The San Francisco call., 1908-04-15
FORAKER THRILLS
BY GREAT SPEECH
Defense of Brownsville Negroes
Wins Applause From
Opposition

WASHINGTON, April 14.-Applause
that smothered the pounding OF the
vice presidents gavel attested the
warmth Of the reception given by the
crowded galleries of the senate to the
speech Of Senator Foraker today in de-
fense Of the colored soldiers discharged
without honor by the president be-
cause Of their supposed connection with
the Brownsville affair. The day was
made notable in the annals of senatorial
oratory.
Never in the history of the senate
have the galleries been so fully surren-
dered TO representatives of the negro
race. more than half Of the crowds
that filed every available seat and
standing room being Of that people.
Senator Foraker proceeded to read
his address, his voice ringing clear
throughout the chamber, except that
toward the end he showed slight signs
OF exhaustion.
The utmost silence prevailed during
nearly three hours. Then his final
references TO the part the colored race
had taken in the military service of
the country called forth smothe cred
applause and when he finished there
was resounding hand clapping which
defed the gavel OF the vice president
and continued for several minutes.
CONGRATULATED BY OPPONENTS
Colleagues of the Ohio senator crowd
ed around him. Senator Warner. whose
bill for the re-enIistment Of the negro
soldiers he had antagonized, was the
first TO grasp HIS hand. One after an
other senators from both sides of the
chamber congratulated him upon his
presentation OF the subject
Senator Foraker said that the investi-
cation was to find the facts and added
that the soldiers gave their evidence
with such straightforward frankness
and with such manifest truthfulness
that nothing remains to show their
complete vindication except only the
discovery Of the real culprits," which
time will surely make. unless the adage
that murder VIII OUT has ceased to be
a truth
The senator reviewed the various in
cidents and orders that led up TO the
discharge of the men without honor.
Most of the witnesses against the SOL
diers, he said, testified four different
times. Their testimony SO given is
sufficiently contradictory
Mr.. Foraker compared bills pendinp
before the senate providing for there
enlistment OF the soldiers. one intro
duced by Senator Warner of Missouri
giving the president authority to re-
enlist them If he should be satisfied
that they did not participate in the
ARRAY, and that by Mr.. Foraker making
re-enlistment mandatory upon sthe SOL
der taking an oath that he had not
participated in or did not know any of
the guilty parties concerned in the ar
fray.
Regarding the discretion given the
president in the Warner bill, he said:
AND II we are to be further reminded, as we
pave been. that the president is the commander
N cnlef OF the army. it is sufficient answer that
"hile IL Is true, II is also true that he does not
cIeste the arny II is not for him TO say who
Snail not enlist or who shall enlist All that be-
longs 20 congress
To pass such bill would be but pretending TO
grant relief, for manfestly none would follow
INSULT TO INJURY
Our action would but add insult TO injury It
would be without precedent. for it may be smelly
ssserteo tnat never before IN the history of civil
isstiou has q Legislative body been ibFstea to re-