The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-22
ROOSEVELT AND THE SOUTH.

Not the least important result of the
presidents action in inviting to luncheon
at the White House Booker T. Wash
ington. is the fact that it will silence
those persons who were sure that he
was trying to win over the south to the
Republican party. When President
Roosevelt began appointing southern
Democrats to office those who see a self
ish motive in every act of public man
at once concluded that the object in
view was the breaking up of the solid
south by winning to the support of the
administration a portion of the De-
mocracy. If he ever had shadow of
chance to accomplish anything along
that line it has been completely destroy
ed by his sitting down to table with
black man. None knows this better than
the president, yet he was not deferred.
The manner in which the presidents
action was received in the south is indi-
Gated by the remarks OF Gov. Gambler
Of Georgia who said:
mo self-respecting southern man can
ally himself with the president after
what has occurred The step has done
the Republican party no earthly good,
and it will materially injure its chances
in the south The effect of the Jones
appointment is largely neutralized. STILL
I guess it's like the old woman when she
kissed the cow AS a matter of fact
northern people Go not understand the
negro They see the best types and
judge the remainder by them"
The New Orleans Picayune is disposed
to apologize for the president and says:
THE Picayune regards this act on the
part of the president as an official and
not a social matter. Officially as the
chief magistrate of the republic which
embraces in its citizenship people of all
colors and many races, he may confer
with and entertain people who are black
n rel all 70
and eat and drink with them. If how
ever, he should endeavor to bring the
peoples of all races. colors and condi-
tons into the same social plane and into
intimate 1ntercommunication it is much
to be doubted if he could make it a sue
cess either politically or socially" In
the course Of its leading editorial which
1t begins with the sentence: TT doesn't
seem such a compliment to be asked to
dine at the White House since Booker
q. Washington was a guest there the
Charleston Post says: THE disposition
of President Roosevelt would seem to
be for admission OF the fit negro to social
equality and for development of that
fitness The southern people hold that
the negro cannot be made fit for equal
ity with the whites and the presidents
theory is therefore in complete conflict
with theirs.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal cries
aloud and refuses to be comforted. 1t
says:
much as possible for hare Drained man
to think declares that he has done we'll
in taking Booker Washington into the
privacy of his family circle, winning and
dining him and making the negro his
social equal He is seemingly proud of
breaking through a traditional custom
that has been in vogue in the White
House since the foundation of the gov
eminent, custom that Lincoln in all
the strife of emancipation respected a.
custom that William Mckinney. the
president of the whole nation, united by
a comingling Of the best blood of the
north and south in the trenches around
Santiago, still held to be sacred But
precedent respected by such men as Lin
coin and Mckinley gives no pause to