The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-01-13
FORAKER KEEPS
UP THE FIGHT
Makes Vigorous Speech on Browns
vile Affair--Savs Funds
MisappIied.


Washington, Jan. Ex-senator For
alIer renewed his discussion of the
Brownsville affair in the senate and
was accorded the strictest attention
By his colleagues on the floor and the
large number of visitors who throng>
ed the galleries. Senator Foraker
had prepared his speech very care
fully, but his reading OF the manu-
script had all of the interest of an
extemporaneoUs address.
In his address Senator Foraker
charged Illegal diversion OF public
funds by the president and William
H. Taft, while secretary of war, to
pay for the investigation by private
detectives into the Brownsville affair.
The government use OF the private
detectives was characterized by Mr.
Foraker rs "atrocious, shocking and
revolving"
Mr. Foraker spoke of the $3,000,0 900
war fund of 1899 appropriated as an
emergency to meet unforeseen contin-
gencies constantly arising to be ex
pended at the discretion of the presi-
dent, and said it had been illegally
construed as a permanent appropria-
tion
Speaking of the reply of the pres
ident and of the secretary of war to
a senate resolution calling for infor-
nation on the detectives investiga-
tions into the Brownsville affair, Mr..
Foraker said: This message Of the
president, with its exhibits, and this
report of the secretary of war pre-
sent a new and most serious feature
of this unhappy business. They not
only disclose determined effort on the
part Of the president to again bolster
up the case against these men, which
he has heretofore, on numerous occa-
sions, both officially and unofficial1y.
characterized as conclusive and
overwhelming but that he has re-
sorted to method in his effort to se-
cure such testimony that can not be
fittingly characterized without the use
of language which, if employed, might
appear to be disrespectful to the
chief executive. And worst of all, In
this endeavor TO secure such testi-
mony the president has, himself, COM
mitted the serious offense-condemn-
ed by every court that administers
the common law, that has ever had
occasion to speak on the subject-of
holding out to these men an induce
ment, or a reward, for giving such
testimony, in the form Of re-en1ist-
ment, with full pay, and reinstate-
ment to all their rights as soldiers.
81 do not hesitate to say that In my
opinion, aside from the question
whether there has been misappro-
priation of public funds, no precedent
for anything so shocking can be
found in all the. history of American
criminal Jurisprudence"
When Mr.. Foraker commented on
a statement of the detectives respect
ing a letter he had written to one
of the discharged soldiers, he laid
down his manuscript and with consid-
cradle vehemence declared: 81 have
doubtless written some letters need
ing explanation. l have doubtless
written some letters that would rot
have written if l had all the informa-
ton l got at some other time But !
have never written any letter since
! left my mothers knee of which +
have been ashamed or that needed
any lying to explain"
AS Mr.. Foraker read letters from
some of the negro soldiers denying
the statements of the detectives he
referred to bundle of letters on hig
desk and said the originals were
there if anyone cared to see them
Commenting on the report of Her
bert ]. Browne, who had charge Of
the investigation by detectives, Mr..
Foraker declared that he had been
shocked and Mortified when he read
his statements. Il wish" he said, hts
voice resounding throughout the
chamber, somebody else who prates
about the dishonesty of other people,"
evidently meaning the president.
"could be shocked and Mortified"
When Mr. Foraker concluded, Sem
ator Lodge took the floor, saying he
had only one comment to make on
Mr.. Forakers remarks, that being IN
relation to the legality of the employ
ment of Brown and Baldwin, with
out reference to their methods, or the
merits of their work.
He said expenditures had been
made from this fund under President
Mckinley as well as President Roose-
welt, ana also by Mr. Root, President.
elect Taft and General Wright each
as secretary of war. No voice had
ever before been raised against its
use. No constitutional provision, Mr..
Lodge said. had been violated by
/ these exnenditures