New-York tribune., 1908-04-15
LAUDS NEGRO SOLDIERS
FORAKER DEFENDS THEM.
Insists That Case against Bropns-
rile Troops Vas Weak.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau.


washington April l4-Senator Foraker addressed
be Senate to-day the subject of the Brownsville
nrav For three hours he held the attention of his
srdience and concluded with eulogy OF the negro
elders which elected unrestrained applause from
,e galleries The audience which filled every avail
ri. inch or the space In each of the, galleries.
.rt those reserved for the families of Senators
I'D the diplomatic corps. was composed very
,-relv Of negroes. many of whom brought their
,ncheons and munched huge sandwiches they
,,,re5 70 the remarkable address Of the Sena-
- 1-,-,, Ohio Dramatic effect added to the
..ssior hv the presence in the press gallery OF
2 * Harvey and an assistant. Mr.. For
- rhvsicans who were present to attend the
s,-eto- in case their services were needed
es.o- Foraker costed the evidence presented
-, -re Military Affairs Committee with great
-, and. as no line which supported his case was
,.ol.a5 so no line which would have detracted
s,-, his argument was cited
<. -ba subject il laid aside by the Senate
- Forah. who has made a careful study Of
= -,+5r-0e zIll make an argument In wllch ne
III erdeavor TO show the fallacy OF MT. FORAKER
--tre End the accuracy OF the finding OF the
- fairs Committee, which. by vote of IL
=e-,i~ed 10 support the Foraker resolution de-
,-s-c the negro soldiers innocent OF the shooting
--,s vill be practically the maiden speech OF the
cs.or from Idaho. who to the Senate wear
- The still fresh laurels in his prosecution OF
william Haywood OF the Miners Federation and
-bo Rad. even before that, won distinction as a
-ogiczl and able LAWYER
Senator Warner the author OF the bill granting
.be President authority restore TO the army such
negro soldiers as may prove their innocence, will
also address the Senate IN support OF his measure
Il IS the occasion OF sincere regret to the Repub-
f-ar leaders that Senator Foraker should have
joined issue with the Democrats on the committee
and thus caused unfavorable report on this
measure which otherwise would doubtless have
been passed by a strict party vote. While Sen.
~ r-FIl fha
tii' il IS very doubtful il the measure can now be
passed.
Before entering upon this labor" said Mr.. For
zker. in opening his speech. ut may not be anss
70 remark. in view OF the many misstatements
that have been made. that the purpose Of this in
vestiEation has not been 10 embarrass the Presi-
dent or anybody else; nor has it been to make any
capital Of any kind political otherwise. against
anybody for anybody"
He reviewed the various incidents and orders
that led the discharge of the men without
honor. Most OF the witnesses against the sol-
de-s. he said testified four different times con-
ce-nirg the trouble.
Their testimony, given. is sufficiently con-
Trajectory TO show that IL IS unreliable" he said.
But aside from the contradictions account Of
re darkness Of the night, many things that were
testified 20 by these witnesses could not have pos
sttlv been observed by them"
x up one phase Of the testimony after an
detail The circumstantal evidence against the
soldiers concerning the shells and bullets found
sitter the shooting. he declared. turned out 10 be
favorable 20 them because OF the impossibility Of
t~ef- having had such ammunition without that
fact being developed IN the examinations that
made.
'Tr case against the soldiers" he said. fails in
another important particular. No adequate motive
in fact. motive whateyer-is shown for such
assault upon the town" The evidence shows
hat the soldiers frequented the saloons but very
little and that they never made any complaint 70
their officers or anybody else account OF being
deharred hy some Of the saloons OF Brownsville
from drinking the bar with white people. 4"
Regarding the discretion given the President in
he Warner hill he said And II are be
further reminded. have been. that the Presi-
dent IS tho commander in chief Of the army il is
sufficient answer that. while Il Is true. vet also
Il is that he does not create the army. It is
not for him 10 say who shall enlist or re-enlist All
that belongs TO Congress
The vilest horsethief" lie continued the most
dangerous burglar. or the boodest murderer would
ne required either 10 prove his innocence or 10
submit 10 a trial before Judge who had in even
The most casual way expressed the opinion that
the defendant was guilty"
lie closed with Z very complimentary reference
the colored soldiers
They are" he said. typical representatives or \
that has ever been loyal TO America and
American Institutions: race that has raised
hostile hand against our Country's flag; race
hat has contributed 10 the nation tens OF thou
sands of brave defenders not one OF whom has
cT turned traitor faitered in his fidelity. Faith
~..I.. uplainnGIy. with pride and devotion,
.o-- have performed slI their duties and kept all
--rf~ obligations. They ask fsvors because thev
sfe negroes out only justice because they are
men