Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-07
ROOT DISCUSSES
NEGRO QUESTION
Problem Of the Black Man is Still
UnsoIved.
MATTER MUST BE SOLVED.
"Give Him Citizenship, Equal Rights
Aud lie VIII Rise" Experiment
Not successful,

New York, Feb. 6.-The fortieth an
niyersary Of the Union League club was
celebrated at the club house tonight by
a reception rendered to the survivors Of
those who joined the club IN 1868. The
first year the club was organized 5i2
members Joined OF that number 80
are stll members of the club and Is
were present tonight Among these
were Daniel +, Appleton lie Grand 3
Cannon, Henry Clews and William II.
Dodge About $50 other members of
the club were present. A letter of re-
greet was received from President
Roosevelt Eiihu Root, the secretary
Of war, was chairman Of the reception
committee secy. Root congratulated
the veterans Of the club upon having
woven a thread into the fabric Of the
great life of this country"
There are he added, many prob.
lens coming up today on which the
safety Of this government depends,
There are today situations Of possible
evil for our country that call for de-
voted patriotism First division be-
tween the rich and poor under which
wealth controls legislation and power
~ Is trying to stir up war OF classes
but every good citizen should declare
that never in this free land shall we
have a war of classes.
There are some labor organlza lions
which fight against the better man do
ing more work than the poorer man ana
hold down the competent man 60 the
level Of the incompetent ana stupid, l
do not declare war against labor organ
izatlOns, | believe In them, The lahorer
Is entitled to organize To get his own.
After the civil war the great ques-
ton was What shall we do with the
black mem and the answer was Give
him citizenship, equal rights and he
will rise Three amendments We're
added TO the Constitution and fear we
will have 70 face the conclusion that
the experiment has failed.
THE suffrage has been taken away
from the negro and IN many Of the
southern states the black man no long
cr has the right Of suffrage.
"A curious development has been
seen within the past year President
Roosevelt has appointed fewer black
men than President Mckinley and
there are today fewer black men hold
ing office than when Mckinley died
Yet LOUD outcries are 10 be heard In the
south about President RoOsevelts poll
cy Of appointing black men to offices in
the south. Under previous presidents
Mckinley, Cleveland. Harrison and
back TO Hayes time, more negroes
We're appointed to Office and nothing
was said.
"A black man attended an official re-
ception IN Washington vt the White
House a short time ago. The black
man. as an official Of the government
had always attended these receptions
Yet the invitation Of the president to
these men was the signal for an out
cry Of thousand papers In the south
that the whites were being insulted.
81 do not want to argue this question
I am only showing that we have to
face change of feeling In the south
where the black man is denied the right
to aspire TO the highest there is in
American citizenship This right to as
pire to the highest dignity, which was
formerly unquesuoned, is now ques-
toned, In a short time the white man
viii succeed in excluding the black
man from all offices IN the southern
states.
we can never throw OF the respon-
sibility that rests upon our people for
the welfare Of these black people that
we held I'm slavery FOR so many genera
tons Now that the first attempt has
failed the question Is what to do and
IT should take the greatest thought OF
the greatest minds Of the country"