The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-12

National Committeeman. Mr. DlfnInick u.
one time was president of the First National
Bank OF Montgomery and Is now presi-
dent OF the Montgomery Street Railway
Company.
Altogether the verdict was that for Repub-
licanism in Alabama the outlook was par
ticularly rosy. There was brilliant BAN
quet at the Hilman House after the con-
vention ad journed, at which Senator Prltch-
ard of North Carolina spoke. giving his
hearers hearty words Of congratulation
and encouragement.
But it would hardly have been a human
event If, with all the sunshine, there had
not been cloud somewhere on the horizon.
As matter Of fact there was such cloud
-no bigger than mans hand perhaps,
at the time, which since has spread
over the entire Republican armament in
Alabama. 1t had thunder In it and thunder
bolts, and the thunderbolts have been hitting
heads and causing dread and trembling
among the weak-kneed ones who hold
Federal offices and thus are exposed targets
as 1t were. for the Olympian wrath.
The cloud in its origin was only tiny
little clause in the great body Of resolutions
submitted to the convention for adoption,
clause that ndorsed Mr. Roosevelt for
nomination as the next candidate for the
Presidency. Instantly this was introduced
there was long and hot wrangle over 1t
in the convention. 1t was the only para
graph in the resolutions that brought about
| serious contentious. 1t was obvious at the
outset that there was strong party among
the white Republicans of Alabama that
was opposed to Mr.. Roosevelt. His course
regarding the negroes up to that time was
not so aggressive as it became later but 1t
had been OF a character to arouse strong
feeling in the South.
This feeling was shared by Republicans
and Democrats alike. 1t became distinctly
manifest in the debate over the resolution
of Endorsement. 1t looked for time rs
though heavy majority were against the
President and would never vote for the
resolution as it stood. A substitute was
introduced indorsing the Presidents adj
minist ration, but saying nothing about the
President himself as Presidential candi-
date. Over this there was some more
wrangling The Federal ofceholders.
some OF them at least fought stoutly for the
original resolution. The matter went over
for further discussion. When 1t came up
again, there was another hot debate; but
the resolution indorsing Mr., Roosevelt
for nomination as the next Republican
Presidential candidate was passed by the
narrow margin Of II in total vote OF 3o4,
the ballot standing 1853 to 146
The obvious meaning Of this was that the
Republican party Of Alabama in all human
probability would send delegation to
the next Republican convention that either
would be divided as regards Mr.. Roosevelt
or would be so!idly against him. Whether
the opinion Is well-founded or il-founded,
it is yet the fact that the white Republicans
Of Alabama openly attribute the Admins
tration's hostility to them to this feet.
They fully believe that had that resolution
gone through with whoop and hurrah
instead Of barely carrying after bitter
struggle, the solioitude of the Admins
tration for colored brothers in Alabama
would never have taken the acute form
it has taken. Thus to that one small cloud
that hung on the horizon on the night Of
their enthusiastic celebration here, the
Republicans now attribute all the ominous
gloom and the lightning play which Of
late has characterized their political frma-
ment.
The lightning was not long in striking.
The collector OF Internal Revenue here,
Mr. Bingham. and the United States Dis
trict Attorney, Mr.. Vaughan. were sum-
mary removed from Office. Both had
participated In the convention, although
Mr. Bingham had fought zealously for
the Endorsement resolution as 1t WAS finally
squeeze through. There was no hesita
ton in explaining why these men we're
removed. Mr.. Bingham was told In 40
many words that it was because Of his
Identification with the convention. The
newspapers reported the President as
having informed group of negroes whom
he was receiving at the White House that
| his action with reference to the District
! Attorneyship showed how he stood as
regard their race.
| But that was not all Heretofore all
matters OF Federal patronage in the State
| had been left in the hands OF the chairman
| of the Republican State Executive Com
mittee and the State member Of the Ma
| tional Committee. This had been the
| course from time immemorial. The Presi-
! dent changed all that He took the matter
| out Of the hands OF Mr.. Wellman and Mr..
Dimmick and put it into the control Of
three referees-W. F. Aldrich, G. II. Scott
and j. o. Thompson.
1t was now getting on toward election
time. Notwithstanding their constant
mauling at the hands of the Adminst rat ion
the Republicans believed they could roll up
O good vote. The office of District At
torney, made vacant by the summary
removal of Mr.. Vaughan, had not been
filled. 1t was believed that it would be
better for the party to have the naming
OF MIR. Vaughan's successor deferred unit
after the voting was over Republicans
were so impressed with this belief that
Mr. Wellman Mr. Dimmick and Mr.. Tru-
man H. Aldrch went all the way from
Alabama to Washington expressly to see
| the President about it. Whether for char
acter or for wealth. or for all that carries
respect, there could not have been found
! in the State men who were better entitled
to considerate treatment on the part Of
| the President of the United States, COM
ing, as they did, as representatives Of
thousands Of solid citizens, than the three
gentlemen just named. The President
snubbed them with every incident calou-
lated to wound them. He would not adj
nit them to his presence-would not even
see them. He had not time to hear what
they had to say
This was the more CALLING from the cir
cumstance that at the very moment when
the President was sending word to these
| mon that he was too busy to zee them he