The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-14
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER IA, 1902.
PRITCHARD AND ROOSEVELT.

legged by Attorney General Payne, of his
participation in the formation Of the
lily white republican party in tina
state, a again started speculation as
to the presidents attitude on this sub
ject and his intentions regarding 9TH
ers in Mr.. Bingham's position. Much
OF the talk in Washington City on this
subject is as to the present relations
between the president and Senator
Pritchard: and in this connection there
are many rumors afloat. The senator
has not seen the president. we believe,
since he luncheoned with him at Oyster
Bay just prior TO the meeting of the re-
publican state convention at Green's
boro. which broke loose from the negro
and launched the lily white party in
this state. He certainly has rot had
an interview with the president since
the latter gave an audience to the DEL
egation of negroes a little while after
that convention and was reported Ly
them to lave given them full assurance
of his opposition to the action Of the
white republican of this state and Ala
bama.
Senator Pritchard was in Washington
City a few days ago but he did not
see the president. He aid he intended
calling at the White house Monday, but
found the president had left the city.
He declared that his relations with the
president were as cordial as ever. 1t is
rather peculiar. though. that Senator
Pritchard. who has heretofore been or
such intimate terms with the president,
should have spent the whole day in the
city and not until after the president
had left that night declare his inten-
ton to call was frustrated by the presi-
dents departure, which was not sudden
or unexpected. If either had been anx-
ious to see h other it looks as il 4
meeting could have been had tina day.
The senator declines to discuss the 1e-
moval of Collector Bingham for doing
the very thing that he inaugurated n
carried out in this state, after having
allowed the impression to go abroad,
n with never a contradiction from
himself, that his course in the matter
had the approval of the president. The
Supposition is natural tina he desires
to learn what further action the presi-
dent is going to take before expressing
an opinion. This looks as if he had
some uneasiness over the situation; for
he must have his views on the matter
If he approves that action he thereby
condemns his own course. If he disap-
proves Of it he e%ngenders hostility be-
tween the president and himself an
the federal office holders In this state.
So it seems that Mr.. Pritchard occupies
a very delicate position, and we expect
II the truth We're known he does not
Know where he stands regarding the
presidents favor. One report in Wash
ington is that the president did approve
OF senator Pritchard's proposed action,
but afterward deserted him after the
latter had gon too far to turn back;
out this is not a characteristic of
Roosevelt Some of the people who
pretend to know say that Prichard, on
account of his being a senator and
standing high with the leaders of his
party, will not suffer for his conduct
but that federal officials in this state
VINO took active part in the lily white
movement will be Binghamized.
Booker Washington is another dis
turbins element in the situation.
There is no doubt that he Caused tn
remoyal of Bingham and that he has
great influence with the president as
to appointments in Alabama and other
southern states. He is said to feel very
bitter toward Senator Pritchard. and
his securing the removal Of the Ala
bama collector may him to
attack Pritchard through his friends
holding appointfTe offices in this state.
Another Washington authority SAYS
the emev OF Bingham is the begin
ming OF a movement for many chang. IS
IN the southern states and that ever :
good many negroes are to be appointed
to office II this be so n the president
has determined to take this course to
show the negroes hat he intends to give
them their full weight in the party, he
should be consistent and not confine his
action to one section of the country. In
New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indi-
ana aad many other northern states
there are thousands of negroes who vote
the republican ticket and are THAI par
tvs strongest supporters, yet the party
In those states is as completely lilly
white" as 1t now is in this state and
Alabama, and has been so ever since
the negroes were given the franchise.
This thing Of the white men running the
party to the entire exclusion of the ne
gro except to vote the tickle is no new
thing there. If there is any truth in
this report it is nothing more than a
movement On the part of the president
to secure the votes of he southern ne
groes In The next national convention
and to suppress n hostility toward