New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-06
TAFT REBUKES GARRARD
President Will Not Tolerate Race
Prejudice in Army.
SHARP LETTER TO COLONEL

Commander of Fort Myer Cnaf-
acterized Jews as "Undesira-
BILE Social Associates.
Washington, June 5.-President Tart 'o-
| day rebuked Colonel Joseph Garrard' com
handing the cavalry post at Fort Myer'
Va, for disappearing the effort OK FRAN"
/; Bloom, a private soldier. TO Obtain Pro''o
| ton because Of Blooms Jewish paren'ase.
| Colonel Garrard's Endorsement characteii"'u
Jews as not desirable social associates
and President Taft Immediately directed
/ the Secretary Of War 10 investigate '"e
case. denouncing Colonel Garrards expires
sions as narrow ard unfounded race
prejudice" In his letter 20 Secretary sum-
son directing an investigation, the Presi-
dent said:
! My Dear NJ. Secretary: | inclose here
with a letter from Simon Wolf. n laWyeI
and very proIlnerbs ana rei ~ the state
] menis he makes every presumption vi NJ
curacy and truth. 1t IS difficult for me 70
read the Endorsement OF colonel GaTrdIu;
set forth in this letter with patience ana
without condemnatory words that had bet
! ter not ne written. | wish YOU would eN-
anime the record ard verify the sta,e,
/ 4.
msinformed and his letter Gets forth the
/ facts. direct that this young man nc az
mitted to examination for lleutenancy III
| the army. The statements MADE ny ooIoneI
| Garrard are not true with reference 10 the
standing that Jews have in tins country
and I resent, as comnlander-in -chiei OF the
army and the navy, that any oflcer oi
! either should permit himself IN an oihcldi
| document 10 give evidence OF such IN
| founded and narrow race prejudice az that
contained in this Endorsement
! After yoI have made examination or
the record please advise me Of your &C
/ ton. Sincerely yours w II. lar l.
The Reprimand Sharp.
The announcement Of the reprimand is
sued at the White House to-day was as
| follows:
The President directs the Secretary of
War 10 inform Colonel Garrard that his at
titude in this matter is strongly disap-
proved contrary 10 the Ideals and pTin-
! cples of this country.
Colonel Garrard has been told that he
| had not the moral right to exert influence
| i'm his official position 10 bar the advance
ment Of a COURAGEOUS and efficient young
man simply because that man was Of Jew
ish race: that sJch procedure indicates not
only prejudice that should not he found IN
! an officer OF his position and experience.
but amounts To a failure to Justly and
| fairly consider the merits and claims of the
! applicant. as shown by his efficient service
and excellent standing in the mental exam
| nations.
Colonel Garrard has been admonished 20
avoid a repetition of the action taken IN
/ this case.
Colonel Garrard's Endorsement on Blooms
ps pers TO which President TAFT SO strongly
objected was rs follows:
'rhe applicant is a son OF Mr. Joseph A.
Bloom, Of Jewish persuasion. who IS now
and has been for a number % years
tailor at this rost. His associations: as far
As ] know. and those of his family have
heen with enlisted men and their families,
and have been respectable. The young man
is undoubtedly honest and upright. ambi-
tious and probably deserving. but for tho
reasons stated | would not desire him In
my command ss officer and a social and
personal associate. The nrescnce Of tho
applicants family at military post would
: lie subvcrsive Of discipline. and their proc
a Die treatment source of modification 10
! them and frequent cause of trouble TO
commanding officers. From. an experience
of mary years ! have round. oXccpt IN IL"
cases. few communities where Jews are
received as desirable social associates
Mother Appeals for Son.
/ Blooms mother called Mr.. Wolfs atten-
ticn to the case in the following letter:
! 7 spent good, hard money to give my boy
,sn education. 20 prepare him TO make M
scented. advocated and Endorsed his enter
ling the army: we wanted him ~ serve MS
country in the capacity OF an officer.
mort To 70 ne me- as he was before lie entered
the army. and Il Is TO him that ! LOOK ioi
comfort and happiness in my old DAYS
The final examination comes on on sep SEP,
ltember l. We his parents. are POSITIVE .nd.
this Endorsement was tho only thlhg tIiat
Prevented my son being eligible to take tne
Anal examinations. We would Ike 70 nave
him get PERMISSION to take the hnal exam
nation. which he surely deserves. IN view
~ tho fact that the tine for preparation
is being shortened day ~ day. He should
he allowed 10 live, not to pe uom an,
! II il cannot he that he may get MS rtlil
oxarnina,ion IN September then u rs ny
request that he be honorary ulsSIa, -
! from the army BY fsvor. so that ne nday
rureue another course. 50 "a to prepaIs
himself FOR lifo's work. Either ne sno ,ian
! he allowed TO take the maj examination
| this September or he discharsed.
! Secretary Slimson in his reply 70 tne
/ President said that the statements WIFI
regard TO Colonel Garrard were correct
| hut that tho record showed that Bloom mac
! failed TO make the required average IN hlS
written preliminary examination Tor the
commission. He added that Blooms dls-
qualification for q commission was IN no
wav due to the remarks Of Colonel Garrard,
but resulted from the fact that the soldier
was below the requirements on the mentaI
examination He said, however. that az
an impression existed that Bloom had neen
disouaIifed because Of apparent racial
rreiudice Of n superior officer he would
order that Bloom he designated 10 take the
/ fnai examination for the commission IN
! sentember. It was also pointed out thar
there have been many Jews among army
! officers
on this point President Taft wrote TO
! Mr.. Wo,f
shall take steps 70 see that the ex-
| animation 10 which Private Ploom Is SUB
i.cted IL one IN which lie NIL he gwen
, fair chance. and not he exposed 10 any
unjust prejudice.
The Presidents action has created
senSa,l ion in army circles and in Wash
ire-on society. where Colonel Garrard is
vel known
The soldier involved In the controversy Is
Frank Bloom. q private In Battery ~
the I'd Field Artillery. ard Is now on duty
cn the Mexican border Several wears ego
Point. President Roosevelt. NOT being ahle
81 the tiuco to make nc appointment. srG-
ccy,ed 70 Bloom, that he enlist ard. Ike
\ true American fight his way ID from
,hs ranks The Young man took the All
vicc and entered tho army. where he Is
said 10 have made good record. and re-
Gently took his FIRST examination fcr pro
motion
Nctvi hs'1nding mo Presidents inquiry
90 ~ what should he done 10 discipline
colonel Garrard. the incident has pract-
callv been closed with tho -eu,lka The