Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-20
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Recognition Of Colored Re-
publicans in the South.
CHECK TO WHITE MEN
SENATOR PRITCHARDs WORK TO
BE RENDERED USELESS.
Effect of Gen. Clarkson's Letters-Ex-
pected Report by Attorney General
on Canal Questions.
CHECK TO WHITE MEN

on Canal Questions
! The rejuvenation and reorganization Of
| the republican party in the south into "A
| white mans party has probably received a
| serious setback as the result of alleged
| statements made by the President recently
| to delegation of colored men who called
| to see him to ask him his attitude regard
| ing the new movement. The reputed state
| ment OF the President that he did not ap-
prove of political discrimination against the
| negro and would punish white republicans
| exhibiting such discrimination have been
confirmed by letters and statements from
| Gen. James S. Clarkson. surveyor of the
port of New York, and supposed to be
President Roosevelt's political manager in
| the southern section of the country. Gen.
Clarkson, who became familiar with the
| negro vote of the south during his manage
ment Of political affairs for President Har-
| rison, was present some time ago when the
| President was called upon by the delegation
| of prominent coored ministers. He took
| part in that conference. and remained after
| the callers had gone to discuss some things
| with the President and Postmaster General
| Payne.
| Gen. Clarkson's Letters
| Since that time Mr.. Clarkson has been
| writing some letters One of them is as
follows:
| NEW YORK. n. Y, October l3. 1862.
MY Dear Mr.. Person: am glad to have
| your letter. l need no thanks for what
| did in opposing the Jim Crow party in
Alabama and other southern states. No
| self-respectng republican can tolerate any
| such attempted departure from the cardi-
! nal doctrine of the party. The President
| has no sympathy with 1t and you may as
| sure all your friends, and your whole race.
| hot hn tc a ,f, b.,
| man rights and manhood suffrage as | am.
Il shall be glad to hea~ from you when
| ever you have anything to communicate.
| Sincerely yours,
JAMES S. GARRISON"
| The man to whom the letter is addressed
| is prominent negro politician of North
| Carolina and the letter read Friday
night at meeting of negroes held In Ra-
! leigh, N. c., to protest against the excIu-
| sion of negroes from the republican state
| convention of North Carolina held some
| time ago. The movement for the exclusion
! of the negro originated with Senator Pritch-
| ard and spread to North Carolina. Under
| the impression that the movement had the
| indirect sanction of President Roosevelt,
white leaders in all the southern states
were preparing to read the political funeral
Grafton of the negro. Virginia was about
to follow the lead of the other states, and
there glowing promises of repubi-
can acquisitions all through the south with
the negro out of politics. But the negro
wasn't to be so easily eliminated. His vote
was worth something in close congressional
districts outside of the south, and so he
proceeded to ask some questions and inti-
mate that he was feeling mighty independ-
ent anyhow. The strategy of the negro
brought the declaration from the President
that he disapproved of discrimination
against man because of his color.
Proclaim the Presidents Attitude.
| In North Carolina, where Senator Pritch-
ard had built high hopes on many strong
to ~ nv Of ha
supposed elimination of the negro, the negro
| politicians have taken particular pains to
| proclaim the Presidents attitude. II. Z.
| Chatham. former recorder of deeds Of the
District, has been foremost i'll thus dis
arranging the white supremacy feature of
the North Carolina republicans. 1t is said
to be almost certain that much of the polit-
ical work of Senator Pritchard in North
Carolina has been undone White men who
had begun to openly or secretly affiliate
with the republicans in that state are show
ing evidences of weakening because of the
revelations of Gen. Clarkson and the al
legged utterances of the President. The be-
lief strongly prevailed in North Carolina
that Senator Pritchard had acted through
out with the full approval of the President
or at least without the dsapproval of the
chief executive.
Hopeful in Alabama.
The Alabama republicans nominated q
white lawyer of reputation and ability for
bitter factonal fight between Governor
Jelks and Ex-Governor Johnson has led the
republicans to believe that much of the
| Johnson strength, about one-third of the
democratic party, would go to Smith. They
are still hopeful but are said to have re-
ceived a jolt by the Presidents declara-
tions.
The Panama Canal Report.
Attorney General Knox saw the President
today Knox and Charles w, Russell,
the special attorney of the Department of
Justice who went to Paris to make pre-
liminary investigation of the title to the
Panama canal, are hard at work getting
ready the report to be made to the Presl-
dent. Mr.. Knox will completely cover the
question of the title of the Panama canal
in his report to the President. He will give
a legal history of the canal property, to-
gether with it's present legal status The
nature of the report Is kept profound Sc
cret and there is absolutely no way of
definitely knowing the tenor of the report.
The fact that Mr. KnoX's visit to France
was short and that the French courts have
system of quickly passing upon a case
of this kind leads to strong belief that
the report will be favorable to the sound
ness and cleanneSs of the title.
Mr. Knox said today that he hoped to
submit the report to the President within
a week or ten days. He would Ike to have
it ready within week.
Going Out to Dinner Tonight.
President Roosevelt is going to take din
ner tonight with Secretary Hay and this
afternoon at o'clock is going to take a
drive with Secretary Root, who was caller
at the temporary White House during the
morning.
Secretary Hitchcock spent some time with
the President going over departmental af-
fairs
There has been no regular meeting Of the
cabinet for a number of months. The Pres
ident is seeing members Of his cabinet at
intervals but there has been no regular
meeting not even during consideration OF
the coal strike situation. The resumStion
of cabinet meetings will depend on the Pres
ident The present quarters are cramped for
ca binet meetings or other business. Within
a week or SO the new office building of the
President win be in use and then there viii
be more comfort for the President and cahi-
net officers.
Delegate Flynn Calls.
Delegate Dennis Flynn of Oklahoma paid
his respects today. So did Commissioner
Yerkes Of the internal revenue bureau. Del