The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-08
SPEECH OF MIR. ROOT
IT HAS CAUSED MUCH GOSSIP
 s IN WASHINGTON.
Believed by Some That He Was Put Forward by the Administra- ton to Make Confession
 and ApologT

Washington, Feb. 7.--(Special.) )-The speech of Secretary Root before the Union League Club in New York last night has been very generally discussed here today. and variety of conclusions is ventured as to its significance. espe- cially with reference to the race ques- tion. By many 1t is regarded as a final abandonment of the vain effort of Repub- iican statesmen to make a white silk purse out of black sows' ears. Others say that 1t does not nee essarily mean that the Republican policy with regard to the negro will prove less repugnant to South ern writes: that 1t is only realization that some other plan will have to be tried in the line of ostensible justice to the black race. Root is regarded generally as about as intimate and influential with the administration as any man. and his remarks both on the political and social aspects of race question arc taken as fairly refiecting annoyance of President Roosevelt
 Senator Carmack said tonight:
 MT. Root seems to have been put up to make an apology and confession for the administration. It is confession that the Presidents negro policy has proved blunder and a failure, Mir. Root goes further than this and seems to admit that enrranchisement of the me- gro was a huge mistake. Having con- fessed this much, 1t is to be hoped Mir. Root will next be instructed to tell the American people what the administration intends to do about it. Whether this sig nifies an attempt at reconciliation with the lily whites as the delegate-controlllng element in the Southern States remain to he seen."
 Representative John 8. Williams of Mis- sissippi, said he did not regard Roots speech as significant. T give tho Presi- dent" he said. credit for the one virtue of sincerity. believe he thinks his at- titude on the race question is proper. and that he will not change it."
 Representative Hay of Virginia thinks the speech rather colorless after all and that 1t does not promise a change of poll icy. Representative Littlefield of Maine said: "I have long been of the opinion that the enfranchisement of the negro was a monumental mistake. The sooner we real ize this the better it will be. Of course.
 do not assume to say just what Mr.
 Root meant, but he probably gave voice to conviction now rather general that the Republican Party should take up the matter and try to solve 1t Personally. favor an election system with education-
 al and other qualifications applicable to all people and all races alike"
 That the Republicans are engaged gen.
 eraliy in deep study of the problem with | view to an effort toward solving it al
 the next session appears- to be . widening | conviction. | 'SMr. Roots estimate of the situation is
 correct, andlshows that the Northern peo- pie are waking up to the situation, which
 is that the white race. who are the found
 CTS of the aft of self government. will be
 its preservers. They have made civiliza- | ton in the Southern States and mean to
 maintain 1t there regardless of outside views I am glad to see one Northern Re- | publican with courage to admit the col
 ossal blunder of his party"
 In what is regarded as MT. Roots ef- fort at apology for the presence of ne- groes at the White House reception and | his statement that one negro office holder | was there, it is realized that there were | two negro office holders present with oth- | CT specially invited guests and that they | had three black women in low neck and short sleeves. The negro Gaines, who was
 at the reception Thursday night. was not an office holder.
 Lucien Julien Walker