The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-22
REPUBLICANS HAVE TROUBLE OVER PROMISE
Embarrassed By Demands of
 Negro Voters
ENVO Y REMINDS LODGE
His Strength May Be Weakened If He Fails Them, and Wickersham Has No Vacancy for
 Lewis
nY PATTERSON sTEALEY.

Washington, December 21.-(Special) - The habit of republican administrations of making announcements just prior to general election of their intention of comforting upon prominent negroes con- spicuous offices under the government and then forgetting all about 1t after the election, has gotten the Taft administra- ton into a position that promises to be somewhat embarrassing. It is generally recognized that these announcements are made for the sole purpose of placating negro dissatisfaction and overcoming tho indifference of the negro politicians to- ward the success of the republican ticket.
 Such an announcement was made from the White House just before the last election, at a time when the negroes In d number of states were organizing In rather formidable manner against repub- lican candidates. It was declared in such a way as to bear official approval that President Taft had determined to ap- point William H. Lewis of Boston to the position of assistant attorney general in the department of justice. Lewis is at present assistant district attorney of Bos- ton and Is one of the most prominent negroes of the country. The published in- tention of the President to make this man an assistant attorney general was a big surprise to Attorney General Wick ersham, who had not been consulted, and who at once asserted that there was no vacancy in his department for Lewis.
 The republican organs throughout the country placed the Lewis appointment pp and 1t was believed 1t had con- siderable effect upon allaying the very widespread negro dissatisfaction and resentment against the administration because of the lack of recognition ac- corded the negro race. Lewis appoint ment was taken for granted clear up to the day of the election. although there were some republican politicians who smiled when it was mentioned Since the election nothing has been heard of the appointment. It has not been made and had apparently dropped from eyerybodys minds until this morning when a delegation of Lewis friends from Boston came to Washing ton and called upon Senator Lodge. They expressed themselves with a good deal of emphasis to Senator Lodge. They made it plain that If the admin istration and the President had forgot ten about this promised appointment Lewis and his friends had not They asked Senator Lodge whether he thought Lewis had gotten the door of nope opened 10 nm.
 Senator Lodge. 1t is understood, agreed with the delegation that Lewis had not been treated properly and assured it that he would do all in his power to see that the promise made him Is carried out.
 MT. Lodge Is now engaged in a fight for his political life in Massachusetts, and failure to land Lewis the promised place, it Is asserted, will weaken his strength in the state and array against him still another element of his party. According ly, it Is believed that he proposes to take the matter up with the President at once and urge the immediate appointment of Lewis
 Lewis himself 1t Is understood, will come to Washington within a few days for the purpose of seeing the Presi- dent and the two Massachusetts sem ators His friends say that this is one time when they do not propose to let republican play fast and loose with the negro vote and that MT. Taft will have to either make good" with this appointment or he will have to stand before the negroes of the country un- der the imputation of having delib- erately baited them and then with drawn the bait. They are indignant
 Attorney General Wickersham, 1t is said, still adheres to his stand that there Is no vacancy at the depart ment of justice and 1t is pretty well known that he does not propose to allow Lewis to be foisted upon him If he can help it. The attorney is willing for negroes to be given office in the south but not in the department of justice
 Lodge Is very much in earnest in his advocacy of Lewis and the case promises to considerably embarrass the big smile