Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1902-11-25
WHEN BOOKER WASHINGTON
Enters Politics, as 1t is Reported
He Will Do.
THE HORN HAS BEEN SPOILED
BY Teddy Making Him Referee and
the Spoon is Unfinished.

The Alabama press is beginning,
says a Birmingham telegram, TO
count on the fact that the good work
begun by Booker T. Washington is CO.
ing TO be ruined by the entry of that
distinguished colored educator into
politics. The statement made that
President Roosevelt confers with
Washington on all appointments to be
made in Alabama appears TO cause
much regret in this state, not exactly
because of Washington's race, but be-
cause of fear that his political du-
ties will detract from his educational
duties, and the fair reputation that
he has for years been building is
likely to go up in smoke In very
short while. Lengthy editorials are
being printed by Alabama newspapers.
These editorials predict the early ruin
of Washington's work on educational
lines in not only Alabama, but the
entire south. 1t is set forth that the
democratic party favors the new con-
the bulk of the negro race from poll
tics while the republican party can
gain nothing with the negro help
that is the negro who can participate
in politics. There has been no denial
from any source that BOokerG Wash.
ington is consulted by the administra-
tion on all appointments made in this
state. A cOlored friend of Washington
in Birmingham has received q letter
from him, III which he states that he
is no dictator for the republican
party as far as appointments in Ala
bama CO., but he says that he is
asked for an opinion as to men and
measures III the state, and he always
gives it to the president
The Birmingham Ledger, one Of
the afternoon papers of Alabama, in
a half column of editorial, regrets the
entrance of Washington into politics.
In closing the article, the Ledger
says: Should Booker Washington
neglect his work at Tuskegee it would
be a great calamity for his race. AS
no other negro has done, he has struck
the keynote of progress for his people,
| and his advice to them has been wise
and useful. In doing that work, he
has made himself famous. The Ledger
does not believe that Booker Washing
ton will fall to the level of Fred
Douglas, mere place seeker. The
president does him a wrong to tempt
him into politics by giving him con-
troll of the federal patronage of the
state. He may spoil man who is
doing great and useful work. "
The Ledger is democratic paper.
But the Ledger is not the only paper
in the state touching on the matter.
Friends of Booker Washington in
Birmingham assert that at the proper
time Washington will make a formal
denial of participation in politics.
He will admit it is believed, that
President Roosevelt has consulted
with him as to the fitness for Office
of certain men. The great News
Press Association covered fully the
item that Booker Washington on a
visit to the president at Washington
dined with him. So, there is great
apprehension in Alabama that the
usefulness of Booker Z. Washington
towards his race is being greatly jeop-
ardized by his entry into politics.
Another expert from daily papar
says: "There has been no harm to
Alabama since the president began to
consult Booker Washington. There
may be harm to Washington. He
has not allowed flattery nor honors in
the past to turn his head, or even TO
ALLEVIATE his mind from his great work
for his race 1t is hoped that he will
not in the future. 1t would be very
human for a man to give more and
more of his attention TO politics I'M
der the circumstances and begin TO
want something for his personal ag-
grandizement Few men could
. stand so much power without want
D ing to use il for themselves. +"