Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-11-01
that DINNER

Mr.. Roosevelt is bearing a good deal
lust now about that Booker Washing
ton dinner. In Maryland, it is said,
be is being carricatured for political
reasons, picture is out showing him |
at dinner with a burly negro and Mrs.
Roosevelt smilingly pouring the coffee.
We suspected he would hear OF this
incident, be should hear of it, because
the fact that he invited Washington
to dinner with him had meaning and
an intuition underlying the act, which
deserves more or less. censure. 1t was
bid for the colored vote throughout
the land, and it was at the same time
direct, intentional and premeditated
thrust at the South. AS the negro is
practically found nowhere in the United
| States but in the South, and as social
equality is not thought of by Northern
people except In so far as it may be
forced upon the Southern people, this
act on the part Of Mr.. Roosevelt was
no more nor less than his saying to the
people of the South, Il ii be - if
you shan't put the negro on a social
plane, or I'll know the reason why. D
He therefore took him on plane OF
social equality into the White House,
and we suppose this be thinks settles
it. Now, most people know that the
Southern people when me wants then
to do a thing, must be ia, as Mr.. Nc
kinley was doing; not driven, as Mr.
Roosevelt is endeavoring to do. NJ
he cannot change one hair in theil
heads, so he cannot make them follow
his lead when they choose different
way, any more than leopard car
change bis spots. OF course Mr.. Roose
welt can dine with anybody, he can lie
down in the gutter If he wills 1t, he
Can go so far as to find colored bus
bands for his daughters if he prefers
\ them, but he cannot make such 6
thing popular in the South. He knows
such thing will never be popular il
the North, he knows that the few ne
groes in the North exert no influence
in the social problem there, they, il
fact are not counted, but in the Soutl
it is different, and it is at these peopl
he has aimed the thrust. Was ther
any reason why Mr.. Roosevelt SHOULD
entertain Booker Washington at tn
White House? None. He could hav
, attended to any business matter a
well elsewhere. AS we said last wee
had Washington been at the head G
the Cab Drivers Association of th
: United State. he would never hav
seen the inside of the White House
7 much less the Presidents table. Nj
Roosevelt has made a mistake, it ma
not be the last one he will make du
! ing his term. He is hot headed an
r determined, he brooks no restraint ne
S opposition, but he will find his SUI
roundings changed from any be BIZ
q ever before encountered. He has nevt
:, before handled a proposition like til
o race question. and on this rock b
e craft may break. If he sails safe
t over he will be the first.
n Would it not be we'll for the Chi
o of Police to detail an officer for speci
k night duty on Greenville Avenue fro
: the corner of the old Virginia Hot
d to the Hospital gate. There are quiz
J. a number of ladies connected with tt
7. hospital who attend night service
is during the week at the differel
y churches in the city. who should
II protected from a repetition of the r
e cent dastardly attempt at murder {
d that streets-Which has had a bad re