New-York tribune., 1908-03-12
BROWNSVILLE MESSAGE
PDUrER To REINSTA1 T.
H-hat President .4sks from Congress
T6r Innocent Negro Soldiers.
rF-o-- re T.!bure Bureau ]

1eoe directing Tire acceptance of application from
former -e-lasrs o. the 25th Infantry for re-enhs'
-n47t together with evidence tending 70 cieaf ne
s-rlicas7- Of conaprcitv the ~shoctlns-uH OF
brownsville uheu the Senate Investigation was 1e-
r-1n and recommending that now the senate c""'-
--it-ae had found the facts on which he acted sub
s----sszed b. tho evidence. he be anthorlheo 1"
-eins+s-e Al any time within one year. any man
who could prove his innocence. snch authority
from Congress being nou necessary ander the law
Tbs rpessag. was read n the Senate and i'm
1ezssraay thereafter several reports from 1he
--,--i--ea q Military Affairs were submitted one
prerare5 and signed 10y Senator Foraker alone. as
Ke--..E tne innocence or the discharged soidiers-
,-a signed ~ Senators scott. Foraker HemenWsy
s-a BuIkeIey. declaring that the guilt Of the ne
r-oes ha5 not ben proved. and third. the com
rnitteA report. signed by nine out Of thirteen
-neuFers declaring mat IN the opinion o. me
co-7-,i--ee the shooting was done by soldiers he
longing the 25th Infantry thai The testimony
.sie - identify the individuals who did the shoot
.rz that there Is no evideuCs whatever on which
10 base the claim that the shooting was oone o5
orher than the negroes. that there is ample eTt-
1erce to prove the shooting was done by tne
negroes. that the bullets taken from the streets
e1d houses pf Brownsville could not have been
fred from eny weapons except the government
-4es issued TO the 18th Infantry: that the attack
m Brownsville was preconcerted ana prooaois oe-
,...~,..,-- -,,srnad and executed and that lit is
reasonably certain that soldiers who did not par
tfcfps-e IN attack must have known OF Il ana
aided those engaged in it in procuring their arms
s-5 ammunition and IN concea4lhE bHei' iueAi1's
--+-e- the- returned
A-perded the committee report - recon-
r,erdariou. signed by four Republican members.
ararsrs Warren. Lodge. Warner and Du Pont that
: ri1 he passed such Is asked for by the Pres
.1ent in his message together with the drsft or
rlrh bill The appendix declares that often IN the
rszt the country has had reason to be proud OF
--z cofored soldiers and the restoration OF the IN
--ocart would be only Justice. the action OF
-1ose negroes who participated IN the outrage Or
e5ne5 20 conceal the identity of the perpetrators
constituted - ETievous wrong to their ooIorso
comrades n the army whose good name ana fafI'e
- should have been their duty TO sustain
Senator y srrer vSiI introduce the committee oi
z-d senator Warren VIII report II favorably as
x,o- a the committee has had opportunity 70
rzz= upon e.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The following fs the text Of the Presidents mes
EsEe:
To the senate: on December = 1916 s. the 9e,o5t 69eTe
ts-v of Var. by ny direction issued me 1oio"4s
Ppoaonz Tellst .. IRON former 3 Members 77eTs
discharged under the provisions OF sPecal. oIusr
- made in writing and be accompanied by such
erideuce also in writing, as the apphcant may G
z+ed in The raid on Brownsville, Tex, on the night
- a4--rs+ q Iee nor withheld any evidence that
r-=gFr Iead TO The discovery OF the perpetrators
FrooeedinEs were begun under this order: put
shortly thereafter investigation was directed oy
0ta-e 4< l-o Tn F sanafe T5n7r1itfee intrlsted
with the work has now completed its invest!gato1;
,.-el15g q O. t i5a7a >l7a teIiTo-v secured
- ~ committee is therefore available, and
desire revive the order OF December L Ivo.
and have il carried cut in whatever shape nlay
- necessary to achieve the purpose therein ser
'7~h: any additional evidence beng IsAen zen tb Gh
7s time limit during which II was possible TO re-
s5ls 5 =. IL +Ea - assage Of law extend
~ this time limit, far the soldiers concerned
affected until year after the passage Or me
zv and permitting reinstatement by direction OF
e President Of any man vho IN MS judgment Sn.1Il
was deemed necessary n order 10 MAINTAIN tHe us
Cyl -e and morale Of ne -- amy -,oCcp,-r
The White House. March Il, 1913.
The reading Of the Presidents message and the
several ~eports called for The undivided attention
-T -re Senate. On both sides Of the chamber there
large attendance and no Senator left his seat
5s-H-E The exchange Of words that took place con-
ce-auS The reports
SUBJECT UNDER DEBATE
Sr-a-a- Culberzon inquired why legislation was
ne-essa-- 70 permit the President 10 restore the
soldiers OF the g7rh Regiment. and Mr- Warren,
chairman of the committee, replied that the Presi-
dent had no authority TO restore them with all
rights and privileges after ninety days. and that
t-- tHa1 purpose the proposed ieslslatoh "ouid
have ro be- enacted
Senator Bailey inquired whether The committee
Rad prepared bi 70 reins1ate the negro soldiers
T.r-a~-tn= to .he Presidents recommendation and
-o re -ecomnendation or several members Of 1he
committee for legislation restore the negro
Soldiers Senator Bailey said that there seemed u
r--- pf di sence 70 SEQ who could SaflStF tHA
assz--=-a5 Republicans before the Republican con
t+r---- and Hr<ora the general election.
senator Foraker said the President had not the
rcra- to reiusrat~ -Ie men. and added
--u t7sza wait Coa-~ee= before right
.u-rf-e rz-r h@ given 10 these u"1-
4t--- an es~-auco of words between Nj Foraker
a~r IT. vz--a- the latter said bill permitting
.Ae -e-O-r==-rFer7- rhe soldiers would 10 intro
r--z- -@--, soon There were matters -on""rnt--
NV thar would have nc considered before
t7- 1n coGld be pu1 IN
AZ Foraker satd ha zau+ed know what The
~------ee -rouosed 70 dc. because he might have
- - -ut II himself.
81 Warren sai6 re thought the committee hlll
=0ol.t ree-ova su rights with ray - begin rhe
tr- ---enlier1lanr-
zE-ee es ~ tfar." ssid NJ Foraker IA We
e1rs-- rn@ III tr D. introduced = eariT dav-
mn, y -,,H =. introduced early date
r=1re5 ~ Ta--er.
Tbs E-rv---g~sl-e z-1-sv occurred i'm rae night ~
As-1r- 80 -1e1 The Wa Department conducted
---~se1 srvesttgs-io1 1f fhe shooting and as
--sr.- y-z~--e-r zz-rsavA7f c~deved the discharge
-7-1r1- homer y ~ th-~s corrrznFee ~ negro
Eozc.e-e VINO sar- rher ~ta-lore5 Forr Brown
.,--e-1- Eo-sk@r sco- after Congress convened. m
Je-ar-t-- ~. -aise5 = question the PresI-
5e-- -9z-r - rferfarge rrs mar. md inTeSri-
$500 ~ - Co-r---1tree Military Affairs vas
crc-r-@ ire committee began taking testimony
Fs--ss--- ar. s16 concluded o. March 10 1os.
EEoGREss OF THE HAGUE TREATIES
rro11ze1 ro thA seusre Cor7nftfee on Foreign Re