The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-26
TURNED CRUM DOWN
CHARLESTON WILL NOT HAVE A
NEGRO COLLECTOR.
ROOSEVELT REC0NSIDERS
AND DETERMINES NOT TO APPOINT
NEGRO APPLICANT.


nnnt-They Repudiate the state
ment That Crum Was IA Political
Traitor, Who Threw blaine Down
for Harrison-A Little of His Po-
IitIcaI History Has Reached and,
1t Is said, Influenced the President.
His Friends Say President Is
Afraid.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 25.-Dr.
Crum S ambition to be collector of the
port of Charleston is blighted. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has recently obtained
new light regarding DIR. Crum's politi
cal history, which may prove more
damaging to the latter's chronic desire
to secure a Federal office than his dark
skin.
Since returning from his Southern
trip the President received information
rejecting upon DR.. Crums political
past, which may render his appoint
ment. heretofore accepted as assured,
impossible. An official statement on
the subject will be made in few days,
giving the reasons why Crum's APP
pointment is not desirable.
DR.. Crum came to Washington yes
terday for consultation with the Pres
ident, and friends of the administra-
ton relative to his appointment. 1t
will be a great disappointment to the
friends of DR.. Crum to know that he Is
not to receive the appointment, all
though it was officially announced at
the White House several weeks ago
that the President had selected him
for the vacant collectorship at Charles
ton.
President Asked for Light.
During the past two or three weeks
the President requested those who were
opposing the selection of DR.. Crum,
principally on account of his color, to
present specific reasons why he should
not be appointed. When the President
returned from his recent bear hunting
trip he found a number of replies to his
call for specific objections.
Among them was a detailed charge of
political treachery, said to have been
perpetrated by DR.. Crum at the nation
al convention of 1892. 1t is alleged that
Crum went to the Minneapolis conven-
ton as an anti-Harrison man, and
| while there made a deal with the Har-
| rison managers by which he was prom
| Used the postnastership at Charleston in
return for his political services. He
voted for Harrison. Within less than
three weeks after the convention ad
journed, Harrison appointed Crum
postmaster. His nomination was sent
to the Senate, where IL was vigorously
opposed by the political enemies of
Harrison, led by Senator Washburn of
Minnesota, who had given Blaine his
enthusiastic support at the convention.
1t was charged by the opponents of
Crum that he had been guilty of po-
litical treachery at the convention, and
for that reason his nomination was
vigorously opposed.
After the nomination had been held
UP in the committee for long time.
Senator Sawyer chairman of the COM
mittee, informed the friends of Crum
that he could not be confirmed and
suggested that mis- nomination be
withdrawn.
The facts were laid before President
Harrison, who after consultation with
Crums friends. withdrew the nominal
ton rather than subject 1t to rejec-
ton.
Cram Ii AstOunded.
DIR. Crum had his friends emphatic
ally deny these charges, and he was
utterly astounded upon reaching
confronted with this chapter of an
cient political history. He stoutly de-
clares that he went to that convention
of 92 an avowed Harrison man. and
the records of the convention will show
that he never wavered in his loyalty to
the Harrison movement. He says, fur
Their, that when he was elected a dele
gate at large to that convention. the
name of Blaine was not even thought
nf in connection he
Blaine was at that time a member of
the Harrison cabinet, and it was only
after the delegates reached Minneap-
oils that the name OF Blaine was
brought forward. AS one of the lead
ing supporters of Harrison from the
South, Dr. Crum claims to have par
ticipated IN all the caucuses and Sc
cret conferences held in Harri-
sons behalf during the con-
vention. Had he imagined that
charge of political treachery
would be brought against him at this
time he would have come to Washing
ton prepared TO meet and refute these
accusations. which he denounces as
malicious and absolutely false.
How the Delegation stood.
1t is understood that the President
and his political advisors take a diff
ferent view of the situation, and had
the President been advised on this
subject before. he would not have an
nounced his intention of appointing
,Dr. Crum.
Whether the charges Of political cor
ruption against Crum are true or not,
the circumsta as presented to the
President convince him that the APP
pointment is not a desira Bile one to be
made. A prominent official in COM
menting upon the political phase of the
situation, remarked:
1T Is one of those Incidents in South
ern politics where the members of the
South Carolina delegation were divid-
ed, four for Harrison, four for Blaine
and ten for sale"
The friends Of DR.. Crun1 bitterly de-
nounce the President for reversing his
judgment concerning the crum APP
pointment and openly accuse him Of
lacking the courage 10 reject Crum,
because he is colored man, and |
bases his rejection on a charge of DO |
litical duplicity, which. they say can |
not be sustained, and even If sustain |
ed, ought to be barred by the statute |
of limitations. They complain, too. |
that he has been given no chance 10 de- |
fend himself from these charges.
which, they assert he could have done |
fully.