The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08
Attempt to Straighten Out the Negro Question Proved
 a Failure
ADMINISTRATION MUCH
 CONCERNED ABOUT II
Was Prepared Under Supervision of the President, Who Wanted Statr> ment, But Not In OfsIcseI Way.
 Negro Women Forgotten.
BY PATTERSON sTEALEy.

BY PATTERSON STEALEy.
 Washington. February 7.--(special.)- The speech of Secretary of War Root be- fore the Union club in New York last night was the subject of much comment at the capitol today. Republican sena- tors declined to give their views on the seeretarys reference to the negro prob lem. which he classes as among the most important now confronting the country.
 His declaration that the experiment of the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the constitution had failed and his conclusion that i've can never throw the responsibility that rests on our people for the welfare of these black people, is taken to mean that the ad- ministration, while realizing the failure of It's present attitude towards the south, does not intend to change It's policy.
 Statement RidicuIed.
 The secretary's statement that there ia new change of feeling in the south is rldiculed by democratic members. They assert there has been absolutely no change In feeling; that there has ai- ways been objection to negro offIceholders and if more Is heard of the subject now it Is because President Roosevelt seeing his unconcealed efforts to land the negro vote has made greater noise than his
 epubicsn predecessors and must expect to hear greater echo.
 Another point in the secretary's speech which accustomed not little criticism was hs' ref fdrerre the attendance of negroes at the White House receptions. Under the general term black man the fs4fx
 only men and only officials of the gov ernment attended these receptions, where as several negroe women were present at the diplomatic reception. and their presence was the main point of criticism as Is well known by everybody except | Mir Root.
 srsecr Carefully Prepared.
 Secretary Roots speech was carefully prepared and gone over with the Presi- dent, who was anxious to have something said about the subject without giving 1t the actual official tinge of statement issued from the White House.
 The President has talked on the negro subject with nearly etNyy southern mem- Der who has visited he White House l lately. He tells them that he cannot understand why his negro appointments are subject to such criticism when MT. Mckinley also appointed negroes and lit- tel was heard about the matter.
 With an Alabama member he argued for some time the other day that he had appointed comparatively few negroes in that state and had given the two most important vacancies--a federal judgeship and district attorNeyship-to democrats.
 That the Presidmt is very much con- cerned over the conditions he has crea- ted is impressed upon every White House visitor He had intended to reappoint s. H. Vick. the negro postmaster at Wilson. l N. C., two months ago, but continues to hold up the case owing to the great publicity which has been given 1t and he is now at a loss to know whether he shall reappoint the negro or Senator Prltchard's candidate.
 Democrats Have Plenty Time.
 Representative Thayer of Massachu- setts one of the leading democrats in the house. and very favorably known with his party. does not take an enthusiastic view about the entry into the field at the present time of candidates for the Presi- l dency.
 "We can we'll afford to walt a little" said he yesterday, for in the meantime | the republicans are devouring themselves. l Six months from now, or even later, when the situation has developed better. there will be plenty of time to talk about standard bearers. At present the demo- crats are gaining strength every day. Our party is getting itself in better shape and l ntting itself Tor the Presidential struggle.
 "Our attitude on currency matters in the house has been most gratifying" he added. Tn the banking and currency committee we have framed a bill which l has the support of the minority and which Is actually a better bill than the | one adopted by the majority of the com l mittee. Many republicans have come to 1 me and assured me of their preference for the democratic bill. Personally, am for asset currency, in which. l am aware. all of my party do not agree with me.
 Getting on Common Ground.
 But there is no disputlng the fact that 1 we are getting together on common | ground, and regard that as of great in- | portance. These things have not attract | ed much attention because there are other | matters before congress which seem to | have absorbed the public eye for the l time being. Then there is the passage of | the democratic bill for the Philippine cur rency by the house, which speaks well for the unanimity of the democratic party at the present time. Representative Thayer is regarded as one of the closest party friends former Attorney General olney possesses.
 An Indiana Campaign Story. "0ut In Indiana everything goes during campaign times" says Representative Afiers of the Second district of that state. Senator Fairbanks made a tour of my district during the last campaign. It was his custom to say something nice at each meeting about the local republican nomi- nees. In referring to my competitor, John c. Clancy, he spoke of Chaney's gallant record during the war of the rebellion. recounted the hardships he had suffered