The Topeka state journal., 1911-06-05
TAFT WAS ANGRY
Ordered the Secretary of War
to Administer Reprimand
10 Colonel Garrard OF the Unit
ed States Army.
THE OFFICERS FAULT.
He Turned Down an Applicant
for Promotion,
Deserving in Every Way, Be-
cause He Was a Jew.
THE OFFICERS FAULT.

washington, June 5.-Col. Joseph Gar
rard, U. S. A, commanding the cavalry
post at Fort Myer, Va, today was
reprimanded by the secretary of war
under orders from President Taft for
reporting adversely an application of a
soldier for the right to take examina-
tion for the promotion to commissioned
grade on the ground of Jewish parent
age.
The president said it was hard to deal
with the matter with patience and
without condemnatory words that had
better not be written"
The presidents action has created
something of a sensation not only in
army circles but throughout Washing
ton. The young soldier involved in
the controversy is Frank Bloom,
private in battery F of the Third field
artillery, and is now on duty on the
Mexican border. Several years ago
Bloom was urged for appointment to
West Point. President Roosevelt not
being in a position at the time to make
the appointment suggested to Bloom
that he enlist and like a true American
fight his way UP from the ranks. The
young man took the advice, entered the
army where he is said to have made
a good record and recently took his
first examination for promotion. 1t is
said that the Bloom failed on this ex-
animation but In view of the prejudice
dorsement Bloom will be ordered up for
final examination again in September.
On this point Taft in a letter to ST.
mon Wolf of this city, 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 expos
ed to any unjust prejudices.'
Colonel Garrard's endorsement on
Blooms papers to which President Taft
-4r CIV oh brought
his attention were as follows:
THE applicant is a son of Mr.. Joseph
A. Bloom of Jewish perSuaSionS who
is now and has been for a number of
years, q tailor at this post. His as
sociations as far as know and that of
his family have been with enlisted men
p and their families and have been re-
spectacle. The young man is undoubt..
edly honest and upright, ambitious and
deserving, but for the reasons stated
] would not desire him in my COM
mand as an officer and a social and
personal associate. The presence of the
applicants family at military post
would be subVerSive of discipline and
their proba BILE treatment a source of
modification to them and frequent
cause of trouble to commanding oft1-
GERS From an experience of many
years / have found except in a few
cases, few communities of Jews are
received as desirable social associates.
In directing the secretary of war to
inquire into the matter Taft wrote:
my Dear Secretary: I inclose here
with letter from Simon Wolf, law
YER and very prominent and respect
ed citizen of Washington. This gives
to the statement he makes every pre-
sumption of accuracy and the ruth.
1t is difficult for me to read the en-
dorsement of Col. Garrard, set forth
in this letter with patience and with
out condemnatory words that had
better not be written. 1 wish you to
examine the record and verify the
statement of Mr.. Wolf and If he has
not been misinformed and his letter
sets forth the facts, direct that this
young man be admitted to examina-
tion for a lieutenancy in the army.
The statements by Col Garrard are
not true with reference to the stand
ing that Jews have in this country; and
[ resent, as commander in chief Of
the army and the navy that any Off
Ger of either should permit himself in
an official document to give evidence
of such unfounded and narrow race
prejudice as that contained in this en-
dorsement. After you have made an
examination of the record please ad-
wise me of your action.
Sincerely yours.
''W. H. TAFT
Word of the reprimand issued from
the White House was as follows:
The president directs the secretary
Of war to inform Col Garrard his at
tlIuQ0 on lnIS uldIlST ~ SlTOnSlN us
approved as contrary to the ideals and
principles of this country.
"Col. Garrard has been told that he
had not the moral right to exert in
fluence in his official position to bar
the advancement of a courageous and
efficient young man simply because
that man was of Jewish race; that
such procedure indicates not only pre-
~iudice that should not be found in an
officer of his position and expert ence
, but mounts to a failure to justly and
fairly consider the merits and claims
of the applicant as shown by his ef-
ficient service and excellent standing
in the mental examinations. Col Car
rard has been admonished to avoid a
repetition of the action taken in this
case