The Washington herald., 1908-04-12
Ohio Senator Speaks Before
African Conference.
TALKS OF BROWNSVILLE FRAY
Convinced that ooIored Battalion
Did No wroag-DeeIares He Was
Not Seeking Votes, Because He Al
ready Had Them-TeIIs When HIS
Religion Was Nearly Lost.

aheI yesterday al the session OF the Bal
timore A. NJ E. Conference, in Metropoli-
tan A. N. E. Church. served TO break the
monotony of the routine work Of the
ministers, awoke much enthusiasm IN the
delegates. and demonstrated satisfactorily
to the negro preachers that the negroes
have a strong friend and one active IN
their behalf in the Senator from Ohio.
When Mr.. Foraker was escorted to the
pulpit the assembled delegates arose IN a
body ard greeted him with cheers and
handeiapping. He was introduced by
Bishop Gaines as the friend and de-
fender of our people"
Applause during the speech Of the SEN
ator was almost continuous. Enthusiasm
was manifested now and then by cheers.
Discusses Brownsville Affair.
Senator Foraker complimented the
ministers on the good work they have
done for the negro race in recent years.
lie spoke Of the Brownsville affair. ex-
cusing himself for brOaching the sub
ject by saying it had been mentioned
in the invitation TO address the confer
ence. extended by Bishop Gaines
He expressed his opinion that not a
man in the negro battalion had fired a
gun on the night of the shooting at
Brownsville, and referred 10 his inten-
tion Of delivering a speech IN the Sen
ate on Tuesday, to try TO demonstrate
10 the people of this country that his
opinion is correct.
As Senator Foraker concluded his
address the audience arose and sang
America" The hymn was continued
while the Senator was escorted from
the pulpit. down the aisle. and from the
auditorium. without the accompaniment
OF the organ.
senator FOraker's speech.
Senator Foraker said in part:
almost lost ny religion when ] heard of Browns
VILE I almost lost it sgain when read in ysstsr-
days newspapers Of the proceedings in Republican
convention held in Virginia. where ii is reported
thar the leaders from the chairman dOEn-su ths
leading speakeTs-annoanced that no oolored men
need apply.
do not want 10 critieise my party. and an not
cItieising it. ] am CTiticsiug a lot Of people who
misrepresentine IT for the time being and I
refer TO it not 20 condemn my party but to en-
courage you by SAYING hone that the question that
has thus been fairly raised wi be carried for settle
ment 10 the national convention az Chicago.
We VIII then hnd oat whether not tie great
Republican party Of Lincoln and Grant and HaTi-
son and Mckinley is Zig white" Iarty. If II IS.
predict that there VIII Be some parties II tins
country.
Now cone these 'Iily whites" and tell Us that
these men who are permitted 20 vote by the Demo
Gratis sian not be allowed 70 vote when the Re
Tablicsns are holding a convention 10 settle party
Affairs. II not. why noti
] disclam all sucb Republicans. They do net
belong to my party and win not belong 70 theirs
I simply oldiashioned Republican, great
deal mere concerned about human rights thsn sbcut
trusts and corporations.
Now jnst enc word absut Brovnsyille sid
preferred not 10 speak about that, but vii speak
a few words on that subject Just as. "a matter q
tastie=.
Had Vote All the Time.
I have seen it charged that 1 was doing shat
7 have done IN regard 10 the BroEusTills case g.
cause I want the negro vote. I know J dii not
have 20 do that 30 set that vote. I have always
had it. | never had 20 ask for i. and j. never
entered my mind that ever would haFs TO ask
for II.
I took up the Brownsville matter simply because
il seemed % sbhcrent 20 every sense of iustics
and 10 all cur ideas Of American institutions and
The rights q American citizens that any nan IN tHs
country could be convicted Of crime and stripped q
important rights merely BY Executive order, without
a chance n be heard II his defense. ! Thought
would see that they had a chance u be heard
anyhow.
Result of investigation.
And nov they have had a chance n b heard.
And you know with what result Others on the
eommittee-snd must not eritioIse thsm-cams 10
ths CONCLUSION that some of the soldiers did the
shooting. There vas s0me testimony 10 that effect,
but I weighed il carefully and e1nscienti0usly.
! examined i as ntesently AZ 7 knew hoz, and
have had some experience. for I SAT for three years
on the bench every day weighing testimony and fox
nearly forty years have been prsciicing attorney.
ard I think know a tuthfal witness when ! see
him / heard those soldiers testify. and ! studied
than and all the facts aud circumstances and put
ting al these things together ] became convinced
that net a man in that battalion fred gun
In fighting this battle I am fighting ny OWL II
the President OF the United States ARBITRARILY
turn three companies Of e9ored soldiers out Of Ths
army to-day. he can turn cut three companies o.
white soldiers tomorrow.
The race question does N sense enter into IL
You cannot keen Il out Bot ] have not tired 70
hrinr It in. Nv purpose has raised great deal
hrosder and more important question than that
IL Is question of constitutional power the ons
hand and constitutional night on TIE other-ths
rfsht Of The men 70 be heard first before they are
convicted.
That is WIS, want 10 settle. That question 70
lates to human liberty and the rights Of American
citizeDship ] do not know how 1t VII come oai.
| know how L ought TO cone out.
I am Methodist myself, and have been ons for
nearly hfly years / expect 70 die one II there are
not too many Of these sxaspeTatiug BrowHsF1ie IN
eidents though / somehow or other feel that our
Heavenly Father would not cat 81 p man altogether
H. in a moment Of righteous indignation. be ioIgot
his religion
Testimony Satisfies Him.
This shooting occurred after these soldiers had
been there only two weeks, and when there were
not r-ohably twenty-five men in the hattalon who
Irez- one street from another Ia BToVnsENle- ths
testimony of everybody. The policemen. e that
fhe men con5ncted themselves while there WITH ex
o.n.ionally goad conduct Not one. except ons poor
fsiiov who GOT a little too much Texas tangef0ot
-, rav dav got arrested ell the while they vera
there ard he vas 50 harmless snd gooq-uatuTed
.h,it il that they simply sent him back to bis quar-
ters without pInshug him.
Tbei- officers testified they were ohedient, they
were Disciplined they we've quiet and peaeeabie IN
aisuostion hey were attentive TO their duties; that
n was about the last thing earth they would
think Of them doing 90 ogganize conspiracy sna 81
ont with murder in their hearts to ali men. Hunsns
and children at midnight
Evidence All fer Negroes.
But at daylight their officers had a rigid iuspec-
ton They examined their guns, and every one vas
bright and clean without any stain Of powder u
show il had been fired. Then they counted their
cartridges and every cartridge vas there TO he last
single oBe-not a cartridge was missing
But they said they could have cleaned their guns
in the dark and 80 We took testimony on that point
Both white and black soldiers testified oFerwhelEn
fney that they could not have cleaned theiT guns u
the dark When this fact vas established. We were
toId that these were an unusually expert lot q vi
lains
Then. as to the cartridges Wei, they could have
petten fher from sans5oi7 else. their secusers said
Possibly tHey culld but men are not 70 be con
osncd on tassibifities paFfioulsrlv when the tsst
yoonv Is thas they did not have any extn cartridges
Fverv oue had been counted and each man had Just
SO many.
Eseh man had Just 50 nany-no less. no more
the morning after the firing It would clear any man
rAa