The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-03-20
TO AGREE.
The Committee on Military Affairs
Presented Four Reports on
Brownsville ARRAY.
SENDS MESSAGE
Every Shade of Opinion is Expressed
in Regard to Guilt of Negro
SoIders--Renstate lnno-
cent Ones.

Washington. Mar. 12.-Reports from
The committee on military affairs were
presented to the senate Wednesday in
regard to the investigation Of the af-
fray at Brownsville, Texas, which re-
suited in the discharge without honor
of three companies of negro soldiers
of the Twenty-ffth infantry. At the
same time a message was received
from the president calling attention to
the fact that the testimony taken by
in discharging the negro soldiers.
He recommends extension of the
time for re-enlistment of the dis
charged men who might be found not
to fall within the terms of the order.
There were four reports from the COM
mittee, the majority being signed by
Senators Warren, Lodge, Warner, Du-
Pont Taiaferro, Foster, Overman,
Frazier and McCreary. A minority re-
port was signed by Senators Foraker,
Scott, Buckley and Hemenway The
majority report found as follows:
That in the opinion of the commit
tee the shooting was done by some of
the soldiers belonging to the Twenty
fifth infantry; that the testimony fails
to identify the particular soldier or
soldiers who participated in the ARRAY.
1t is stated that there is considerable
contradiction in the testimony, but
that taken as whole and reconcil-
ing it wherever possible it proves the
case outlined in the majority's de-
cision."
The principal minority report was
presented by Senator Scott and takes
the position that it has been impos-
sible to ascertain who did the shooting
and makes the recommendation that
the negro soldiers be restored. In ad-
dition to this minority report, Sen
ators Foraker and Buckley joined in
a supplemental report which was pre-
scented by Senator Foraker.
Senator Foraker's report declares
that the testimony of the eyewitness
es against the soldiers is not reliable
and that no motive for their alleged
connection with the ARRAY had been
shown.
A supplemental report signed by
Senators Warren, Lodge, Warner and
DUPONT declares that under the evi
! dence it is shown that the assault was
perpetrated by members of the bat
| TALON, but that it Is reasonable to be
lieve that all OF the soldiers were not
concerned in the commission of the
crime, either as principals or as &C
cessories. They recommend that il
would be justice to restore to all o.
the innocent men the sights and priv
| leges which had accrued to them by
reason of their previous service in the
| army. A bill is presented authorizing
the president within one year after tn;
passage of the act to authorize the en-
listment of any of the men whom h
may be satisfied had no connection
with the shooting. Senator Forake
4, included in his report bill, previ
ously introduced, which provides 70
the same general purpose. This bill
however, would compel the war dc
partment to accept the enlistment o
any one of the discharged negroes VIII
makes oath that he was not connects
with the shooting.
The Brownsville ARRAY occurred o
the night of August 1914, 1905. TIL
war department conducted a hurrie
investigation of the shooting and as
result President Roosevelt ordered tn
discharge without honor of three con
NAMES of negro soldiers who were the
stationed at Fort Brown. Senate
Foraker soon after congress convene
in December, 1906. raised a questio
as to the presidents right to discharg
the men and an investigation by tn
committee on military affairs was o
dered. The committee began takin
testimony February 4, 1907, and Co
cluded March 10. 1908.