Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-01
THE PRESIDENT AND FORAKER
PLAYING POLITICS TO THE
INIT

us iitslutitl SuOulU ltcl very
grateful to the Democratic members
or the Senate committee on military
AFFAIRS. But for their votes the i'm
placable Foraker would have tri-
hmphed laat Tuesday and the negro
soldiers who "shot up" Brownsville
have been vindicated. Not even the
scholarly Lodge, the senior senator
from Massachusetts. could persuade
Senators Scott. OF West Virginia:
Hemenway. of Indiana: Bulkeley, OF
Connecticut. and Dupont OF Della
ware, to indorse the course Of the adj
m'nlstratlon. We do not desire to
lmpugn the motives OF these fearless
Republican senators. to suggest that
their support OF the Foraker amend
ments to Mr.. Lodges resolution was
based upon any consideration except
conscience and conviction. 1t is new
ertheless mn interesting coincidence
that In West Virginia, Indiana. Della
ware and Ohio tho negro voter Ia n
most important asset of the Repub-
lican party. In the case of these SEN
ators. therefore. conscience and poll
cy may go hand In hand
There are evidences that Senator
Foraker Is playing politics" to the
pest OF his ability and with grim ear
nestness In this Brownsville matter
There Is no public man of the first
rank who has over played politics"
more frequently and adroitly than
President Roosevelt. Tho President
now is In a position to know how Il
reels Tor man to be made the vic
TIM OF this kind of political warfare
within his own party. Foraker is
working with might and main to
arouse the negro voters of the coun
Try to realization of the alleged in
lnstice their race has suffered through
the Presidents summary discharge
or negro soldiers. We do not know
now deeply the Ohio senator feels on
this subject In his public utterances
ne has exhibited great anguish of
soul and fierce indignation nj the
PRESIDENTS attitude toward the negro
| troops who were dismissed from the
army. Whether these emotions are
genuine or whether they are n mart
OF the political stage thunder. We are
unable to say. There have been times
| when President Roosevelt was "plav-
ing politics" and making the welkip
1lhg Win vehement oratory that per-
| SOUS OF reflective minds wondered
wne'her ne spoke entirely from con-
| s.c'ion-whether lie stopped to think
oi the possible consequences Of b,e
| uierances. II may be that Foraker
me irrepressible and tho irreconcij,
| ap'e. is animated more nv the do
SIRE TO get even" with the President
than to redress the alleged grievancos
OF negro soldiers. Perhaps The pes"
ideni has come information on 40
subject which he will in good scason
impart to the public.
As inc case stands now. the Ohio
Iena,or IS not only striking at The
pt hut at the man whom MIR.
roosevelt has designated az his
choice ior the Republican nomination
LOT PRESIDENT. If the negro yoters of
'nuiaha, of West Virginia. OF Obio
sno OF Delaware should revolt against
secretary Faft because his candidacy
supported by the President. an en-
parrassing situation might IL, Great
ca Tor Mr.. Taft. We cannot avoid
me suspicion that this Is the obiec.
winch Senator Foraker is se,k,no- IN
accomplish. a listening Senate viii
soon near him thunder aeaiq nrain g,
me wlckedness OF discharsing negro
soidiers who merely "shot up' n littIe
texas town Will not many senator's
VIII not the public, suspect that tho
ONO senator Is Shooting nm" Mr.
roosevelt and Mr.. Taft for pnreIy no .
nucal purposes while defending q
weak and downtrodden race" II Il
fortunate for the President. M this
critical juncture. TINT ba Ia, M -
polt OF Democratic senators. We have
very reason to believe that their In
oorsement of tho Presidents action is