Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-06-10
TAFT BEFRIENDS
HEBREW IN ARMY
RepTlmandS Colonel GarraTd For
Opposing Advance.
ACTION CAUSES SENSATION
President Writes Sharp Letter Re.
garding Report Of Cavalry Conn.,
mandant at Fort Meyer.

mandant at Fort Meyer.
President Taft has ordered the Sec
rotary of war TO administer a severe
public reprimand TO Colonel Joseph H..
Gerard, cavalry commanding officer
of the military post at Fort Myer. Va.
for exhibiting prejudice against a pri-
vate in his command because of the
soldiers Jewish extraction and the
social standing of his family"
The president said it was hard to
deal with the case with patience and
without coniemnatory words that had
better not be written"
The presidents action has created
something of sensation. not only IN
army circles. hut throughout Wash
ington.
The Young soldier involved in the
controversy is Frank Bloom, a private
in Battery +. of the Third Field Ar
tillery He is now on duty on the Mex
lean border
Several years ago Bloom was urged
for appointment to West Point. presi-
dent Roosevelt, not being in a posi-
ton at the time to make the appoint.
ment, suggested to Bloom that he en-
list and like true American" fight
his way up from the ranks.
The young man took the advice, en-
tered the army, where he is said to
have made good record, and recently
took his first examination for promo
ton II is said that Bloom failed in
this examination. but in view of the
prejudice brought about by Colonel
Garrard's endorsement. Bloom will be
ordered up for final examination again
in September.
On this point the president. in a
letter to Simon Wolf. OF Washington.
said.
Il shall take steps to see that the
examination to which Private bloom
Is subjected is one in which he will be
given a fair chance and not be ex.
posed to any unjust prejudice"
Colonel Garrard's endorsement on
Blooms papers. to which Presiden'
brought to his attention. was at fol-
lows:
THE applicant is a son of Joseph
A. Bloom. OF Jewish persuasion. who
Is now, and has been for a number Of
years. tailor at this post. His assoc
citation. as far as | know. and that OF
his family. have been with enlisted
men and their families. and have been
respectable.
The young man is undoubtedly
honest and upright. ambitious and
probably deserving, but for the reason
stated | would not desire h.m in my
command as an officer and a social
and personal associate.
THE presence of the applicants
family AT a military post would be sub
versive Of disciplane and their prob
able treatment a source OF mort flea
ton TO them and frequent cause OF
trouble TO commanding officers. From
an experience OF many years | have
found, except in few cases, few com
munities where jews are received as
desirable social associa cs.
In directing the secretary of war
10 inquire into the case President Taft
wrote:
Il enclose he cwiih letter from
Simon Wolf. lawyer and very promi-
nent and respected citizen of Wash.
ington. This gives to the statement
he makes every presumption OF aecu-
racy and truth. II Is difficult for me
TO read the endorsement OF Colonel
Garrard, set forth in this letter, with
patience and without condemnatory
words that had better not be written.
wish you would examine the record
and verify the statements of SIR
Wolf. and. il he has not been mis.n-
formed and MS letter sets forth he
facts-,lirect that this young nan lie
admitted TO examination for a lieu.
tenancy in the army
THE statements made by Colonel
Garrard are not true with reference
to the standing that Jews have in this
country, and resent as commander
in-chicf of the army and the navy,
that any officer of either should per-
nit himself in an official document 10
give evidence of such uniounded and
narrow race prejudice as that con
tanned in this endorsement.
After you have made an examina
ton of the record please advise me
OF your action