Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-15
DEFENDS The NEGROES
-
Foraker Speaks 10 Hundreds Of
! Blacks Who IhPonged Gallery.
sh ---
OHIO SENATOR Oh BROWNSVILLE
or Course He Says That Shooting up
of Texas Was Not Done by Mem
bers CT the Twenty fifth Infantry
Declares Evidence Not Sustaining.
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April II =
Applause that smothered the OF; re-
peated poundIngs of the Vice pr.si-
dents gayei attested the warmth of
the reception given by the. crowded
galleries of the Senate to the speech
OF Senator Foraker. made TO |. y, IN
defense of the colored soldiers ui ne
Twenty-nfth Infantry, discharged
without honor by the Presidcna he.
cause OF their supposed connection
with the Brownsville affair. Never
in the history of the Senate have the
galleries been SO fully surrendered To
representatives of the negro race,
more than half of the crowds that FILL
ed every available seat ana stand,ng
room being occupied by them.
The senator began his remarks by
saying there was evidently misap-
prehenslon concerning his speech and
read from newspaper clipping 10 the
effect that he was TO deliver n three
days speech in Remuneration of the
President and the secretary of war.
He laughingly disavowed his intcn-
siNH w W. vi tllt AulilkS CHuI
ed against him.
The purpose of this inves, igation
has not been 10 criticise the Presi-
dent or anybody else" said Mr.. Fer
aker, nor has II been to make any
capital OF any kline, political or oiher-
wise, against anybody or for anybody"
He reviewed the various incideni,
and orders that led up To the dis
charge of the men. Most witnesses
against the soldierg. he said, testified
four different times concerning The
ARRAY.
Their testimony so given is suf-
hcientiy contradictory to show that il
is unreliable he said, but aside from
the contradictions on account OF the
darkness of the night many things
that wore testified TO by these wi:
nesses could not possibly have heen
observed by them.
1T is unnecessary TO go over this
evidence in detailed way for con-
ceding for tho sake of argument that
the witnesses undertook to testify
truthfully. the flimsy and unreliable
character OF the whole of II is fairly
indicated In the testimony of the four
principal so-called eye witnesses.
Claims There 10 NO Support.
"WithouI their testimony there Is
no creditable evidence whatever 10
support the charge that the first shots
We're fired from The barracks or from
any place within the reservation or
that there was any jumping over The
wall by anybody.
Without the testimony OF these
four witnesses the testimony of the
officers and the mon of the battalion
that the shooting commenced at Sore
point outside the reservation staCds
practically uncontrndicted'
Questions Power of President.
Regarding the discretion given the
President in the Warner bill. he said:
and If we are to be further re-
mingled as we have been that the
President Is the commander In chief
of the army. it is 4 sufficient answer
that while 1t Is true. yet also it Ia
true that he does not create the army.
II Is not for him to say who shall en-
list or re-enlst. All that belongs 10
Congress.
Our action would but add insult 10
injury. 1t would be without precedent
or 1t may be safely asserted that
never before in the history OF clyill-
cation has n legislative body been IN
vited to require men accused of crime
to prove their Innocence before hos
lie judge who has already adjudged
them guilty; and never before has
there been suggestion that any man
worthy to sit in judgment upon tha
rights of his countrymen would &C.
cept such a duty If assigned him, u
conscious of having the slightest pref
udice against the accused.
by what right does the senator
from Missouri assume that the Presi-
dent is capable of such a manifest
improperly?
THE vilest horse thief, the most
dangerous burglar, or the bloodiest
murderer would not be required eth
er to prove his innocence or TO submit
to trial before Judge who had
even in the most casual way expressed
the opinion that the defendant was
guilty" -
A Common Role.