The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-22
Fighting the Appointment o1
Negro Postmasters.
Postmaster Door Described as the
Daddy Of the "Compromise Sys-
ten, IN Politics "

tenn IN Politics "
Washington, Sept. 19-The re-
doubtablc Judge Mackey is 6 committee
Of one to see that the republican usa-
chine in South Carollos does not sue
ceed 10 bavicg this administration ap-
point negro postmasters in that state.
| Recently he nas bad ioserviews With The
president and postmaster general on
the subject. and as evidence that ne is
meeting With snccess, ous Of Iii Of
these functionaries appointed By Mr..
Mckinley On Tuesday last, bot one of
them was from South Carolina This,
too. iu face of the fact that several OF
the commissions of the democratic in-
cuubents have expired The Wash
ington Post Of Friday had this to
say:
Judge T. j. Mackey, formerly of the
circuit bench CT South Carolina. an ex-
Confederate aud republican, has filed
at the postofice department. as we'll as
at the white house, a petition for the
reappoiotmens of Josiah Doar at
Georgetown. s. c. 40 interesting
feature of this petition, aside from its
commentator 90 Of the applicant as the
choice of the business community aud
majority of the better class of both
races 10 the county, is the following
reference to Postmaster Doar's attitude
10 politics
'.He is the founder in Georgetown of
what is knowo there ss the compromise
system in politics, which has for many
years made that county a veritable.
POLITICAL ARCADIA.
Under that bipartisan system, the
republicans and democrats divide the
Offices between them. They hold their
conventions on the same day, and hav-
ing daily allotted to each party the
Offices to be filed by its candidates.
bayiog due regard to their fitness.
their nominations are mutually rasi
fed. and, With inviolable good faith.
they vote the same ticket The equity
Of that system is emphasized by the
fact that the only colored citizen 10 the
General Assembly Of South Carolina is
representative Of the county of
Georgetown. 1t will thus be seen that
although Mr. Doar may be cIassed as
a demoorat-the only charge to which
he is obnoxious he is democrat with
modern improvements Of very benign
order.
II fear. if Mr. Doar is not reap.
pointed, and especially if be is suc-
ceeded by colored> appoiutee, that
those among the whites who have
heretofore co.operated with him to
maintain this equitable system of po-
li,icsl copartoersbip will ceaae to sup.
port it.
.'In that event. Georgetown county
will be relegated to the same party
contest that prevails 10 other sections
Of the State, with the probable result
that no colored citizen will be elected
to Office in that county. however fairly
conducted may be The registration and
election as required by law.
Judge Mackey said to me to day, 90
the eve Of hie departure for New York,
that be thinks The shooting of the
newly appointed uegro postmaster at
Hoeansvil!e, Ga was mistake, and
that if, upon investigation by The gov
ernment. i. should turn out that it was
the action of any considerable oumber
of the oi,izeus. the postofice depart
ment will discontinue the Office
Tue Civil Service for and since the
ruling OF Judge Cox that, despite the
presidential order to the contrary, :be
heads of departments can. with or even
without cause or trial, dismiss any per
son whom be appoints. the bread-and-
butter brigade are more 5uoyant and !.
too, the departments are going right
ahead promoting republicans and re-
duciog to ranks democrats. 1t ls be-
lieved here that Mr.. Mckinley will,
while outwardly attempting to uphold
the law. silently stand by and see it
eviscersted. and it is as sure as fate
that that law will be an issue 10 the
next nresidential election.