Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-14
CHARGES IN SENATE
AGAINST PRESIDENT
Unexpected Cropping Out OF
the Brownsville Case.
Mr.. FORAKER THE ACCUSER
Says Detectives Were Sent to In
timidate Ex.Soldiers.
INTERRUPTED BY MESSAGE
Resumes After Executives Com.
munication on Same Subject Is
Received-Sarcastic Refer
ence to Secret Service.
Says Detectives Were Sent to In
timidate Ex.Soldiers.
INTERRUPTED BY MESSAGE

ence to Secret Service.
Charging the President with having
sent detectives to try to frighten the
colored soldiers discharged as a result OF
the Brownsville affair by an executive
order. Senator Foraker in the Senate to-
day precipitated the discussion of the af-
fair earlier than was expected, and even
before the Presidents special message on
the subject, sent to Congress today, could
be read.
Mr.. Foraker first presented an amend
ment to his bill for the re-enlistment or
the discharged soldiers. providing for a
commission to hear the individual cases
and determine which of the soldiers ought
to be allowed to re-enlist. In the amend
ment he named the following as members
OF the commission: Lieut.. Gems. Chaffee
and Bates, Maj Gems. Davis and Jesse
Lee and Brig. Gen. Daggett, all retired
army officers.
Wants Fair Tribunal.
He explained that his purpose in intro.
ducing this amendment was to provide a
tribunal where the accused soldiers might
confront their accusers and answer testi-
mony with testimony. He had not be-
lieved such a move would be necessary
he said. but during the summer vacation
he received letters from several OF the
soldiers. who said that government de-
tectives. or men who said they wero
government detectives, had been trying
to get them to make confessions by telling
them that their comrades had confessed
aud by threatening them with summary
action on the part Of the Texas author
tiles, to whom they might be turned over
IL they were not careful.
"Of course these were not secret serv-
ice men," declared Mr.. Foraker, because
that would be contrary to law.
He read one OF the letters in which .
soldier declared that q Texas detective
told him that it had been proven that
Company 3 did the shooting and that
the government knew already the names
of three Of the smen, but we want to
know the whole gang He said the de-
tectives had asked him whether Mr..
Foraker had told him how to swear, and
he had replied in the negative. He said
also that the detectives had told him that
if he did not confess he would be sent
to Texas and might never return.
Mr.. Foraker declared that this letter
showed what efforts the government was
making to find out the names.
Contrary to Constitution.
'I believe none of the soldiers did the
shooting he went on, but may be mis-
taken. But there is right way and a
wrong way to do this sort of thing. These
men should have an opportunity TO con-
front their accusers. Anything else 10
contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.
1t is time this whole matter was brought
into the OPEN"
At this point Senator Culberson OF Tex
as said that he understood the President
had sent special message to Congress
today on the subject of the Brownsville
raid and he asked that it be read at once.
The Presidents message was then read.
Mr. Cuberson then asked that the report
of Herbert j. Brown, the governments de-
tective. should be read In full, and this
was done This report accompanied the
message.
During the reading Senator Foraker
waited very impatiently. and as soon as
1t was over he took the fioor again ana
declared that his information about the
employment of the secret service oetect-
ives by the government had merely peen
corroborated by the Presidents statement
and the report of Mr.. Brown. he be-
lieved the testimony Of the cOlored SOL
die.s before the Senate committee on mil.
itary affairs had been the truth.
Signed "His Mark
II call attention to the fact" he said.
that the negro Lawson, who makes such
a smooth and high-sounding statement,
signed it with his mark.
This reference to one Of the afhdavits
contained In the Presidents message
caused much laughter.
oh Mr.. President, we haven't got 70
the bottom of the matter yet, and / be-
iieve when we do We will be very much
ashamed of it,
Several letters from Boyd Conyers, one
of the discharged soldiers. now living at
Monroe Ga, were read by Mr.. Foraker.
The Conyers letters told of the efforts OF
a colored detective to pick him about
the Brownsville affair, and how he had
succeeded in making the detective leave
town after the detective had tried In
vain 10 make him tell lies,
Mr.. Foraker then read tour letters which
n;L., passed between himself and Conyers,
and when he had finished them declared
that they were the. entire correspondence
winch was referred to by the President.
He asked If exception could be taken to
any of them.
Sixth Time on Trial.
"Is anything more atrocious than the
treatment of these mem" he asked. This
is the sixth time they have been placed
on trial, and, belisve, acquitted.
.'On, shame upon . government that will
employ all of its oower not to protect
men who are charged with crime and
give them a fair trial, but to prove an
innocent man to be guilty. 1t is the most
thing I can conceive Of.
Il did not know the President would
send message today on this matter
until / got into the chamber. That did
not make me offer my amendment nor
did il deter me. Let US give these men
a chance before an independent and Just
tribunal
Mr.. Foraker was still speaking when
The Stars repoFt closed.