Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-18

Inc COlOfe0 UF8tOf EnteTldlueO
by the President at White
House.
White Society Of the South
Want the Color Line
Drawn.
Washington, D. c., Oct. 1S.-The old
time southern element in the national
capital is extravagantly excited over
the honor conferred upon Booker T.
Washington, the colored leader, in be-
ing entertained at dinner by President
Roosevelt at the Whistle House Wednes-
day evening.
1t was an informal dinner of course,
but Professor Washington was well
coined in the heartiest manner.
So far as is known, the principal Of
Tuskegee Institute is the first colored
man to be honored with the privilege
of dining in the White House with the
president of the United States. He has
long been a friend of President Roose-
Welt, who has been glad to receive his
advice.
1t is characteristic of both men, the
president and the professor, that there
should have been no parade over the
little dinner, which was not a dinner
party at all. The president showed his
Independence by thus receiving into the
bosom OF his family a man Of unmistak-
able African descent.
The AFFAIR. however, may yet be made
the subject of social crucade by the
coterie OF southern irreconciiiables who
have for long time assumed to direct
social affairs here in Washington. They
have always insisted on drawing the
color line sharply, and, altho men OF
African descent have held responsible
positions here. they have never partic-
ipated In any social functions.
When Bruce of Mississippi, who was
a splendid type of the educated negro,
was in the senate, he always was In
cluded in official Invitations, but had
tact enough to decline them in advance.
Professor Washington, as every one
knows, is an educated gentleman of the
most conservative character, but he
would not be received, and has not been
received, at any first-class hotel in
Warrington. His reception as the guest
at dinner by the president of the Emitted
States ought to make Theodore Roose-
welt immensely popular with the col
ored people, because 1t already has pro-
voked bitter criticism from that ele-
ment OF the old southern aristocracy
which still assumes to be able to trace
negro blood down to the last half-dozen
drops.
The honor conferred upon Professor
Washington has created an Immense
amount of talk already and Is likely
to be discussed all winter by q certain
clement. President Roosevelt Of course.
being the social and official center OF
Washing ton. is Independent OF all such
criticism, but he was wise enough to
know that the color line is drawn so
closely in Washington that even such
cultivated gentleman as Prof. wv ash
ington could not be entertained In COM
pany with other guests, and so was In
tentionally invited to become for the
time being part of the presidents fam
lily, and thus was given the more honor
Indignation in the South.
Memphis. Tenn, Oct. LITTLE action
of President Roosevelt in inviting
Booker T. Washington to dine at the
white house has been the main topic
discussed here today. A local paper has
interviewed q number of politicians,
among whom were leading southern re-
n,1hlicans The concensus OF opinion
prevails that the new president has
made his first mistake. Attic the presi-
dent had adopted a policy intended to
"rehabilitate" the republican party of
the south the Washington incident will,
III is thought here, place the republican
party IN the south in exactly the same
position 1t has heretofore occupied. and
will prevent the addition of recruits
from those democrats who might have
been anxious to join.
Local papers give space to strong edi-
tcrials denounclng the presidents ac-
ton. The Scimitar says:
1.-THE most damnable outrage which
has ever been perpetrated by any citizen
OF the United States was committed by
The president when he invited niger
to dine with him at the white house.
The Commerclal-Appeal will say:
at is now incumbent OH those white
democrats of the south who had received
appointments at the hands of President
Roosevelt to resign their offices. They
can not afford to remain The recipients
of any favor at his hands, certainly
there is no honor attached to his benevo-
iences or bestowals."