The National tribune., 1907-09-12
SENATOR FORAKER
A Kansas Veteran Raises His Voice In
His HehaIf

Editor National Tribune: Inclosed
find clipping from National Tribune,
Washington, ID. c., of 25th ult., written
by s. II. Cook, of Kenton, o., who says
he enlisted in the service for the sup
preston of the rebellion at the age of
16 years and four months. Going at
his countrys call at that early age was
indeed complimentary to Comrade
Cook. The strange, really anomalous
thing in his letter is the purpose or
object he has in view. viz. to express
his opposition to the distinguished citi-
zen, the Senior Senator from Ohio. the
Hon. Joseph B. Foraker, who at some
months earlier age. enlisted as a pri-
vate soldier, soon promoted for gallan-
try and efficiency. mustered out at close
of war as Captain of his company.
Our friend and comrade tells us there
was time when he would have been
glad to have seen Senator Foraker
elected as President of the United
States, but now, on account of the Sem
ator's attitude on the railroad rate bill.
and the Brownsville affair, he could not,
for any office, carry County in Ohio.
Mr.. Editor, We must think Comrade
Cook, while he represents his own no.
tion or conclusion, is entirely mistaken
as to the sentiment of the Republicans
of Ohio. He praises The National Trib-
une-"Best paper on earth" This is
commendable, TO laud The Tribune. If
he will read Comrade d. w. Wood s
letter in the issue of the 9th inst he
will see Senator Foraker has the nu-
merical strength and the brains of the
Republican Party with him, as on all
former occasions. Comrade Cook should
remember the majority of the leading
Republican papers and leading or rep
resentative members of the Republican
Party, sustained Senator Forakers po-
sit 10 tI4
bill.
But Comrade Cook has another grie-
vance. THE Brownsville Affair."" How
an intelligent man of COmrade Cook
age (for, though young when a soldier,
he is not a young man nOw) can CEN
sure Senator Foraker for going, as he
did, to the rescue of the colored bat
talon discharged without honor, by Or
der of President Roosevelt, is most hard
to understand. Should any man have
the respect of loyal men when he had
sought to stigmatize such patriotic men
as Comrades S. II. Cook and D. w
Wood? Certainly not. Then why should
Senator Foraker be censured for inter-
posing in behalf of men who, as SOL
diers, did their duty as faithfully and
loyalty as did Theodore Roosevelt (now
President RoosevelD, or as any of US
who gave the best years of our life to
the service for the suppression of the
rebellion. Then, does it not necessarily
follow that the gratitude, not only of
the people of Ohio. but of the whole
United States, is due to Senator For
aker for his effort in behalf of the vic,
tins of the unfortunate and unwar-
ranted order of President Roosevelt?
Will not history so record it? We GER
tainly believe it should and think it
will.
Speaking of this matter, which every
soldier must consider, or view it not
simply as to the present but it's rela-
ton to Federal soldiers for all time to
come, we must all agree that the SOL
der shall not share less in the protec-
ton of the Government for which he
risks his life and all to maintain. The
trainers of our Constitution provided
wisely and justly every citizen should
be held innocent until proven guilty
The Constitution, the acts of Congress
and Army regulations all clearly stipu-
late or provide, amply and clearly this
protection to the soldier. Strange as it
is, we find some of whom we would ex-
Dect differently. are condemning Sem
ator Foraker, first, for his position as
to the law; second, proving that the
colored battalion did not do the shoot
ing at Brownsville.
L have no disposition to do President
Roosevelt injustice. The case is a SIM
ptc. piain matter: he is in the wrong.
His order was illegal and in every sense
an error; he was in error in his conclu-
>ions that the circumstances surround
ing and appearing on the surface justi-
fed his order; seemingly forgetting the
known history of negrO-hating white
people In that town and surrounding
country. especially toward colored men
recognized as full citizens by some posi-
ton under the Government. 1t is no
injustice to President Roosevelt to say
that his order was both unfortunate and
and will be recorded in