The Washington herald., 1908-05-05
TAKES NEGROES PART
Bulkeley Sides with Foraker
in Brownsville Speech.
FULTON FOR REINSTATEMENT
Thinks Error Was Made in Dismiss
Ing BrownsvlI lIIe Battalion in Toto,
Though He Believes Soldiers
Formed Ra ding Party-FOraker
and Warren Have Slight Tilt.

Though He Believes Soldiers
Formed RafdIng Party-FOraker
ana Warren Have Slight Tilt.
once more the dismissed negro troops
Of the Twenty-fifth Infantry were de-
Tended on the floor of the Senate yester-
day, and Senator Buckley, of Connecti-
cut who did the defending. Used up four
and quarter hours of the Senate's time
in doing It.
The Senator's indisposltlon to yield TO
his fellow-Senators, even for questions
as 10 his attitude regarding certain ele-
ments IN the evidence bearing upon the
Brownsville ARRAY. led to one or two
sharp little tits between him and Sen
ators Fulton and Warren He addressed
many OF his most telling points, or seem
ed TO address them. to Senator Foraker.
whose ally he was on the Committee on
Military Affairs. and whose supporter
he is as regards the bills now pending
before the Senate. handicapped by un-
favorable reports, which propose that the
dismissed soldiers shall be reinstated in
the army.
Foraker Drawn Into Debate.
AIr. Foraker was drawn into one Of the
little Tits that llghtened the four hours Of
Mr. Bulkeleys somewhat heavy speech.
and the Ohio Senator and Mr. Warren
exchanged on one OF these occasions a
bit Of persifage which indicated that
the chairman of the committee and the
negroes chief defender have not forgot
ten the differences which the Browns
Vile case engendered in the committee
Mr.. Buckley had declined to allow an
interruption from Senator Fulton, and
Mr. Warren took occasion to refer to the
disposition on the part of Senators to
take up the time of the Senate so late
in the session with lengthy set speeches.
He thought that If Senators desired to
usurp the time which should be given
70 the consideration of appropriation
bills they should at least take up the
measures which they desired to discuss.
and debate them without unnecessary
delay.
This is a question Of right and jus
tice toward our fell0w-men and the serv-
ants of the republic replied Mr. Bulke-
ley. 1t is of sufficient Importance to
justify giving the time TO it,
Il agree with the Senator on the uues-
ton OF right rejoined Mr. Warren:
but I think. if we're going to take this
thing up for discussion. we should do 1t
in proper form and with that understand
ing"
Thinks Time is Abundant.
Here Mr.. Foraker arose, advancing to-
ward the Chair.
MIR. President" he said, I'D like to
say to the Senator that we shall have
plenty of time TO discuss it before We
adjourn"
Ar Warren had resumed his seat. and.
without rising, he replied to Mr., Foraker,
with a quiet smIe..
There is no division of sentiment on
that point"
Mr.. FoTaker's remark was In a tone
that seemed 10 say that the Brownsville
question would be thrashed out, il il
took all summer. Mr.. Warren seemed
10 intimate that there was little to be
said. except from the other side.
When Mr. Bulkeley had concluded his
speech, AIr. Fulton arose and explained
his attitude, as he had twice tried to do
while the Connecticut Senator was speak
ing. He believed. he said, that some mem
Ders OF the negro battalion had shot I'D
brownsville but he did not believe that
this fact would justify the dismissal Of
the entire battalion. He was opposed to
putting the burden Of proof on man
VINO might be innocent. and indicated
tnaI therefore he would favor restoring
the negro eX-sOld!ers to the army rolls.
Inls, he said. would not preclude anv
acton at military or civil law against
any or them If evidence were later found
that would justify such a course Mr.
Foraker, in reply TO the last observation
stated that his bill expressly stipulated
mat the reinstatement OF the former. sol /
diers should not preclude such a trial
before either military or civil tribunal.
Takes FOraker's Attitude,
Senator Bulkeley's attitude was the
same as Senator Forakers. and con-
sistently so, as Mr.. BuIkeley, as a mem
Der Of the Military Affairs Committee
voted with Senator Foraker on the promo
sition that the discharged soldiers were
not guilty.
Senator Buckley declared that the pros
ecution of the negro soldiers was .per-
seeution," and that the desire of every
department of the government seemed To |
be to establish the justice Of the dismissal |
rather than to accord the presumption OF /
Innocence 10 the men. He quoted from
paragraph 146 Of the army regulations. /
which provides: Discharge witbout 4
honor on account of service not honest /
and faithful viii be given only on the /
approved finding of the board Of Off 1
GERS" This injunction was certainly dis /
regarded, Mr.. Bulkeley said.
submit, Mr.. President" he added /
that the soldiers were neither directly
nor Indirectly parties 70 that trial Mai /
PenrOse was acquitted Of the charge of /
neglect of duty If this finding can be
construed as duplicating the soldiers in
this affray-that is. the aCquittal Of Mai.
Penrose. and verdict of guilty against
the sOldiers-it might be likened Mr..
President 10 frontier Justice in the early
days"
Senator BulkeIey's speech was largely a
presentation of official and private CORE
spondence in the case. and extracts Of
testimony. from all of which he deduced
many reasons for disbelief in the ident-
ication OF negro soldiers as having been
in the raid on the town.
Repeats Conspiracy Charge.
Several analyses made by the govern
ment experts show concluslvely," said
Senator Buckley. that the bullets found
in the Cowen. Yturria, and Cara houses,
near which the bunch Of Frankford Ar
senal shells were found, did not belong to
the Frankford Arsenal shells. and thus
reveals more clearly that the scattered
shells about the streets of Brownsville
were fired at some other place. undoubt-
edly at Fort Niobrara. and were a part
or ana in furtherance OF the conspiracy
to get ria Of the negro soldiers and TO
TX on them the shooting up of the city.
Il have drawn only from the testimony
to sustain my conclusions and belief that
each and every memher of this hn nttnlin,