New-York tribune., 1907-01-18
A BOMB In THE SENATE.
BLACKBURN THROWS 1T.
Brownsville Situation Complicated
bg Democratic Leaders, MoUe.
rFron The Tribune Bureau


washington, jan 17.-Senator Blackburn. the
1,.r,ocratic leader to-day placed an obstacle
a., ,be way Of the Brownsville compromise which
embarrassed the Republican leaders and threw
Senator Foraker completely of the Lodge
snooner bandwagon. wheCe he was comfortably
established when the Senate adjourned last
evening Mr BIackburn's obstacle consisted of
on amendment to the Foraker substitute. and
,rould preface the order to the Military Affairs
Committee to conduct an investigation ''of the
,orey at Brownsville with the words without
questioning denying the legal right of the
president to discharge without honor enlisted
,,en from the army OF the United States" The
introduction OF this amendment is conceded to
have been an exceedingly clever political move,
snd is regarded by Democratic Senators as
arnply vindicating the selection of Mr.. Black
burn as their leader
The Blackburn amendment expresses in accu-
rate and concise form the precise contention
made by every Republican Senator, with the ex-
ception Of Mr.. Foraker, since the beginning OF
this debate It is an improved form Of the
amendment offered by Senator Lodge. and ex-
nresses even more accurately the meaning which
the Senator from Massachusetts, sought to con-
vev than did the Lodge amendment. In this
rests its cleverness for IL presents TO the Re-
ruhIican Senators the unwelcome alternative OF
refusing TO adopt an amendment which they ad-
nit TO be the logical expression Of their own
views and contentious. thus placing themselves
IN q nosition where their action can easily be
-o,scougtrued into dis!nyalty to the President
nv, the one hand, Of adopting a resolution de-
,ending the President which emanates from
Democratic source and Of rendering more OBJ
vious than is believed 10 be necessary the de-
feat Of the Senator from Ohio
OPPOSED BY MR. FORAKER
M soo.er had the Blackburn amendment been
reaf than Senator Foraker, who had ALREADY
risen to finish his speech, begun late yesteroaS'
a,onn.ttcally declared his opposition TO 1t, oasns
his entagonisrn on the ground that the Sehate
should not preclude itself from considering the
question n. ,ts right TO review the power OK the
prasident In advance of the proposed invesuga-
+ion He then reverted to the legal phases oi
the discussion, explaining that ne "ooio lo'
have done so had he not been forced 10 py MI
RlackbtIrn's amendment.
Senator Foraker made prlllah'
with great eloquence and dramatic power ho
referred 10 the contentious OF his hepup.i'e
onnonents Fortified with numerous
.,,.,.a-;+ies he o,oted from them at length. ana
rroceeded 10 dernolish certain legal posluiaIes'
nor did the fact that the postulates he annihi-
,.aa u-e,a not the propositions advanced pS
any, ~ his opponents detract in the least 1rorh
tho force Of his logic. the vehemence OF his o70-
laroation or the brilliance Of his rhetoric
In his peroration Mr.. Foraker laid aside Gil
question of the power conferred py uie Oo
stitution on the commander In chiei anu .'4o
necessities OF military discipline. and' conlnihs
himself merely to the right or the ciVliiaii ~
trial before condemnation MADE an eioqueh'
anneaJ 10 the sympathies OF his auditors, and
.I.z h,s ,eroarks with the assertion that any
other course would be "a disgrace to the Amer
ican people.
THE RESULT IN DOUBT.
The outcome of the situation precipitated oy
,he Democratic leader cannot be predicted with
accuracy In order TO gain time Senator AioElch
ATTEMPTED to-day to obtain an adjournment
until Monday. and was prevented only by tie
fact that two Senators have claimed to-morro"
for SET speeches one on state rights. by Mr.
Whyte of Maryland, the other on the LUMBER
Trust by Mr.. Kittredge. OF South Dakota. 1hese
speeches are expected. however, TO occupy al
of to-norroyy's session, and IT is intended TO
adjourn from Friday to Monday In the mean
time ii is believed, a way out OF the dilemma
can be found The programme lrai'eu 'iii'
evening consisted of defeating the Blackburn
amendment after Senator Lodge, and probably
others, have demonstrated in debate that it is
si,nnlv ..surpusage' and wholly unnecessary
because Mr. Foraker's substitute itself precudes
all question of the powers of the President The
success n this programme will depend largely
of course on the Willingness of Mr Foraker 10
permit an exposition of the true character OF
his substitute TO pass unchallenged. and as Mr'
Lodge is not likely TO spare the feelings or the
Senator from Ohio the outcome is somewhat
doubtful. Still, another feature OF the situation
which menaces the programme OF the SENATE
leaders is the possibility that the President may
request his supporters in the Senate, notably
Messrs. Lodge and Spooner, to accept the Black
burn amendment similar to II, but o1ered
by a Republican. II is believed that were tls
President make such request majority or
the Republican Senators would yield to II:
Senator AldrIch has threatened to amend tle
resolution further. to make IL proVlde TOT an
investigation of the alleged discrimination against
Negro soldiers in the South. which Would- OF
course, open UP the entire race question, ana MI
Blackburn was sent for this afternoon ana an
formed that unless he withdrew his amendineht
this course would be deemed necessary. Inc
Senator from Kentucky did not appear 10 be duiy
Impressed however. and insisted that ne Would
press his amendment TO a vote. regaruiess oi
what Mr.. Adrich might do. Senator AIGOh
does not believe II will be necessary 10 lnlTouuce
this amendment but when he left here for New
York this evening ne was determined 10 90 SO
unless Mr. Blackburn could he induced TO win
draw his amendment The effect Of the Aldrlch
amendment would be TO direct the Military AT.
fairs Committee TO investigate the treatment OF
Negro soldiers throughout the South