Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-15

tolerable detiniteness at least some CT
the criminals who took the lead N
| the murderous shooting OF private CT
tizens at BROWNSVILLE 1t establishes
clearly the fact that the colored SOL
diers did the shooting: but upon this
point further record was unnecessary,
as the fact that the cClOred soldiers
did the shooting has already been es-
tabished beyond all possibility Of
doubt. The investigation has not
gone far enough to enable US to de-
termine all the facts. and we will pro-
coed with it: but it has gone far
enough to determine with sufficient
accuracy certain facts of enough I'M
portance TO make 1t advisable that I
place the report before you. 1t ap.
pears that almost all the members or
Company b must have been actively
concerned In the shooting. either TO
the extent OF being participants or 10
the extent Of virtually encouraging
those who were participants. AS TO
Companies G and d. there can be no
question that practically every man
in them must have had knowledg:
that the shooting was done by some
o. the soldiers OF b troop. and pos
sibly by one or two others in one OF
the other troops. This conceal
ment was Itself a grave offenSe. which
vas greatly aggravated by their testi-
flying before the Senate committee
that they were ignorant Of what they
Unjust have known. Nevertheless. 1t
| Is to be said in partial extenuation
that they were probably cowed by
threats. made by the more desperate
Of the men who had actually been
engaged in the shooting. as to what
would happen to any man who taiea
\ to protect the wrongdOers. More
over. there are circumstances tending
70 show that these misguided men
were encouraged by outsiders TO per
sist In their course Of concealmeht
and denial 1 feel. therefore. that
1.-THE guilt OF the men who. after me
lcyent thus shielded the perpetrators
Iof the wrong by refusing tell the
truth about them. though serious. was
lin part due TO the unwise and lmpfo-
per attitude Of others. and that some
measure Of allowance should be mad"
for the misconduct. In other WORDS
In believe We can afford TO re!ns'ate
any Of these men who truthfully tell
what has happened. give all the ala
Ithcy can TO Ak the responsibility upon
Ia.
show that they themselves had no
|gu.l,y knowledge beforehand and
were in no way implicated in the al
lair. save by having knowledge OF II
afterwards and failing and refusing
Ito divulge IT, Under the circum'
stances. and in view Of the length OF
thine they have been ont OF the ser
vice. and their Joss Of the bensnt VI
would have ACQUIRED to them by con
ltinuous longtime service, We can az
ford 10 trea, the men who NEE; the
requirements given above as having
been suticientIy punished by the con
sequences they brought upon them
selves when they rendered necessary
1.-THE exercise Of the disciplinary power
II recommend that a Law BE- passed
allowing the secretary OF war. within
IA fxed period Of time. say a year. 70
rcins.aic any of these soldiers whom
he after careful examination finds Ia
have been innocent and whom u"
snds 10 have done ali in his power
20 help bring 20 justice the guilty.
"yeanwh lille the Investigation VIII
he continued The results have mao"
Il obvious that only by carrying on
1.-The investigation as the war depart
imept has actually carried II on u
There the slightest chance Of bringing
the offenders TO justice or Of s"para'
ing no; the innocent. for theT" wer"
doubtless hardly any innocent. but IN"
less guilty from those whose Saii'
vas heinous.
"THEoT ORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House.
December ~. 1905
Accompanying the message was a
repor, from the secretary q var con
n