Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-07
THEIR TURN next.
Negro Troops are Ordered
To the Philippines.
Nothing to Do With BrownVlIe
Affair, Says Sec. TAFT.
Order May Figure In Debate in the
United States Senate.

l w dSIllllStoll L. ~ oeiii' We $3.50
negro troops in the regular army rave
| been ordered to the Philippines 1oi
service with the oath Infantry. now on
the island. The only other negro sol
ders are those of the 18th Infantry
which lost three OF its companies be-
cause of the Brownsville shooting up
and the 9th and 10th Cavalry. InoS'
will sail between March and june =
OF this year. Four white infanilc'i
and one cavalry will also go, relic Wig
| the Attn. 18th and Sth Cavalry. ami tn
9Th, 18TH, 18th. 10th and 18th Inf2ntry
Maj Gen. Bell, chief of staff, stated
that the negro regiments are being
sent to the Philippines because it is
their turn to so and NOT because of any
desire 10 get them out of the United
States at this time.
This order by Secretary Taft has
given partisans of the Brownsville af-
fray something new to talk about. The
order WIS promptly interpreted IN con-
GressiOnal circles as the result of the
| current agitation. Evidences of this
disturbed Secretary Taft SO that he
made public late this evening state
ment that the order was solely in the
line of equalization of foreign SER
vice"
1t mas beer generally understood ,,
Il long time that no moro negro troops
We're beng sent to the Philippines Dc
| cause of the unruly conduct of t'lOS,
who have been stationed there. 'rhf
Path Infantry, like tho 18th. a r.egs,
Cgimcnt. is now in the islands, bul
will not return home rs had Deem ex-
| noctcd. The 9th and 10th Cavalry
| regiments. the only remaining colored
organizations in the army, will relieve
White cavalry regiments
As there have been many complaints
| against negro troops. and as residents
| near army posts. including those neal
Fort Sheridan. have objected to assign
mcnts of negro troops in their vicinity
| it IS claimed that the war desartmen.
wishes to send these soldiers far away
that It may be relieved of further en-
lbarrassmcnt. Secretary Taft, however
points out that the negro troops will re.
ccive 20 per cent. more pay in the Phil
ippircs and that service counts double for
retirement.
| 1t is uncertain yet whether this orde:
| ;"ill figure in the Senate debate. Thus
far senators have been busy since the ad.
| journmant Thursday preparing for the
fray Wher the Senate meets again Mon.
day. Senator Foraker will try to have
Senator Lodges amendm aynt that tho
President was acting within his legal and
constitutional authority in discharginr
| the negro battalion referred to the Judi
ciai comrlmittce. If Mr.. Foraker Sue
| ceedS in that he will have won q sub-
stantial victory over the Massachusetts
senator Undoubtedly marry Republicans
and possibly some Democrats will vote to
| refer the amendment for consideration bv
| the judiciary committee who would not
\ vote against it if there were a SQUARE
ttest.
If Senator SpOoror can have his way
the first round of legal argument on the
| amendment will be between Senators
| Lodge and Foraker. He hopes matters
Twill come about 50 that Senator Lodge
will draw Senator Forakers fire. Then
the Wisconsin senator. who has been con-
|sultinr law authorities extensively, could
haze the final say
| The President Saturday reiterated tn
visitors his determination to prevent the
enactment of any legislation ITO restore
| the discharged soldiers to their former
rights. He characterized it as a waste of
effort to seek to enact any law that
would reflect upon the exercise of his au-
| thority as commander-in-chef.