Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-01
NEW POLICY IN SOUTH.
President Roosevelt to Give
Prominent Whites A Share
In Government
He Believes That the Color Line
In Politics Can Be
Obliterated.
Democrats May Be Given Office
Where They Are Not
Too Radical.

Strate Inc sincerity OIL HIS ueCiaidtloIi
that he proposes to name the best men
Tor Office regardless of old party lines In
the south. He has selected for appoint
ment to high office in the south several
prominent democrats who have never
voted the republican ticket, but who are
row no longer in sympathy with the
free silver, free-trade and anti-expan-
sion policies of their party. They are
also opposed to the constitutional
amendments In their states designated
to disfranchise the negro voters
Southern democrats have for years
said that decent white men could not af-
flliate with the republican party in the
south, and that the white men were
compelled to stand together to protect
their civilization from the ignorant ne
groes, regardless Of the economic poll
cies of the democratic party.
President Roosevelt proposes to test
this sentiment. He will invite prominent
white men in the south who do not be-
l!eve in the political principles of w. J..
Bryan to assist him in the administra-
ton of the federal power in their states,
and he will ask only that they admin
lister their offices according to their
highest ideals of right and justice. They
reed not call themselves republicans nor
identify themselves with the republican
party in their communities. If they sup
port his general policy Of government
as laid down in the national republican
platform there will be no barrier to their
Identifying themselves with his admin
istration. The president is not trying to
build up personal following in the
south. He desires to help restore pop
u!ar government to that section where
1t is rapidly declining.
While in Illinois and other northern
states so per cent Of the men of voting
age. cast their votes at the last presiden-
tial election. in such states as Missis-
s.ppi and South Carolina only 20 per
cent Of the males OF voting age voted.
and not over so per cent of the white
men voted. The last census shows that
Mississippi has 349,177 men of voting
age, and OF these 15O,922 are white and
OF Mississippi in the presidential cleo
ton was only 70,545, or less than one
half the number of white voters.
The same conditions prevail In all the
southern states. tho not SO strikingly
Illustrated In the discrepancy between
the votes cast and the number of men
Of voting age. Alabama has 1882 meii
OF voting age. OF whom 232.294 are white
and 1865 are colored. Alabama's total
vote last year was 15s,523. or little more
than half the number of white men Of
voting age.
Georgia has 50o. 752 men of voting age.
277. 44s white and $4,000 colored. The
total vote of Georgia was 122.7l5, less
than one-half the white men of voting
age Louisiana has 325,943 men of voting
age, 177,S7S whites and 14S.065 colored.
The total vote Of Louisiana was 6s,so4,
or less than 40 per cent OF the white men
OF voting age.
These figures show that the color line
in the south has been used to control
the suffrage not only Of the negro but OF
the whites as well. and places the politi-
cal power In the hands OF a few who
manipulate the democratic primaries. 1t
has a tendency to destroy popular gov
eminent, and many white men in the
south are complaining against 1t. They
profess to be ready to affiliate with the
them and help to overthrow such men
as Senator Tillman and his like, who
care nothing for the popular will. not
even Of the white men of his state.
President Roosevelt proposes to as
sist in this work OF restoring popular
government in the south by inviting
southern white men who have been
identified with the democratic party to
hold office under his administration.
The men he has chosen for office meet
the conditions he laid down when he
said he would select the beet men he
could find In each state and community
in the south. They are not selected for
their political influence. but because
they are known to be honorable and
able men, and have received that repu-
tation from the democratic party which
has in the past honored them.
The president will demonstrate that
he does not propose to use the federal
Offices in the south to build up fac
tional following of his own or to secure
delegates. He will ignore those who
profess to be political workers able to-
control the negro vote.
He will appoint the best men to office
and invite them to support his admins
tration IL they can do SO and not violate
the political principles in which they
believe. He will in this way give the
white men of the south an opportunity
to divide on political lines without fear
of the negro, and he will in that way
help the negro to better place in the
south by making him necessary to both
sides to the new alignment if it is
brought about. When the white men
of the south divide both sides will in
time seek the support of the negroes,
and popular government will be re-
stored.
President Roosevelt has conferred
with representative negroes, and they
agree with him that 1t would help the
negroes Of the south more to destroy the
color line in politics than 1t would to
recognize them as the chief representa-
tiyes Of the republican party In that
section. Prof. Booker T. Washington
of the Tuskegee negro Industrial insti-
tute, was with the president Sunday
night. and he heartily approved the plan
which is proposed. Professor Washing
ton believes the conditions will be Inn
proved by policy which will recognize
each one OF them only az one OF the best
men in his community, not give him an
Office because Of his color. He believes
that President Roosevelt is following a
course that will eventually obliterate