The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-19
WASHINGTON POLITICAL GOSSIP.
The Lily White Fiasco;; crum-
packer Bill TO be Revived;
Teddy Needs Negro Support.

Washington, Nov. 17.-That the ut
most vacillation and indecislon has
been shown by the President in hand
ling the stlily white movement in the
south is the opinion of all who have
closely observed his actions in that con-
nection. Apparently Mr. Roosevelt has
abandoned the enterprise as hopeless
and is now prepared to return to the
old custom of mintaining southern
organization, with its concomitants OF
colored republican ofhceholders, etc.
He has removed two federal offcehol-
ders in Alabama for their activity in
eliminating the negro from the party
councils and now it is reported that
he has removed District Attorney War
rem S. Reese for the same cause. For
considerable time, the President en-.
couraged Senator Jeter G. Prltchard
to believe that he would have the as
sistance of the federal administration
in his project. Senator Pritchard ex-
planned most forcibly to the President
that the only hope OF building up a
successful republican party in the south
must be based on the elimination OF
the negro and showed him that so long
as repab ablicanism stood for negro Office
holders, the better element Of the
south would 9tvote democratic" re-
eardless of their convictions on nation
al issues. Now, Mr. Roosevelt has
abandoned the Senatorand has return
ed to the old custom. That he has
done SO is believed to augur that he
expects to favor the restriction OF
southern representation IN Congress
and that he believes he must take the
step in order to solidify the southern
delegates to the next national conven-
tion. Soon after the convention OF
Congress, it is said, Representatives
Dick, Crumpacker and Dayton will be
called in conference with the President
and several members of the Cabinet to
consider the subject Of restricting
southern representation and it is for
that reason that Mr.. Roosevelt has
determined to revert to the old negro
oficeholder policy Of his predecessors.
The Presidents recent statement,
made before the New York Chamber
of Commerce that, The growing COM
plexity of our social and industrial
life has rendered inevitable the intru-
sion of the state into spheres Of work
wherein it formally took no part, has
attracted the marked attention OF the
democrats and some republicans, who
see in the words prediction Of at
least some measures of state socialism
.ssWbere will the Prsident draw the
line?'' ask these gentlemen who evi-
dently think the President is treading
on delicate ground. Mr.. Roosevelt
says there is an inevitable tendency IN
that direction but if he premits the
government to dyelope that tendency
where can he stop it?'' 8 Is it not time
to nip it in the bud?" These are some
of the questins that are being asked
and some Of them Will doubtless be
put to the President himself when he
returns to Washington.
insufficient time" will be the ex-
cuse the republicans will make for not
the duty on anthracite coal
and altering many tariff schedules
known to be entirely too high even to
suit the vast majority Of republicans,
accerding to Representative Gosvenor.
the General says that there
will be no extra session, or words to
that effect. There may be dldefence
of opinion between the President and
the General on this score however, for
it is stated by some politicians who are
very near to the President that he re-
CARDS an extra session of the Fifty
eighth Congress as inevitable to re-
publican success in 1904, in which Mr..
Roosevelt is very much interested. Of
course, he will not commit himself for
the present but will ''keep his ear to
the ground to use the expression of
his political friends.
There are numerous indications that
the pressure to enact anti thrust legis-
lation, which will be brought to bear
on Congress, will be exceedingly
strong. The President favors it and is
anxious that some means
should be taken to enforce publicity so
as to prevent the floating of what are
called wildcat stocks on the market.
He Is told. even nv snma.of the 6nau-.