Evening journal., 1908-03-11
NEGRO SOLDIERS
MAY RE-ENLIST
President Suggests That They
Show Evidence Clearing
Them Of Shooting
SUPPORTS
SUBMITTED TO SENATE
BY United Press Leased Special wire.

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. March 1.-THE Presl-
dent to-day sent letter to the Senate
suggesting the passage OF a law which
will allow discharged negro soldiers of
the 25th Infantry to re-enlist in the army,
If they produce satisfactory evidence that
they were not concerned in the Browns
vile raid.
After an exhaustive inquiry OF over a
year the military affairs committee OF the
senate to-day, formally reported on the
Brownsville ARRAY. Four separate reports
were submitted one by Chairman War
rem. for the committee; enc by Senator
Scott; one by the Democratic members.
all Of whom in the main. sustained the
action OF the President in dismissing the
negro soldiers OF the 25th Infantry and
the most striking one presented by sena-
tors Foraker and Bulkeley, completely
vindicatlng the soldiers Of charges made
against them and recommending legisla-
ton for the restoration to them OF all the
rights Of which they have been deprived.
The Foraker-Bulkeley report consisted
approximately Of 1900 words Following
an exhaustive analysis Of the testimony
taken by the committee it draws these
conclusions:
That the testimony wholly fails to
identify the particular individuals or any
of them, who participated in the Browns
vile shooting affair.
Vndioates the Soldiers.
That the testimony wholly fails to show
that the discharged soldiers Of the 25th
United States Infantry or any OF them
entered ipto any agreement or so-called
conspiracy Of silence or that they had
among themselves any understanding Of
any nature TO withhold any information
Of which they. or any Of them, might be
possessed concerning the shooting at
fray"
That the testimony is so contradictory
and much Of 1t so unreliable that It Is
not sufficient to sustain the charge that
any Of the soldiers participated in the
shooting.
That the weight OF the testimony shows
that none Of the soldiers OF the 18th
United States Infantry participated in the
shooting ARRAY.
The two senator's then make the follow
ing recommendation
Whereas, The testimony shows that
the discharged men had a good record as
soldiers. and that many Of them had by
their long and faithful service acquired
valuable rights of which they are de-
prived by a discharge without honor. and
whereas. the testimony shows beyond a
reasonable doubt that whatever may be
the fact as to who did the shooting. many
OF the men so discharged we're Innocent Of
any onense in connection Herewith.
therefore, Il Is In ouN opilion. the duty
Of Congress to provide by appropriate leg
islation for the correction of their rec
ords, for their re-enlistment and rein
statement, in the army and for the resto-
ration to them Of all the rights of which
they have been deprived and We so recon-
mend"
In their review Of the case Senators
Foraker and Bulkeley assert that the
testimony of the eye-witnesses against the
soldiers is not reliable, because OF the
darkness Of the night. which made it i'm
possible to see with any distinction and
because OF many contradictions Of the
testimony Of the various witnesses; that
microscopic inspection OF the exploded
shells conclusively proved the innocence
Of the soldiers and that their own testi-
mony as to their innocence is confirmed
by existing facts relative to ammunition.
gun-cleaning. inspection, etc.
"An these points are absolutely incon-
sistant with the theory that the soldiers
did the shooting" says the report. ''hu'
in addition to what such evidence proves
there is improbability Of soldiers forming
any such conspiracy and especially in the
way claimed.