The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-03-12
NEGRO SOLDIERS
MAY ONCE MORE
join ARMY
Roosevelt Sends Message on
Brownsville Incident
TIME MAY BE EXTENDED
Senator Foraker Declares That Presi.
dent Has No Authority to Rein
state Dis charged Men.

WASHINGTON March II. Reports
from the committee on military affairs
were presented TO the senate in regard
to the investigation of the ARRAY at
Brownsville. Tex, which resulted in
the discharge without honor of three
companies of negro soldiers of the
rwenty-tfth infantry.
AT the same time message was re-
ceived from President Roosevelt call
Ing attention to the fact that the testi-
mony taken by the committee sustains
his position in disc harging the negro
soldiers.
for re-enlistment of the discharged
men who might be found not to fall
within the terms of the order. There
were four reports rom the committee,
the majority being signed by Senators
Warrol, Lodge. Warner Du Pont Ia
liaferro, Foster, Overlnan, Franzier and
McCreary. \ minority report was Sign
ed ny Senators Foraker, Scott, Buckley
and Hcmenway.
The majority report found as follows:
THAT in the opinion of the committee
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 sol
diers who participated In the ARRAY"
1t is stated that there IL considerable
contradiction in the testimony; but,
taken as whole and reconcIling 1t
wherever possible, il proves the case
outlined in the majority's decision.
Senator Foraker's report declared that
the testimony OF the eyewitnessss
against the negre soldiers IL not reli-
able and that no motive Of their alleged
connection with the ARRAY had been
shown.
Senator Culberson inquired why leg.
islation was necessary to permit the
president to restore the soldiers of the
Twenty.fifth regiment. and Mr. War
rem, chairman of the committee. re-
piled that the president had no au-
thority to restore them with all rights
and privileges after ninety days.
In presenting his minority report
Senator Foraker, dropping into the
Language of the court, proceeded to
say:
Now, If your honor please
Laughter greeted this remark Com
ing events cast their shadows, and
maybe that influenced the words"
added Mr.. Foraker. Vice President
Fairbanks being in the chair.
Mr. Tillman said he wanted all the
reports and the presidents message
printed in Il single volume Il also
want in the document" said Mr.. TIL
man, 1.-THE message of the president
dlscharglng these men and then his
message taking 1t back"
After taking his seat Mr.. Tillman
again rose and added In rasping tones,
Il want the entire report so 1t can be
sent out for the benefit Of the 'niggers'
of the country"
Senator Foraker said the president
had not the power to reinstate the
men and added
HE will have to wait on congress
before right and justice can be given
to these men"
Mr.. Tillman, reverting to his request
that the presidents order Diminishing
the men be printed with the testimony
at the beginning of the pamphlet sep
arate from the account of the presi-
dents more or less arbitrary action"
added that the president had made
progress toward giving these negroes
Justice