Evening star., 1911-06-05

without saying that the result OF TINS
un-American act on the part OF Col. Car
rard has proven disastrous to the asplra-
tions of the young American soldier ana
is violative of every principle or our
American institutions. What this person
who wears the uniform of his country
thinks as an individual Of his fellow
citizens Of Jewish faith, or of tailors by
profession, concerns no one but himself,
but when in representative and official
character he SO far fOrgets every oDllSa-
tion to the rest of his fellow-citizens 1t Is
high time that he should not only be
taught his. duty. but punished for not
knowing 1t.
II sincerely invoke your cooperation in
this direction, and especially do / trust
that neither the father, who is earning
a livelihood at the post. nor the son. VINO
is serving his country efficiently. will
suffer in consequence Of bringing this
matter to your notice.
(signed1 SIMON WOLF.
Chairman of the board Of delegates
and resident representative OF the lnde-
pendent Order Bnai Birth
President Orders Investigation.
White House, May 8, 1911.
My Dear Mr.. Wolf: have your letter.
and without comment l inclose copy of
my letter to the Secretary Of War. l
shall advise you of further steps in the
matter.
Sincerely yours. w. H. TAFT.
"Simon Wolf. Esq,
14th and G streets. Washington.
white House. May =. 1911.
my Dear Mr.. Secretary: l 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. 1t
Is difficult for me to read the indorse-
ment of Col. Garrard, set forth in this
letter, with patience and without con-
demnatOry words that had better not be
written. / wish you would examine the
record and verify the statements of Mr..
Wolf, and, IL he has not been misinform-
ed-and his letter sets forth the facts
direct that this young man be ad-
mitted to examination for q Neutenancy
In the army.
1.-The statements made by Col. Garrard
are not true with reference to the
standing that Jews have in this country.
and l 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 pref
udice as that contained in this indorse-
ment.
After you have made an examination
Of the record please advise me of your
action
Sincerely yours.
.'W. H. TAFT.
"Hon j. NJ Dickinson,
Secretary of War.
washington. d. c."
Secretary Dickinson's Report.
War Department. Washington.
May 8. 1911.
my Dear Mr.. President:
II have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt OF your letter of the 9Th instant
relative to the preliminary examination
for lieutenancy Of Private Frank Bloom,
Battery F, Field Artillery, and to certain
remarks of Col Garrard, 18th Cavalry, on
Private Blooms papers relative to the
latters Jewish parentage. brought to
your attention by Mr.. Simon Wolf Of
Washington.
The Endorsement attributed to Col
Garrard is correctly stated, and entiely
agree with you that such views are not
only absolutely unfounded, but give evi-
dence of narrow race prejudice, not to be
expected from an officer Of the army.
However, Private Blooms disqualified
tion by the War Department was in no
marks. but resulted wholly from the fact
that the soldier failed to secure the per-
centage required under War Department
regulations in two separate subjects of
his written examination. His general
average on the entire mental examination
was also below requirements.
'.But in view OF the apparent impression
on the part of Mr.. Wolf and Of the SOL
dier's parents that Private Blooms dis
qualification was caused by his command
ing officers Endorsement, and In order to
show that the department has no SYM
pathy whatever with the views contained
therein. I shall designate Private Bloom
to take the final examination In Septem-
ber next, and shall cause him to be noti-
fed accordingly.
Every resnectfully,
(Signed) ~ M. DICKINSON.
Secretary OF War.
ITO the President,
'.rhe White House."
Presidents Action.
"The White House. Washington. May II.
my Dear Mr.. Wolf: