Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-08
Presidents Attitude Defined.

The Presidents attitude in the matter
is shown in the following statement is
sued by Secretary Dickinson:
Senator Jones of Washington pre-
sented to the President this morning
telegram from F. S. Steiner. chairman of
a mass meeting near Fort Lawton, stat
ing that a member of the negro regiment
stationed there had committed an out
rage, and demanding the immediate trans
fer of the 25th Regiment. The President
stated that the request could not be COM
Glied with: that if any members of the
regiment had violated the law they should
he apprehended and turned over to the
local authorities for punishment: that
necessary discipline and the interests of
the community required thorough and
prompt investigation; that United States
troops are to be stationed in the United
.S.ates and it was the business of the
War Department to see that they made
aS little disturbance as possible. but that
to remove them on unproven charges
would be merely to impose them on an
ether community, and might properly
arouse a protest from such community;
and that until there is thorough inves-
tigation OF the charges made in the
nsghbOrhOod where the troops are and
witnesses are present and complete proof
can be taken. the removal of the troops
might not only withdraw witnesses. but
I.,ssibly the guilty parties from the courts
naving Jurisdiction over the alleged
,cimes.
The Secretary OF War sent an order to
the commanding officer at Fort Lawton
erecting prompt and complete investiga-
ton, confinement OF Offenders and deten-
ton Of witnesses if belonging to his COM
,1and: and that, in view of state OF feel
ing reported, his command should be con-
med strictly to the reservation pending
complete investigation. An immediate re-
I.ort was ordered"
Figured in Brownsville Affair.
was the 18th Infantry that figured
in the notorious affair at Brownsville,
Tex. In August, 1906. but since then the
reGtTnent has undergone an almost en-
tire change in personnel-officers as we'll
as men. All the soldiers stationed at
brownsville at the time OF the raid, en-
bracing an entire battalion. were dis
charged without honor by President
Roosevelt short time after the mid
night raid. Not one of those men is now
i'm the army so that the alleged outrage
at Fort Lawton cannot be laid at their
door.
The Young court of inquiry. which
spent q year in an investigation of the
brownsville affair, reported that the:
tow. had been shot up by men of the
ith Infantry, whose identity could not
lie established. Out OF the entire battaf-
on the court found only sixteen whose
innocence could be demonstrated. Those
xteen are entitled to reinstat ement in
army, but so far not a single one
IS been restored.
Seattle Council Takes Action.
;EATTLE, Wash, June S.-Private
haniel Bledser of Company d of the
n United States Infantry (colored) was
rned over to the Seattle police yester-
by the commander of Fort Lawton
ter having been identified the negro
no forced his way into the home Of
rs J. w. Reddiing and ill-treated her
~aturday hight. Bledser is now locked
o I'm the citv jail.
The city counci. has adopted a resolu
ZION requesting the congressional delega-
tion from this state to seek to obtain
the removal of the negro troops from