The Washington herald., 1908-04-21
HOLDSBLACKSGUILTY
Murder and Treason Soldiers
Crime, Says BOrah.
DEPRECATES FURTHER ACTION
Retention of Men Who Participated
In Or Concealed knowledge of
says, Would Strike at Safety of the
Country by sapping Army.

Disciaiming any intention OF replying
to Senator Foraker, but setting up an
array of facts and deductions intended
TO fully answer the argument which the
Ohio Senator made last wek in defense
OF the negro soldiers of the dishonorably
dismissed battalion Of the TWenty-ffth
Infantry, Senator Borah. Of Idaho. in a
speech in the Senate yesterday, arraigned
the former members Of the Brownsville
battalion as guilty, either as participants
or by consent, OF murder and treason.
MF. Borah upheld the action Of the
President in dismssing the men without
honor, and his array Of evidence made a
strong impression on his fellow Senators.
He showed conclusively that the negroes
who took part in the raid had abundant
time TO get back to the fort and form
with their companies after the raid, his
authority for this being the statement OF
a member OF the battalion, who, being
absent on a pass, walked a block farther
than the raiders had to go to reach the
barracks, got his gun, ana joined his
company before 1t had formed for in
spection.
lie took direct issue with Senator For
akers contention that the witnesses who
testified before the Senate investigating
committee could not have identified the
raiders as negroes, as they claimed to
have done. He contended that a suffi-
cient number Of men to have formed the
raiding party were supposedly so sound
asleep in isolated parts of the barracks
and in officers quarters, that they had TO
be awakened" according to the testi-
mony. by other men sent for that pur-
pose
Foraker Takes Notes.
Senator Foraker sat throughout Mr.
Borah's speech, which consumed about
an hour and a half. and frequently took
notes as he proceeded, but did not in
terrupt the speaker. The majority Of the
Senators remained in their seats all the
time while the Idaho Senator was speak
ing. and when he concluded he was
warmly congratulated upon his handling
of the case by a large number Of his
Senator Foraker walked
around and shook hands with him, and
they remained for some minutes in con
versation.
Senator B0rah said. IN part:
The first question involved is a simple
question Of fact That is. Did any Of the
soldiers Of the Twenty-hfth Infantry par
ticipate in the riot Of August Is, in the
town of Brownsville?
with the settlement Of this question
of fact all other questions inhering in the
controversy readily settle themselves. In
other words, if it should appear from the
evidence that any part of the Twenty
fifth Infantry participated In this riot,
that they went into the town, assaulted
men. women, and children MANNED a
policeman fer life, and killed private
citizen, then. I apprehend, no one would
seriously contend that such men should
remain in the army.
Knowledge Of Riot Guilt.
And il it should further appear from
the evidence that. although not actually
participating in the riot, large number
of the Twenty-hfth Infantry must have
necessarily known Of the raid and con-
cealed that knowledge from the authori-
ties. then, I apprehend. no one would
contend that they should remain a part
of the army So far as the good of the
army is concerned. one party would be as
reprehensible as the other.
Furthermore. if it should appear.
owing 10 the manner in which the raid
was accomplished, the stealth. the we'll
planned scheme, and the methods 10 con-
ceal that it is impossible 10 separate the
guilty from the innocent. then all should
go; fer. I take 1t that it cannot be a
matter Of serious controversy that the
discipline and morale Of the army are
paramount TO any mans right 10 remain
a member of the army.
Claim of Defense Poor.
1T seems TO be conceded that the evil
dence with reference TO the shells In the
streets and the clips and the bandoliers
is so direct and positive and so incrimi-
mating that there is no possible explana-
tion other than that of a counter-con-
spiracy. So in order TO get rid OF these
powerful circumstances, it has become
necessary to charge that there was a
upon the part of the citizens
of Brownsville with the view of manu-
featuring evidence against the soldiers
with the ultimate purp0se OF compelling
their removal"
After quoting from an article by sena-
tor Foraker, in magazine. suggesting
this idea Mr.. Borah continued:
Il might quote further TO show the
charge Of general conspiracy which in
volved the necessity Of long prior prepa-
ration, the stealing of the shells and
their distribution upon the streets of
Brownsville; but, followed to its logical
conclusion, If It IS worth anything at all,
this conspiracy not only steals the shells
and scatters them upon the streets, but
it also furnishes the men who did the
firing; the men who actually went upon
the streets of their own town, assaulted
their own homes, the wives and children
of their friends, shot the arm off q po-
liceman, and murdered a citizen.
Evidence Is Overwhelming.
Now, I confess that there might pos
sibly have been desire to attack the
soldiers. but It seems that this conspi-
racy, if 1t had an existence, would not
have turned its guns upon its own peo-
pie. But I am not going 10 take up this
in full this time. I simply
want to call your attention to it to show
you the kind of defense It is necessary
TO make because I contend that the evil
dence in this case is simply overwhelm-
ing and conclusive against the colored
soldiers unless you resort to the PROPOSE
tiOn of a conspiracy which manufactures
the evidence, and that is evidently the
view taken BY the defense. I win ask
you, therefore, to bear in mind the exist
ence Of this conspiracy as we go through
the evidence, for you will find before
you get through that not only did the
members Of this conspiracy consist of
men of rare powers to plan and execute
and foTesee, but you will find in one in
stance particularly that they were en-
dowed with the power Of prophecy--the
power TO look into the seeds Of time and