soldiers raidcd and shot
up" the town Of sturgls. which Is only
mile and half from the post.
According TO Mr. slayden's narrative.
wlnnemucca, New. was the next scene
Of a criminal outbreak by this rcgl
ment. Then came the outbreak at Fort
Nl0brara. Neb.. where a "wanton and
cold blooded murder" was committed
other instances Of lawlcssncss by ne
gro troops were also detailed.
Speaking Of the Brownsville shoot
Ing. Mr. siaydcn said: 1T seems too
absurd that nc this late day we should
be asking who did the shooting. ] fan
TO see how there Is room for honest
doubt. II the soldiers had been white
aud the circumstances the same. II the
same mass OF clear. strong evidence
against them had been submitted aud
II the president had dismissed them
| from the service In the same manner
there not only would have been no
doubt ~ to who were the murdcrcrs.
, hut the action ~ the president would
have been almost unanimously approx
cd. But. then. the whites are not q
valuable political asset handled la bnlk.
which explains many things"
In the senate. speaking 0u the
Brownsville afIrny Senator Daniel
(Va) ridlculcd The suggestion which
be- said. had been mystcriously hlnird
az. "thnt the people Of Brownsville
shot NJ their own town IN order IL
bring rcproach on the colorcd soldiers.
"In all the southern Ouiragcs ] have
ever heard Of" continued Mr., Daniel
this il the first time that the human
mind has been distorted into the sue
gcsiion that n southern town had shot
M itself. II this had been n white
\ company, whether from Connecticut 90
virginia. we would have had NO public
meeting on the subject, NO sermons
would have been preached, no church
~ would have been aroused aud III
vcrtcd from their religious devotion
Mr.. Daniel favored au investigation
"Gct all the evidence you can" he said
"but do not impugn the president ana
the military law.
ITO sustain the president" he said u
conclusion. is not friendship for an
tocracy. II Is simply friendship for gov
eminent: II Il respect for law" Mr.
Daniel denied that the race question
was involved. and" he exclaimed
may God forbid that the people Of th'
United States ever raise racial qucs
tons when II Is possible TO avol'
them"
A compromise may be reached bl
providing for an investigation by Oh
senate committee ON military Affairs
The committee would go 10 Browns
willie. aud the expenses Of their inycstl
CATION would be paid out OF the contin