The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-07
The RACE QUESTION
ATHENS RAISES IT For PRESIDENT
MCKINLEY.
AGAINST PINK" MORTON.
a DISPOSITION TO "LET IN" A LIT
TIE MORE LIGHT.


Athens Are ProtestinR-Sevcral
Good White Republicans Want the
Job, but Norton Has the backing
of the Buck Machine-A DISPOSE
ton in Republican Circles to En-
courage White RePubIicRnism I'm
the south Offers the Only Hope.
Washington, March 6.-President Nc
Kinley is confronted at the outset of his
second administration by the race prob
lem in the South. To-day Representative
Howard of Georgia, on behalf of the cit
liens of Athens. called at the White
House and handed tho Pres dent petit
ton signed by all of the white citizens of
that city, urging him to give the patrons
of that city a white postmaster The pres
ent postmaster at Athens is NJ. B. Nor
ton, one of the most offensive colored pol
iticians in the state of Georgia. He is a
conspicuous figure in what constitutes
the Republican organization in the
Cracker State, and he is frequently called
Pink" Morton by reason of his peculiar
complexion. He was appointed about
four years ago in spite of a V gorous OPP
position on the part of the white people
of Athens. Postmaster Morton is now
in Washington seek ng re-appo m mt
when his four years term Of Office shall
have expired.
Representative Howard is regarded one
of the ablest and at the same time con-
servative members of the Southern col
ony in Congress. His long service In the
House and his personal acquaintance with
President Mckinley should give addition
al strength to the request he filed with
the President in behalf of his constitu-
ents.
Protesting Against Morton.
In his interview with the President, Mr.
Howard stated that the petition is signed
by all of the white citizens of Athens and
Clarke county who are patrons of the
postoffice of that city. 1t is a protest
against the appointment of negro post
master to succeed the incumbent, who
as before stated, is "Pink'' Morton. The
petitioners assert that the postal service
under a negro postmaster is inefficient
and distasteful 40 all of the white patrons
of that office. They say that at the pres
ent time there are several white men as
prants for the office who are good loyal
Republicans and the President is respect
fully urged to appoint one OF them. me
petitioners do not, however, undertake TO
recommend any particular white. person
on the list of applicants for the Office.
But they earnestly and sincerely protest
against another negro being appointed. In
view of the fact that the President was
beset by a throng of Inauguration visit
ors. the interview was necessarily short.
Representative Howard appreciated the
situation, but urged the President to give
the subject careful consideration This
the President promised to do. 1t is likely
that the petition will be referred to the
Postmaster General, with all the papers
in the case and the subject is likely to
be the basis for a test case in outlining
the Presidents future policy in dealing
with Southern appointments during the
new administration.
May Assume National Importance.
The contest over the Athens pcstmas-
tership is likely to assume nationa. i'm
portance. PINK" Morton is regarded as
a valuable member of the Republ can or
ganizat on in the South, as it is now con-
stituted. He has behind him Col. Buck,
the present United States miDister to Ja-
pan, who is the recognized leader and
general political referee of the Republic
can party in Georgia. Minister Buck is
now in Washington surrounded by his
political lieutenantS, black al "a Whlle, u
look after the personal and political In
terests of Ihis fri n1s. Judson Lyons,
the colored register of the treasury, who
represents the best element of the color
ed Republicans in Georgia, is also coop r
ating with Col. Buck to prevent any
change of policy on the part of the ad-
ministration towards what IS now termed
as the Regular Republicans" in the
South.
To Let in Little More Light.
The Democratic senators and represen-
tatives from the Southern states are not
wasting any sympathy or influence i'm
behalf of what Is known as the Lilly
White Republican" organization IN their
respective states. AS representatives Of
their people at Washington they are ex~
pected to present such petitions and
memorials as may be of interest to their
constituents In administration circles,
there is a disposition to "let in a little
more light" upon the Republican ranks
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