El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-12
RIOT
LONG PLANNED
Was Merely Precipitated
by Arrest of Negroes, Re
port Of Inquiry Says.

Houston. Texas, sept 12.-rhe city
council Of this city had before it to-
day the report Of a citizens board into
the causes Of the riot Of negro soldiers
on the night Of August %, which cost
the lives Of II persons and the injury
Of = score Of others The report tend
ed 70 show that some sort OF a negro
soldier outbreak had long been COM
templated and that the arrests OF ne
groes and the attack on SerEt Balti-
more had merely precipitated it,
Continuing, the committee says that
the undisputed and convincing testi-
mony Of Witnesses proves that the
negro soldiers went forth TO slay the
white population udiscriminately-
that not one negro was hurt OF. mo-
Tested by them, not one negro home
was fired into and that the negroes
we're warned before and during the
riot 70 stay of the streets
Had Planned Outbreak Before.
The testimony OF the captain in
Logan the report SAYS. and one OF
his assistants, is that the shooting be-
gan in the negro camp, one OF the
negro guards stationed at the fire
station remarked that the troops were
going 10 shoot up Houston, that they
had planned 10 do go on the preceding
Tuesday night but could not set quite
ready.
This testimony and the evidence OF
numerous other circumstances in the
record convince us land our opinion
is shared BY inspector general John
L. Chamberlain, Of the United States
army. who so expressed himself 10
U.s., that the prior conflicts vita the
police were mere Incidents OF the riot.
that the riot was unquestionably con-
templated prior 10 that date. that it|
probably would have occurred. though
possibly not 90 severe. had the alter
cation between officer Sparks and the
negro sergeant Baltimore not taken
place
Resented segregation Restrictionr
The report goes on TO say that
shortly after the arrival Of the negro
troops in Houston there was manifest
by at least some Of them a feeling of
hostility and defiance Of the state law
requiring the separation OF white and
leEro races In the street cars. that
when on leave OF absence from the
camp the soldiers usually freQuented I
those sections Of Houston and those /
esta Adjustments where the lewd and
laWless elements Of the negro pop
ulation are 10 be found, that the ne ]
gro solQlers while on guard duty at
camp Logan were arrogant and in ]
sultlnE toward white laborers- Selling
the most trivial circumstances as an I
excuse 20 curse and abuse them: that
the discipline existing at the camp
was grossly lax in moral conditions, I
leWd negro women, some mere chill /
lren 13 years Of a &c, being permitted
freely TO visit the camp and remain
there over night and that such women
y ere permitted 10 bring parcels into /
the camp without inspection BY the
sentries, keeping the soldiers literally
supplied with whisky and other intox-
icants.
Police superintendent scored.
Chief among the communications J
made is that regarding superintend-
end Of police Brock.
In our opinion say the report. ]
ne IS not qualified for the position
Re holds His course towards officer
sparks shows his inability 10 enforce /
discipline in difficult cases: his course ]
1n the night Of the riot shows thnt lie (
s not safe leader I'm an emergency /
The two arrests mentioned in The ]
Ieporl were those made By the police I
on me uay OF the riot. officer Sparks /
TOOK Pvt Edwards into custody for I
interfering with him when he arrested /
Z negro woman and later. when Sergt. I
5altiInore approached the officer and /
asked LOT an explanation Of the ar
esq q Ea"arqs. he was struck with 4
, pistol and fired uDon as he ran