The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-15
LETTERS TO EDITOR
RooseveIt's AIabama PoIIey.


 need not be enlarged upon It certainly behooves the President of the United States to keep in mind that the appoin- tees and. holders of important federal places are to serve the whole people and not a party or faction of a party. As an admirer of and friend of and believ- er in President Roosevelt may be per mitted to say that. for once, we have a l republican President whose high concep- ton of the public service Is such that he l will not permit an important political po- sition to become a political foot ball to be employed in the game of scrambling over who shall be chairman of a republican state machine
 It Is due the President that his position become known and it is just to the peo- pie of Alabama that his attitude be clear l ly understood and not concealed by news paper "elap-trap.n The people and press, by commenting the course of the Presi- dent, who is earnestly desirous of doing the best and the square thing for the whole state, can be Instrumental in caus- | ing a continuance of this wise public pol icy. I concede that the friends and ad- visers Of the President think that he is pursuing the best possible course for the cause of republicanism in Alabama, for | the lofty and sincere intent to elevate | he standard of the federal service in | Alabama can but command the respect of all men. It may be, and possibly is, true that Alabama is as inherently democratic as is Maine or Vermont inherently repub- ican. To be frank, I think the republi- cans stand as much chance to carry Ala bama in this election as did the demo- crats to sweep Maine. It is not impossi- ble, however, for the President to pursue policy of appointments in Alabama that will make the service have the approval of the whole people. This, in itself, will be one great help to the party in tine long run.
 In the repudiation of the republican ma chine in Alabama the President no doubt had a motive. That he has the courage of his convictions Is not denied. What has been the issue of contention and strife among Alabama republicans? Has it not all been over the election of a state chairman? Why? Because the chair man and the national committeeman have been the dictators of federal pat ronage under former administrations. It was the main issue in the recent factional scramble and the office-hoders lined up In solid phalanx for MT. Wellman in the hope of perpetuating the continuance in office of no other persons than them selves Every influence of the office holders combine and every office-holder and every subordinate was brought Into fU fn en- tions and then the entire office-holders' combine assembled in Birmingham in grand conclavel Did these men represent the republican party of Alabama? If so, what is the party? The delegation from Chiffon county to the state convention was elected by mass meeting of eigh- teen men. The delegation from Mont gomery county was elected by mass meeting of twenty men. The delegation from Lee county was elected by mass meeting of twenty-seven men. The del- egation seated in the state convention from Tallapoosa county was selected by four men. All down the list we find the home backing just as Is herein stated, with a few exceptions. President Roose- welt is perfectly familiar with these we'll known and incontrovertible facts. He is also familiar with the facts published In the Birmingham Times, republican, to the
 
 in the hall in Birmingham when J. Clyde Millar was nominated for congress by the office-holders as the republican can dldate in the great ninth Alabama dis trict! In repudiating Wellman and Dim- misk as party referees the President evil dences 1t that there is no longer premi- um put upon the republican state chair manship and he also evidences his com plete disgust at the pernicious political ha those office-holders who manipulated the selection of Wellman.
 The treatment of legal negro delegates was bad and merited and received a re- buke from the President, but the press and the people of Alabama may now un- derstand 1t that the President condemns just as severely the political methods em- ployed by federal office-holders in manip- ulating the whole farccal state conven- ton and office-hoders in Alabama will not remain in office and continue their recent methods. The last republican con vention has been held in Alabama under this administration in which United States marshals, United States district attroneys, collectors and deputy colec- tors and whisky gaugers will participate. The press and people can credit this much of reform in Alabama republican politics to President Roosevelt The ma cnlne DOSImdSleTS, tlnc llh6 hOANSAo OA many important offices and other repub- licans aspiring to hold office, were whip ped into line at the recent state conven- ton because they were caused to feel that they had to get in line in order to stand in with Wellman and Dimmick, whom they all supposed would dictate the federal patronage. Now, there are none so poor who would do them rever- ence! In other words, the bottom has dropped out of the offce-holders' com bine.
 The notwithstanding republicans can now proceed without interference of the office-holders and men can stand bes>Tc the President and seek honors upon their merits. Who is 1t that will not under stand that the Presidents Alabama poll cy has made him invincible in Alabama? And those who kick against the inevit- able are wasting their time and exhaust ing their ammunition. President Roose- welt will not have opposition at the next republican national convention and cor porals guard could not be gathered to fight the powers that be from among the office holders. These are the very men who will have affdavits to show they really were in line from the start, but had their own peculiar way of starting backwards.
 JOSEPH c. MANNING.
 Alexander City, Ala, Oct. Il, 1902.
 NEGROES DO NOT MIGRATE.