The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-04
SPEAKS FOR TEXANS
Culberson Upholds President
Roosevelt In Senate.
RIGHT TO DISMISS NEGRO TROOPS
"RaciaI Question Is Grostcst Problem
With which the Union ut the
Present Day Has 60 Deal, IL
Caused the Civil War"

| Unlted states infantry Tor parilclpa
ton In the Brownsville riots. whlcl
had been begun before the holiday re-
cess, was resumed In the senate by
Senator Culberson CTex), who opcnet
the debate with n stirring speech II
condemnation OF the discharged Negro
soldiers.
He declared that the troops were
responsible for the trouble In Browns
Vile because OF the insults they haC
offered to citizens OF that town.
A white woman had been insulted by
a rufiianly negro soldier. he said, Con
dItlons had finally become so chaotic
that the mayor was requested TO deny
the troops the right 20 20 upon the
streets. Such an order was made
With much emphasis Mr.. Culbersor
pointed out that In the face OF the facts
people were asked 20 believe that the
citizens OF Brownsville ''rloted among
themselves, shot and wounded their
lieutenant OF police and killed nm un
offending citizen"
Mr.. Culbcrson contended that IN,
president, as commander In chief OF
the army, had the right TO discharge
| any soldier without honor. But lac al
mltted that In 80 far as the order pur
ported to dlsquallfy the discharged sol
dlers from reenlistment or from hold
ing any civil Office the presidents order
was imperative.
discharge without honor" was n dis.
tlnct class OF discharge recognized by
the statutes over which the president
had control He read from the statutes
and from the army regulations made
pursuant thereto authorizing such dis
charges and added that 352 enlisted
men. both white and colorcd. had been
discharged In that way In the last
year.
Mr.. Culberson enumerated the Incl.
dents leading up 10 the riot A white
woman had been assaulted by colore
soldier. There had been a quarrel over
the denial 10 the negro soldiers Of
equality with the whites In some OF the
saloons. A negro soldier had FLASHED
with a white customs officer and an.
other negro soldier had been struck
over the head with a revolver by n
white customs officer FOR insulting the
customs officers wife.
To the officers OF the army who invcs.
tlgated the trouble. he thought should
be given credit for some honor Their
word ought 10 20 for something They
had investigated the whole matter Inn
partially and had reported that the sol
dicrs did the shooting.
Il care nothing about the president"
exclaimed Mr. Culbcrson. MY per-
sonal relations with him are about a.
cordial as are those Of The senator from
Ohio"
Mr. Foraker laughed heartily and
biushcd furiously. Other senators shar.
cd In the hllariy at the expense OF the
ONO senator.
There was never any question a. 10
who did the shooting In Brownsville. .
the senator continued. until the ques.
ton was raised on the floor here.
Talk about the glory Of the DAG. the
honor Of the uniform" exclaimed Mr..
Culbcrson. Every true soldier ought
to bc Interested In dcte ting these ruf.
fans who have dIsgraccd the uniform
aud see that they are expelled from
the army ~ that the honor OF the cn.
listed soldier may be protected aud the
uniform continue 10 b. honorcd."
lie concluded his speech by a brief
reference 10 the negro question IN gen
eral. saying II had existed from the
early history OF the country doWn q
the present time and still continued Il
BE- the most important and the most
dangerous question which confronts
the American people. lie referred q
the growth Of this question leading q
the civil war. wherein nearly a million
white men lost their lives. Today. h.
said. the condition OF the black race
with it, ages OF slavery. IL Ignorance
and poverty. excited the deepest sym
patty OF the great body OF the white
people OF the south.
"But." he continued. "ln spite OF the
past. with lts conflicts aud sacrifices
sorrows and destruction OF life aud
property. this problem Il stlll th,
greatest with which we have 10 deal
IL Involves labor. education. suffrage
social order. civil liberty. self govern
ment aud the integrity OF the whit,
race. The end no man can see. South
crncrs feel deeply and profoundly on
this race problem and IT, ultimate 10
luton.
Speaking In part for the people Of
Tcxns-and plalnncss OF speech II best
lit II not improper 10 say that they
have dealt fairly and generously will
the negro In all csscntlals-ln educa
ton. In charity. In helpful sympathlc'
and In the protection OF life. liberty
and property. But would not be can
did with you " ! did not say that 10
other respects their purposes are equal
~ rcsolute and unalterable.
They are opposed 90 political domi
nation by the ignorant or vicious; the,
are opposed 10 social equality with The
negro: they are opposed 10 every tend
cncy which will ultimately be dcstruc
tive OF the purity aud integrity OF the
white race. And above all these. how
ever vital they may he. there IL that IL
the testimony In this case aud which
TO tegree underlles this trouble which
impels mo 10 declare even Ia this grca
chamber that they purpose TO protec
even with their lives what In their wo
mankind II the Immediate jewel o
/ ft.ie a.ttfa