The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-11-13
COLLECTOR Bl ,GnAH ..EM 3YtD
Another Political Sensation Sprung IN
A!abama-President Roosevelt
Again Uses the Ak.

A Washington special says: Julian
H. Bingham, collector OF Internal rev.
enue for the district Of Alabama, mas
been removed from Office and Joseph
A.Thomson appointed to succeed
him.
The change was made as the result
of a political condition which recently
arose in Alabama. Colored repuoll-
cans were excluded from participation
in the republican state convention and
Collector Bingham was held RESPONSE
Bile, at least in a measure, for their
exclusion.
Postmaster General Payne visited
the white house Monday and as he
left the executive office made puDllc
the following statement defining the
reasons for the change:
"The change in the Office OF coliec-
tor of internal revenue for the district
of Alabama in no wise reflects upon
the integrity or ability Of Mr.. Bing-
ham, the incumbent of the office. 1t IS
one of those things which occasional
ly happen in politics. The position
taken by the republicans of Alabama
at their recent state convention as
understood by the republicans OF the
north is looked upon as perverslon
of the fundamental principles of the
republican party, and Mr.. Bingham IS,
in a measure, held responsible for
that action, hence the change.
Neither the administration nor the
republican party of the north stand
for the exclusion OF any section OF our
people by reason of their race or color,
when in other respects such persons
have complied with the laws and are
eligible under the law to full and free
participation in political action and
are of a high standard of personal
character. In other words, there are
now a hundred colored men in Ala
bama who come up to the require
ments of the recently adopted state
constitution and are eligible for partlc-
ipation in political affairs, and the ac-
ton of the republican state conven-
ton referred to in arbitrarily excluding
them is not approved-no more than
such action would be approved If it
were taken in Ohio or Indiana"
Booker Washington's Choice.
The appointment is Booker Wash
| ington's third and would seem to
clinch the claims Of his friends that
he is the real dictator CT Alabama re-
publican affairs, so far as this admin
| istration is concerned. Thomson is
postmaster at Talladega. He was
strongly recommended for this new
place by Washington. He has never
been active as a republican, though
! he claims to be one. his brother,
! the congressman, is one Of the lead
| ing democrats of the state. Washing
ton advised Thomson's appointment,
| just as he did those Of Judge Jones
and District Attorney Roulhac In fact
it is claimed BY some of Bingham's
friends that the president might have
weakened upon his determination to
remove Bingham, owing to his good
record had it not been that last week
he promised Washington he would
appoint Thomson.
Judge Bingham refused to comment
upon his removal further than to say:
81 could add nothing to the state
ment given out at the white house;
am perfectly satisfied to stand that.
The statement which POSTMASTER
General Payne fathers, but which had
the Endorsement and approval of the
president himself, is regarded as OF
more Importance than any other fea
ture Of the Bingham episode.