The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
SAYS IT HAS HAILED.
Root Deprscatss the Enfranchise-
 meut of the Negro.

Root Deprscates the Enfranchise@
 msnt of the Negro.
 New York, Feb. e.-Secretary of War Elihu Root discussed the negro question and labor unions tonight at the fortieth anniversary of the Union League Club, which was celebrated by q banquet to the men who have been members since 1888. Fifteen of these members were present tonight. There were $50 other members of the club present. A letter of regret was received from President Roosevelt Sec retary Root was chairman. He congratu- lated the veterans of the club upon hav- ing woven . thread into fabric of the great life of this country"
 There are." he said. many problems coming up today on which the safety of this Government depends There are to- day situations of possible evils for our country that call for devoted patriotism, First, division between the rich and the poor, under which wealth controls legis- lation and poverty is trying to stir up q war of classes. But every good citizen should declare that never in this free land shall we have q war of classes.
 There are some labor organisations which fight against the better man doing more work than the poorer man and which hold down the competent man to the level of the incompetent and stupid. do not declare war against labor organisations: believe In them. The laborer is entitled to organize to get his own.
 After the Civil War the great ques- tion was What shall we do with the black man?' and the answer was Give him citizenship. equal rights and he will rise.' Three amendments were added to the constitution and I fear we shall have to face the conclusion that the ex- pertinent has failed"
 "A curious development has been seen within the past year. President Roose. welt has appointed fewer black men than President Mckinley and there are fewer now holding offices than when Mckinley died. Yet loud cries are to be heard ir the South about President Rooseveit's policy of appointing black men to offics in the South. Under previous Presidents Mckinley. Cleveland, Harrison and back to Hayes's time. more negroes were ap. pointed to ofice and nothing was said.
 "A black mar attended an officiai re. ception in Washington at the White House short time ago. The black man as an official of the Government, had al. ways attended these receptions. Yet ths invitation of the President to this mar WaS tne si8Hai IOF LII outGIy Ot H tnOus and papers in the South that the white, were keing insulted.
 1T do not want to argue this question I am only showing that we have to fac' change of feelings in the South where the black man is denied the right to as pire to the highest there is in American citizenship. This right to aspire to the highest dignity which was formerly un' questioned. Is now questioned. In a short time the white man will succeed in ex. cluding the black man from all offices ir the Southern States.
 We can never throw off the responsi. bility that rests on our people for the welfare of these black people that ws held fin slavery for so many generations
 Now that the first attempt has failed the question is what to do. and 1t shoult take the greatest thought of the greatest minds of the country"