The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-12-17

Washington, Dec. 14.--"Oh, shame
upon a Government that would en-
Iploy all it's power; every power that
1t commands, not for; the purpose of
the protection Of, men in their right
to be presumed innocent until they
are proved guilty, but to prove men
who claim they are innocent to be
guilty Of a heinous crime, and to do
1T behind the door and In the dark
! That was one of the closing para
graphs Of an extemporaneous speech
made in the Senate this afternoon by
Mr.. Foraker. of Ohio, apropos Of the
brownsville shooting in August,
1906. ,..t. go. - :,
The Senator did not expect to
make speech at this time, but he
was moved to making some observa-
ttons which" he regarded as pertinent
by the transmi ission by the President
Of special message dealing with
the riotous proceeding in the Texas
! town, and tending to show that the
| ADMINISTRATION had got on the track
| OF the Negro soldiers who were i'm
| plicated in the ARRAY. II
| He had hastily analyzed the afff-
davits oA the detectives who were
specially employed in ferreting out
Ieyidence to establish the act that
lsome Of the members OF the colored
battalion that was dismissed without
| honor from the army were guilty.
He had just read a number Of let
| ters from Boyd Conyers, one Of the
| ex-saldiers, upnA whose alleged ad-
missions the conclusions of the Gov
Eernment sleuths #$hada, been based; ;
and in thosa lssFs 4 {. F era related
an q saeltogethST ser eis story than
NJ ISe,. Ie,.
lpaftnentH4 Il, %s:,les5ys. ,5E..:a - EaE- +
| The Brownsville case was unex-
pectedly projected into the Senate
proceedings by the Presidents mes
sage, which was accompanied by a
| report from the Secretary OF war,
containing the affidavits and state
ments Of the men who had been en-
Eployed to collect evidence sustaining
the claim that the Negroes were
guilty of the shooting. .
Wants Each Soldier Heard.
The Brownsville case proper be-
| comes the regular order Of the Sem
ate on Wednesday Of this week, and
| In anticipation Of the discussion
which will then arise, Senator For
/ aker had prepared an amendment to
| the bill to be introduced, at the last
session, providing for the reinstate-
| ment of the discharged soldiers and
tne restoration Of the civil right of
which they had been deprived on
] the theory that they are innocent.
This amendment provides for tho
| creation Of q commission consisting
OF Lieutenant General A. r. Chaffee,
Lieutenant General John G. Bates,
Major General George w. Davis, Ma
| Jor General Jesse M. Lee and Briga-
| dler General A. S. Daggett. All re-
| tired, to hear and determine all
| charges tending to identity the nom
! commissioned officers and men of the
| negro battalion who may have par
ticipated in tn ARRAY or. withheld
knowledge concerning it.
| This commission, it Is proposed
snail examine into any charges that
| may be preferred against an accused
soldier, and If he Is not found guilty,
| ne shall be reinstated.
1t will be observed that this would
| put 1t up to the Administration to
pick out the men who, it alleges
0ook part In the shooting. In other
words, the Senator adroit1y suggests
that some one acting for the Presi-
dent become the prosecutor of the
Negro troops.
| IL may have been mere coinci-
oence that he was explaining his
amendment, when tne Presidents
message was delivered, or vice yersa, ,
al any rate the two things innocent
~ conspired to produce q sudden and
| unexpected climax.
| ,The Ohio Senator always com
mands the attention and interest NJ
mis- colleagues when he arises tn
speak, especially on Brownsville. and
as soon as he took the floor TODAY
! tnere was an immediate inpourine of
I senators from the committee and
cloak rooms, and they sat in rant
| attention until he concluded.
Indictment Against Detectives.
| some Of them, who have learned to
eat out of the Presidents hand, and
| would probably swallow nux Vomica.
II 1T were suggested for them to do
so, seemed frightened at the yirile
character Of some Of the remarks
which Mr.. Foraker directed at the
President. 5.iu.t I
In his explanation OF HIS proposed
amendment he led UP to- aif indictl
ment against the detectives who
made the investigation In behalf of
the Government during the congress
sional recess and gave hts ndieacei