The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-06
COL. oARRARo RepalMANoeo
Commander at Fort Myer Scored by
President Taft


Washington, June Cool Joseph
Garrard, IT, s. A.. commanding the
cavalry post at Fort Myer, was yes
terday reprimanded by the secretary
OF war under orders from President
Taft for representing adversely an
application OF soldier for the right
to take examinations for promotion
TO commissioned grade on the ground
OF Jewish parentage. The President
said II was hard 10 deal with the
matter with patience and without
condemnatory words that had better
not be written"
The young soldier involved in the
controversy Is Frank Bloom, pTi-
vate in Battery + OF the Third field
artillery, and is now on duty on the
Mexican border. Several years ago
Bloom was urged for appointment 10
West Point
President Roosevelt not being In a
position at the time TO make the APP
pointment, suggested to Bloom that
he fight his way up from the ranks.
The young man entered the army
and recently took his first examina-
ton for promotion. He failed. but
will be ordered up for final examina-
ltion again in September.
On this point President Taft in a
letter TO Simon Wolf of this city
said.
81 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
exposed to any unjust prejudice"
Colonel Garrard's Endorsement on
Taft SO strongly objected when
brought to his attention. was as fol
lows.
This 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 as
sociates, 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 rea-
sons stated | would not desire him
in my command as an officer and a
social and personal associate. The
presence of the applicants family at
military post would be subversity
OF discipline and their probable treat
ment source of modification to
them and frequent cause of trouble
to commanding officers. From an ex-
perience. of many years have
found, except in few cases, few com
munities where Jews are received as
desirable social associates
In directing the secretary of war to
inquire into the matter, President
Taft wrote:
"Mr Dear Mr.. Secretary: | inclose
herewith a letter from Simon Wolf, a
lawyer and a very prominent and re-
spected citizen of Washington. This
gives to the statement he makes
every presumption OF accuracy and
truth. II is difficult for me to read
the Endorsement of Col. Garrard, set
forth in this letter, with patience and
without condemnatory words that
| had been better not be written.
iwish you would examine the record
and verify the statements of Mr..
Wolf, and if he has not been misin-
formed-and his letter sets forth the
facts-directs that this young man
be admitted to examination for a lieu
tenancy in the army. The state
ments made by Col. Garrard are not
true with reference to the standing
that Jews have in this country, and
resent as commander-in-chief of the
army and navy, that any officer of
either should permit himself in an
official document to give evidence of
such unfounded and narrow race
prejudice as that contained in this
Endorsement.
After you have made an examina-
ton OF the record please advise me
of your action.
Sincerely yours, w. H. Taft"
| Words of the reprimand issued
from the White House today were
as follows:
THE President directs the secre-
tary of war to inform Col, Garrard
that his attitude in this matter is
strongly disapproved as contrary to
the ideals and principles OF this
country.
| Colonel Garrard has been told that
he had not the moral right to exert
influence in his official position to
bar the advancement of courageous
and efficient young man simply be-
cause that man was of Jewish race;
that such procedure indicates not on
| ly prejudice that should not be found
in an officer of his position, but
amounts to a failure to justly and
fairly consider the merits and claims
of the applicant as shown by his eff
cent service and excellent standing
in the mental examinations"
| Colonel Garrard has been admonish