The Washington herald., 1907-01-22

Resolved, That without questioning
the legality or justice of any act of the
President in relation thereto, the Com
mittee on Military Affairs is hereby
authorized and directed, by subcom-
udttee or otherwise. 10 take and have
printed testimony for the purpose Of
ascertaining all the facts with refer
ence to OF connected with the ARRAY
"a, Brownsville. Tex. on the night Of
August 1914. 1906. Said committee is
authorized 10 send for persons and
papers. TO administer oaths, 10 sit dur
ing sessions or recess Of the Senate,
and. if deemed advisable at Browns
vile or elsewhere, the expenses of the
investigation to be paid from the con-
tingent fund Of the Senate
Proof OF the partial effectiveness, at
least of the numerous Republican con-
ferences which have been held since the
majority of the Senate was thrown into
confusion last Thursday by the Black
burn amendment TO the Brownsville in
vestigatiou resolution was forthcoming
shortly after the Senate convened yester-
day. Mr. Foraker offered a substitute for
his pending resolution. which represented
the compromise tgreed to on Sunday, and
unless there is d complete change of plan,
this substitute. as printed above, will be
adopted The Republicans are not
thoroughly harmonized even yet, how
ever
In "a speech fun Of sarcasm at the eX-
pense of the Republicans. Mr.. Blackburn
said that the compromise fully covered
the point made On his amendment This
was accepted as Indication that the Dem
ocrats viii vote for the new Foraker
resolution. after the Blackburn amend
ment is tabled, although there is a posi-
blIity that the Culberson substitute.
which declares in effect that the Presi-
dent was justified by facts and authorized
by law to discharge the negro soldiers as
he did, or some proposal similar 10 it
may be placed before the Senate to-day.
There is a disposition on the minority
side 20 crlticise Mr.. Blackburn for ac-
quiescing in the Republican compromise
too quickly. Even if the Foraker sub
stitute means the same as the Blackburn
amendment. some of the Democrats in
sist that their titular leader should have
forced a vote on that amendment before
indorsing the compromise.
Republicans StIu Differ.
Tt is obvious that the Republicans
while they have reached a nominal agree
ment. are still lacking in unanimity. They
are By no means a unit in their under
standing of the meaning of the compro-
mise resolution. Mr.. Foraker insists that
it merely valves the question OF the
Presidents right to discharge the troops
without either denying or affirming IT,
The Senate, he holds. may take any ac-
ton it sees fit to take after the Military
Affairs Committee shall have reported on
the facts of the riot at Brownsville. Mr.
Lodge thinks that the Foraker. resolution
not only embodies the original Lodge
amendment. which, in effect. sought TO
make the Senate declare that the Presi-
dents act was legal and constitutional
but is more explicit 8Ir. McCumber
thoroughly disagrees with the interpre-
tatioR- which NIr. Foraker places on the
compromise proposal He said so yester-
day, and 1t is possible that he will take
some steps TO accentuate his position to-
day.
Aside from some dissatisfaction with
Mr. Blackburn's ready dcqUiesceuce, the
Democrats conducted themselves in a
way which indicated that they thought
they had gained a victory They had
rather the best of the debate which pre-
ceded Mr.. Tillmau's performance, espe-
Clally when MT. Bacon engaged in
colOuuy with MI Lodge in an effort to
bring out the latter's understanding of
the meaning Of the compromise resOlu-
zion.
Friends Of the President assert that
Ee has succeeded in completely beating
down The opposition 10 him, and has
forced Uhe conservative Republicans into
line. In that the compromise resolution
specifically disclaims any intent to ques-
tion the Executives right to do what he
die. il is "a victory for Mr. Roosevelt
r. however, Mr.. Foraker's way of con-
STRUNG the resolution Is proper, and is
generally accepted hereafter the legality
and COnsttutiOnality of the discharge
order may he taken mp after the inves-
tisati0n is concluded, and to that extent
the Ohioan is victorious.
Harmony Their object.
The main purpose of the Republicans
has been 20 preserve harmony within the
party. They were opposed 10 permitting
the country to witness the spectacle of a
7
Endorsement of "a majority of his own
party in the Upper House of Congress-
and depending on Democratic votes to
pull him through
1t was this purpose that actuated Re
publican critics of Mr.. Roosevelts course
in the Brownsville affair in their effort to
maintain peace. Some Of them entertain
ed resentment over the Presidents atti-
tude; that those who voted against the
Democratic amendment unfolding the Ie-
gality Of his dismissal order would really
vote against his general policies. They
refused 10 be put in the position Of start
ing d general fight on the President over
the Brownsville affair. It is evident that
if the predicted opposition to the Execu-
tive in his own party Is 10 come, his Re
publican opponents in the Senate viii en-
deavor to choose their own battle issue,
and not let the President choose it.
Before he retired Sunday night the
President had given assent TO the terms
Of the resolution offered by Mr.. Foraker
yesterday. The whole difference of opin-
ion was over the opening words of the
resolution As presented by Mr.. For
aker. the opening words are: Without
questioning the legality or justice of any
act Of the President" Mr.. Roosevelt in
serted the words, 'or denying" so as to
mGke It read without questioning or de-
nying." but some of the Senate leaders
declined TO accept the amendment. and
the words or denying were eliminated.
II was not until yesterday morning that
Mr.. Foraker consented 20 father the COM
promise resolution, and 1t is said that