Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-17
THEY FEEL SNUBBED.
Washington Negroes Think the
President Didn't Do Right.
THEIR EMANCIPATION DAY
Celebration Flat Affair Because Of His Ab-
Sence on His Western Tour.
Secretary Tracy's New Navy Yard Scheme
,,eueral
Secretary Tracy's New. Navy Yard Scheme
Meets with General Favor-Remains
OF Secretary HaIford's Wife
Taken to indianapolis.
Think They Are Snubbed.

SPECIAL TO the Gazette
WASHINGTON, April 16.-It now appears
that there IS a good deal of hitherto I'M
suspected feeling among negroes OF Wash
ugtOn II connection with the president
choice of this particular time for going
away on his trip Harrison's Democratic
predecessor made it Il point of reviewing
professions of his cOlored fellow citizens on
district emancipation day. but to-day the
brass bands ana their followers are march
ing about the streets with no visit to the
White House porticO 10 make the occasion
memorable.
Among the more progressive negroes
there IS now under discussion Il proposal 10
do away with emancipation day celebration
altogether, and they feel that TO perpetuIlc
memory of their bondage, even by publicly
rejoicing over their ielIverance from II, has
q tendency TO degrade their race IN popular
esteem. They contend that those negroes
who are most anxious TO keep the past pc
fore the eyes of the present are men who
are disposed to make fictitious capita. Tor
themselves by trading or the repentance
and regrets OF the whites, and that the ne
gro who asserts the rights OF his race on
the grounds of reason and selfrespert, IN
stead of those Of pity. has i higher and
more practical view of the future OF the
colored people.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The whole force at the navy department
is aroused to the Importance OF the step
which Secretary Tracy has taken with re
spect to civil service reform in the navy
yards. Strange to say, most OF the so-called
practical" men, the very class of whom
sharp criticism was expected, have nothing
but commendatOry words to say Of the order
which was issued last night. and which
placed the final seal upon the reform. They
pronounce ii strictly business" and the
first stroke of the kind they have ever seen
made bya secretary in their department.
One thing which Secretary Tracy is par
ticularly DESTROYS of making public is the
fact that geographical considerations will
not weigh in the coming examinations.
Mechanics from anywhere and everywhere,
who are capable of doing the work and who
can bring requisite proof of good character
and antecedent will be Just as welcome at
New York or Norfolk Us if they had been
born and raised within a stones throw of
either yard They viii stand on precisely
the same footing in every respect as men
who have been living and voting in the
neighborhOod ever since maturity.
Under Secretary Tracy'S new system not
only will no pull be needed to get into
service, but a man once in insured against
the power of pulls 10 get him out again.
RetormerS here are now hoping 10 see the
president step i'll before the close Of his adj
minstratioD and make the new system per-
manent by an executive order, placing the
whole matter in charge of the civil service
commission, where it belongs.