The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-04
President Uses Mississippi to Test
His Southern Policy.
APPOINTMENTS NoN-PARTIZAN
Rapid Rise OF Industrial Prosperity
Becanse Good Men Fill -
& % the Offices.

From Tbs Jo,srs.at Bureau, Room, IS, Post
building. Washingtoa.
Washington April At don't believe
that there has been a free and intelligent
discussion Of public affairs in Mississippi
or any state similarly situated, since the
civil war. The one thing any one there
has been able to consider is the issue be-
tween white and black. You VIII not Won
der at 1t when you reflect that millions or
negroes were enfranchised at one stroke,
and that horde of the most disreputabie
politicians in the north swarmed down
upon the south and organized these ne
groes for campaign of misgovernment
and plumber which lasted eleven years.
1t takes any section OF the country long
time to recover from such a backset; ana
1t is this condition which confronted MI
Roosevelt when he undertook TO put the
federal authority upon different 1oot-
ing In the south. The southern people
know how to appreciate Lis work among
them"
These words from the mouth of south
ern democrat, born and bred, inspired me
to inquire for myself what has been &C
complished in six months in state where,
with only two brief Interruptions, there
have been thirty-six years OF mlsrule.
Right Kind of Advisor.
The first thing President Roosevelt did
was to look about for an abundantly
qualified advisor. Such a man Mr.. Roose-
welt believes he found in the person OF
Edgar 8. Wilson, a gold democrat, former
ly private secretary to the late Senator
Lamar. BY calling a journalist, he now
represents the New Orleans Picayune at
Jackson, Miss, his field covering the en-
tire state. He has made specially OF
the industrial uplifting Of the south. Nu-
merous local federal offices have been
filled by President Roosevelt in response
to Mr.. Wilson'S suggestions. the rule
followed in choosing them has been that
the government deserved none but the
best qualified servants.
Where the choice was open between
several candidates Of different politics
the preference has been given to repub-
licaus; the second choice has fallen to the
gold democrats; but where these were
lacking, there has been no slackening OF
the general policy, and Bryan democrat
or q popuist has been taken. In every
case, the appointee has been person
with a first rate standing among his
neighbors. Naturally in q state peoplec
as Mississippi Is, eighty per cent OF the
pOstmasters appointed have been white
democrats, especially in the small places
where the postoftlce belongs In the fourth
class. Often eX-confederate soldiers have
been chosen. One notable instance is tina
of S. B. Thomas, postmaster at Terry
Mr.. Thomas was colonel Of the Twelfth
Mississippi regiment. and famous fight
er. He was eminently the right man To-
the place, and was told That he simpl,
must take the office for the good of thu
public. q" 30
Industries Stimulated.
This sort Of thing Is described by Mis-
sissippians Of ell partizan compilations a
having had wonderfully stimulating er
feet upon the state, where mills, factorle
and railroads are in process OF buildin!
and the people are taking a fresh interes
in individual affairs. They speak OF Mr.
Roosevelt no longer as republican
president, but as president of the whole
country. Land values have gone up II
quarters where they were lately stag
nant. One man who visited Washington
the other day told about q lot he Dough
not long ago for SIS, for which he ha
since refused $500 While this is perhap
an extreme case, it is typical OF tn
changed conditions under home rule.
OF course, the new order has brough
about some clashes. The president ma
the opposition of the carpet baggers an
scalawags he has turned out; but the ton
of the press has undergone imarvelou
transformation reflection of the popula
feeling; and as one recent visitor frol
Mississippi. an old fashioned democra
remarked, mo adverse criticism is no
heard Of an appointee Of the president
except In quarters where hostility Is ltse
a. badgs OF honor"
Mississippi is only one southern stat
Local conditions have simply favored til
scheme OF making it test case for TT
new policy. What has been accomplish
there it is hoped to repeat in the othe
states of the same section
W w Jermane.