The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-06
TAFT DENOUNCES
RACE PREJUDICE
Bitterly R eprim andss
Army Officer Who
Displays It.
-- LIZA
JEW is CENTRE \.
JEW is CENTRE RI
OF SENSATION
Young Soldiers Chance for Prot
motion Had Been Refused by
Colonel Garrard, Of Fort !,
Myer, Because of His Par IL
entage-President Acts 7
in His Behalf.

in His Behalf. d
Washington. D. c.. June 5.-Presii{
dent Taft created something OF SEM
sation when he rebuked Colonel JojS@
seph Garrard. commanding the cay4
airy post at Fort Myer. Va, for dis
approving Private Frank Blooms eff
tort for promotion because Of Bloom a.
Jewish parentage. Colonel Garrard6
Endorsement characterized Jews a@
not desirable social associa tes," and
the President Immediately directed theJ
Secretary OF War to investigate the
matter. The President stamped thu
expressions as those OF narrow race
prejudice" lie also said 1t was hard
to deal with the matter with patience
ana without condemnatory words that Il
had better not be written" afSg
The War Department pointed out
that there have been many JewA
among tho army officers E2i
Notwithstanding the Presidents Inc.
qutry, directed to the Secretary or
war. BIB to what should be done I'd
discipline Colonel Garrard. the Inci<
dent has been practically closed with
The rebuke. The department decided
that there was no ground for a court.
martial. an officer being at liberty to
express his actual belief as to tho
availability OF any candidate from the
ranks. 1t was concluded that the
Presidents purpose would be best
served by tho publication of the corj
respondence and with the delivery oGs
copy to Colonel Garrard with "a
letter from the Secretary of War duly
admonishing him not to repeat tha
Endorsement ;;7,
Like True American Soldier" N
rho young soldier involved In tho
controversy is Frank Bloom. a pr!-
vato In Battery F, of tho Third Field
Artillery. and is now on duty on thf !
Mexican border. Several years ase
Bloom was urged for appointment to
West Point President Roosevelt. no,
being in position at tho time to mako
the appointment, suggested to Bloom
that he enlist. and nike a true Amerll
can fight his way up from the RANKS
me young man took the advice, en-.
tered the army where he is said ITO
have made n good record and recently
took his first examination for promo.
ton. 1t 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 Zip for final examination again
in September. On this point, Presi4 =;
dent Taft. in q letter to Simon Wolf.
OF this city. said: 1
~ shall take steps to see that tho
examination to which Private BLOOM
Is subjected is one in which he wilE
be given fair chance and not bc fexS
posed to any unjust preJudice.r .s14
Colonel Garrard's Endorsement on
Blooms papers, to which President
Taft SO strongly objected whena
brought to his attention. was as fol.a
lows: @37I51
The applicant is son OF Joseph a..
Bloom Of Jewish persuasion. who ii
now. and has been for a number OF
years. a tailor at this post. His as9
sociates ms far rs I know, and that OF
his family have been with enlisted
men and their fanilics. and have beem
respectab BILE. The young man is un-3
doubtedly honest and upright, am4s
bilious and probably deserving, but foH
the reasons stated I would not deslre3
him In my command as mn officer and
Il social and personal associate. The
presence of the applicants family az
a military post would be subversivs I.
of discipline. and their probable treatA
ment source OF modification to thena
and frequent cause OF trouble to com3
mandlng officers. From an experience
of many years have found. except rf
few cases few communities wherg
Jews are received n desirable social
associates" HIS,
Tnft's letter to Secretary. I'D
In directing the Secretary OF War t4
inquire into the matter, President Tafh,
wrote: 80
"My Dear MIR. Secretary:
Aa"I inclose herewith n letter FROM
Simon Wolf, n lawyer and a very
prominent and respected citizen of
Washington. This gives to the state4
ment he makes every presumption of
accuracy and truth. It is difficult for,
me to read the Endorsement OF Coionex
iGarrard, set forth IN this letter. with d
patience and without condemnatorH y
words that had better not be written. q &
wish you would examine the record
and verify tho statements OF Mr.. WOLF. d
and, If he has not been misinformed-.
and HIS letter sets forth the facts
direct that this young man be admitted
to examination for alieutenancy Id
the army. The statements made by
Colonel Garrard are not true with
reference to the standing that Jews
have In this country: and 1 resent. ne
comma nder-in- chief of the army and
the navy, that any officer OF either
should permit himself in an Official x
document TO give evidence Of such uns
founded and narrow ra6o prejudice az
that contained In this Endorsement.
After you have made an exnnnlna3 =
tlon OF the record please advise md
of your action. fl5
sincerely yours.
(Signed) "WILBIAM II. TAFT,":5sg
The Reprimnnd
/. Words of the reprimand issued from q
the White House to-day was as fol5 (
lows .ss n r \ I'M 4
"The President directs the Secretary
OF War to inform Colonel Garrard thai q
his attitude In this matter be strongly
disapproved as contrary to he{ideald 4
and principles Of this country. f9s
Colonel Garrard has been told THAI u
no had not the morallright to exert Ina h
flucnce In HIS Official position to bag y
the advancement of a courageous and e
efficient young man simply 4 becauss} \,
procedure Indicates not only pre]udtotf 4s
that should not be found in an Officer, ~
OF hi sltinr n A nd arnn "a "a n I'D 3l