Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-09
BROWNSVILLE AND THE DETEC
TIXES.

TTVES.
That Senator J. B. Foraker OF O.
hio is proving TO be a serious thorn
in the flesh" 20 the administration is
certainly evident I'm view Of the re-
Spouse made 10 his resolution OF en-
Quiry relative 20 the special detec-
tives employed for the purpose Of
'shadowing'' the ex-memLers Of Com
panies B, c and d Of the twenty
NTH United States Infantry.
Secretary Wright was forced to ad-
init that the War Department had
expended fifteen thousand dollars Of
the peoples money TO prove these
colored men guilty although the
President Of the United States had
previously declared that there was no
doubt OF the guilt OF all Of them. In
view OF this announcement which is
already fresh in the minds OF the
public, it viii be amusing informa-
ton TO those who viii read the fol-
lowing extract from the "conhden-
tial' letter of Secretary OF war.
William r. Taft
In the ordinary routine Of polite
society and business dealings. this
designation would mean that the let
ter was not intended for other eyes
than those OF the persin to whom il
IL must be that President
Roosevelt in his lesire ID have the
distinguished President-elect share
the responsibility and to raise his
administration IN the estimation Of
the public has seen fit TO request MIR.
Taft 90 remove the veil of secrecy
from the letter in question.
But Hon William II. Taft's judi
cial training got the better of his
friendship for the President. for he
said;
IF the bill now pending introduced
by Mr.. Warren, passes. II will throw
upon you the duty OF a further exam
ination into the evidence 10 deter
mine whether certain Of those now
discharged ought not to be restored
on the ground that they were not
parties 10 the shooting and did not
know the persons who did IT, and
were unable TO give any clews to the
perpetrators.
1t becomes your duty, therefore.
and that of the department. TO make
every effort possible to identify the
men, who did the shooting, and to
establish the innocence Of as many
as are innocent among those dis
charged"
1t is not 70 be wondered that Mr..
Taft marked this letter "conhden-
tial." 1t was advice given to one
who needed advice. To a person vers-
ed in the law, il will be seen that
he automatically Informed Presi-
dent Roosevelt that the burden of
proof" rested with the accuser and
not with the accused, that Il was the
business of the prosecuting depart
ment, which consisted OF the Presi-
dent and the War Department, to
prove these men guilty and that they
should not be required TO prove their
innocence although the resolution of
Senator Warren and his committee
would seem to indicate that they
would be- required so to do.
The collapse Of this investigation
which had for it's purpose. so far as
President Roosevelt was concerned.
the establishment of the guilt OF these
colored soldiers, while Secretary Taft
suggested that this method Of pro-
cedure be resorted to with the idea
Of establishing the innocence Of some
OF them will be a most interesting
and valuable addition to this phase
of this justly celebrated case.
1t foreshadows the dawning OF a
brighter day for this battalion and
is an indication that under President
Taft's administration at least prac-