New-York tribune., 1908-02-26
FORAKER STOOD ALONE.
NEGRO SOLDIERS GUILTY.
Senate Committee Rejects Ohio
Senator's Br0zcnSriIIe Resolution.
TFron The Tribune Bureau

EFrozn The Tribune Bureau-I
Washington, Feb. 25-By a vote Of II TO >
the Senate Committee on Military Affairs re-
jected to-day Senator Foraker's resolution de
cIar1ng that the weight OF the evidence taken
showed that none of the soldiers OF the 10Th
United States Infantry took part in the shoot
ing affrzy at Brownsville. Messrs. Foraker and
Buckley were the only Senators who voted for
the resolution, and a moment later Nr- Bulkeley
voted for a resolution offered by Senator Du-
Pont declaring that the testimony shows that
the shots were discharged from Springfield
rifles which had been issued 70 the commissary
officers Of Company 3. 25th Infantry, and which
were in the hands of or accessible TO the en-
listed men Of said company
Nr. Foraker. therefore, was the sole member
OF the committee who, after having heard the
evidence, believed the negro soldiers innocent
A number Of resolutions were voted on, most
Of them offered by Mr.. Foraker. The resolution
offered by MI du Pont was supported only by
its author and AIr- BuIkeley- A resolution
offered by Senator Lodge placed the blame
scuareIy on the 25th Infantry, but did not at
tempt, as IN the case Of Mr.. du Points resolu-
lion, 10 fix the blame Company B. The
Lodge resolution declared that in the opinion Of
The committee the shooting was done by
soldiers belonging to the 25th United States In
fantry, then stationed at Brownsville This
not voting The four negative votes were cast
by Messrs. Foraker. Hemenway, Bulkeley and
Scott Nr. Scott then offered resolution OF
his own declaring that the evidence was not
sufficient, III the judgment Of the committee, to
justify the finding that any particular person
or persons did the shooting: and the parties who
did the shooting are TO the committee unknown 20
This was lost by vote OF 10 / the affirmative
votes being cast by Messrs. Scott Foraker
Buckley and Hemenway.
senator Warner. following the adoption Of the
Lodge resolution, offered another, declaring that
the testimony fails 10 identify the particular
soldier or soldiers who participated in the shoot
inx ARRAY This was adopted by eight votes,
five not voting
Mr. Foraker offered as substitutes for the
resolution offered by Mr.. Lodge one that the
testimony fails TO identify the particular indi-
1id1als or any Of them: that THE testI-
snonv fails 10 show that the soldiers Of the 25th
Infantry entered into a conspiracy Of silence ;
one that the testimony was so contradictory tHat
il was not sufficient 10 sustain the charge that
the soldiers Ct the 25th Infantry did the shoot
ing and one which after rccitins the fact that
MANY OF the men discharged had good records
as soldiers OF which they were deprived by
rheir discharge without honor" declared II to
q. the opinion of the committee that it is the
legislation for the correction Of their records
and for their re-enIistment and reinstatement IN
rf,e army. and for The restoration of them to
all tho rights Of which they have been deprived,
and We 50 recommend" one Of these Foraker
resolutions. the second was defeated by vote
Of 2 tn : the others by votes Of To .
The result Of the long and expensive investi-
cation Of the Senate committee has been in the
estimation OF large majority Of the committee
which is composed OF eight Republicans and five
democrats to establish precisely what the Fresl-
dent found be the fact and reported 10 con
.-ress nearly a year ago, that the shooting was
done bv certain soldiers of the Doth Infantry
whose identity could not be established It Will
.e recalled. moreover. that the President then
declared that as long - the guilty men re
.,,sire3 in the regiment and without identihca-
-,r, they could not be expelled: the usefulness
OF that regiment vitiated. and the only
.,curse open was TO discharge al Of the com
,.aries stationed at Brownsville on the night Of
the shooting.
TIE result Of the vote to-day talIies precisely
,,rrl the poll Of the committee published il these
dispatches 10 The Tribune Of June IL when the
final vote would have been taken had not Mr.
Foraker protested
After The committee adjourned TODAY Nj
Foraker announced TO the members of the press
,,ar b. would as soon formal report was
made 10 the Senate introduce bin providing
that the soldiers discharged from the 10Th IN
fs,4-r- he reinstated receive ali back pay and be
restored 10 such other privileges as their pre-
,so,,s service entitled them TO. II has been as
serted by some Of the ablest lawyers IN the
senate that such measure would be clearly
unconstitutional, and as it would be referred To
the same committee which to-day rejected al
~ Afr Foraker's resolutions II would Oh
,-ielIslv stand no chance Of passing but IL VIII
afford the Senator from Ohio the opp'r'uiHly %
-: ,,.,,,eesira the Senate on the subject Jf