The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-26
Responsibility for the Shooting
Up Of Brownsville, Tex.
Is Placed on Colored Soldiers by
the Senate Committee.
FORAKER WAS BEATEN
Democratic Members Stand nv
Presidents Action.
Fight Will Be Carried to Floor
of Senate.

Washington. Feb. 26.lThat the shoot
ing ARRAY at Brownsville, Tex, on the
night of August 1914, 1906, was done
by some negro soldiers Of the Twenty
fifth U. 8. infantry and that the tes-
timony taken before the senate COM
ntttee on military affairs fails to fden-
ttfy the guilty persons is the opinion
OF eight members of the committee
-Four members OF the committee voted
against this decision and one member
did not vote. The resolution declar-
ing the guilt of the negroes was sub
mitted by Senator Lodge and was
adopted after FIVE resolutions by Sena-
tor Foraker, one by Senator Dupont
and one by Senator Scott, all of which
were offered as substitutes, had been
voted down.
The vote was reached after prolong-
ed investigation extending over two
sessions OF congress and after evidence
had been taken covering thousands of
pages. Practically every negro of the
three companies Of infantry dishonor-
ably discharged by President Roose-
welt testified in his own behalf, while
evidence in support of the president
was given by many army officers and
citizens Of Brownsville. Throughout the
entire controversy, which in many sec
lions of the country had been made
political issue, the administration
side has been directed by Senator
Foraker. In the final vote in the COM
mittee a majority of the Republican
members came to his support. The Ohio
senator expressed himself as gratified
at this as it was apparent from the
outset that all Of the Democrat mem
bers were convinced that the negroes
did the shooting.
The fight will be carried to the floor
OF the senate. The reports Of the COM
nlittee will not be made for about ten
days as Senator Warner, who conduct
ed the examination of witnesses on be-
half of the administration will be abb
sent from Washington for that period.
Action by the committee therefore will
be postponed until his return. After
the reports have been made to the SEN
ate it is expected that Senator Foraker
will press the matter to a vote there
If he should secure the same proper
ton of the Republican members of the
senate as he had in the committee, the
vote will be closer than has been an
ticipated. The Ohio senator purposes
also to introduce a bill to restore to
the military service such Of the dis
charged negroes as were shown beyond
a reasonable doubt to have been limo
cent of any offense connected with the
ARRAY ~
The committee was in session for
nearly three hours. It was in the
main harmonious. Practically the
only passages at arms were of q par
liamentary nature. The lineup was
defined SO clearly that the. senators
wasted no time in trying to change
each others views. Senator Lodge
offered a resolution as follows:
THAT in the opinion of this COM
nnittee the shooting ARRAY in Browns
vile, on the night of August 1914,
1906, was done by some of the SOL
dfers belonging to the Twenty fifth
United States infantry then stationed
at Fort Brown, Texas"
Senator Foraker offered as a sub
stitute the following:
1.-THE testimony wholly fails to
identify the individuals or any OF
them, who participated in the shoot
ing ARRAY"
The Foraker substitute was defeat
ed by a vote of to 5, the affirmative
being: Scott, Foraker, Hemenway,
votes being: Warren. Lodge. Warner,
Taliaferro, Foster. Oyerman, Frazier
and McCreary.
The last five named are Democrats.
The alignment substantially was tho
same on most of the substitutes Of
fered. The Lodge resolution finally
was adopted by the same division, ex-
cept that Senator Dupont did not
vote, making three Republicans and
five Democrats in favor of supporting
the discharge OF the negroes and four
Republicans on record against 1t.
The other Foraker substitutes were:
"The testimony wholly fails to
show that the discharged soldiers of
the Twenty-fifth United States In
fantry. or any Of them, entered into
acy Of silence, or that they had
among themselves any understan ding
Of any nature to withhold any infor-
nation of which they, or any of them,
might be possessed, concerning the
shooting ARRAY"
Five senators voted Tor, and eight
against the resolution
1.-THE testimony is SO contradictory
and much Of 1t so unreliable that 1t Is
not sufficient to sustain the charge
that soldiers Of the Twenty-fifth Unit
ed States infantry, or any OF Them
participated in the sho citing ARRAY
The affirmative votes were four,
and the negative nine, Senator Du-
pont joining the latter.
t'The weight of testimony shows
that none of the soldiers of the Twen-
ty@fifth United States infantry parti-
cipated in the shooting ARRAY"
Only Senators Foraker and Bulke-
ley voted for this resolution. eleven
senators opposing it. The final sub
stitute offered by senator, declared
discharged men had a good record as
soldiers, and that it Is the duty OF
congress to pass legislation providing
for their reinstatement in the army.
It was defeated by five yeas and eight
nays.
Senator Dupont's substitute declar-
ed that the testimony showed the
shots were fired from Springfield
| rifles, issued to Company B. Twenty
fifth infantry. In effect, 1t asserted
| the Innocence of Companies c and D
both of which were discharged with
| Company B. Only the author of the
resolution and one other senator vot-
| ed for its adoption.
Senator SCOTS resolution declared
| the evidence insufficient to hold gull
| ty any particular person or persons,
and the identity of the guilty parties
unknown 1t was defeated, 9 to 4.