The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-29
WORKING FOR CRUM
INFLUENCES ARE BUSY ON THE Me-
GRO'S BEHALF,
CHARLESTON MAY GET HIM.
ROOSEVELT HASN'T MADE UP HIS
MIND ABOUT 1T.

Appointment to the COIIectOrship of
Customs at Charleston Concerning
Many at Washington Crum's
Friends Seem to Want to Make 1t
a National Issue-Wbite RepubIi-
can Leaders Decline, However, to
McCOmas for Crum-
Washington. Nov. 2S.-'If Harrison
could not stand by Crum, don't think
it is fair to expect President Roosevelt
to come to Crum's relief" said a prom
inent member of the administration to-
day, when appealed to in behalf of
Dr. Crums appointment as collector OF
customs at Charleston by one of the
latter's political supporters. IF there
is one man who should have stood bv
Crum, it was President Harrison, after
he had nominated him for postmaster
at Charleston. The fact that after
sending his nomination to the Senate
he CONCLUDED to withdraw it, because "a
Republican Senate refused to confirm
ii, is pretty good evidence that the
selection was not a good one
President Roosevelt to-day received
a letter from Senator McComas of
Maryland. refuting the charges of
Crum's treachery to Blaine at the
Minneapolis convention in 1892. Sena-
tor McComas was one of the active
Harrison delegates at that convention,
and he was said to be in charge of a
large contingent of the colored dele
gates from the South who we're
Threatened with being spirited away
from the Harrison column by the an
ii Harrison leaders.
Senator McComas states that Crum
was consistent Harrison man
throughout the deliberations of the
convention and participated in all the
secret conferences of the Harrison
leaders prior to the assembling of the
convention.
Roosevelt Hasn't Decided.
To those who spoke to the President
ON the subject to-day. he said he had
not fully made UP his mind just what
action he would finally take toward
Crum, and the question is still OPEN
There is no evidence. however. Of his
being in a more favorable state of
mind toward Crum than he was when
he penned the letter of explanation
given to the press last night While
that made clear that his opposition
wsts -saot on account of Crun' 5 color.
and was not to be so attributed it at
the same time made clear that when
ne wrote the letter he had decided
against Crum. The latters colored
friends are, however, hopeful. To-day
they have been bringing to bear every
possible influence upon the President.
and several local colored politicians
have been busy circulating stories of
Crum's alleged fidelity to his political
allies and his political straightforward
ness
Registrar of the Treasury Lyons
went to New York to-day and it is
understood he went to invoke the aid
of James S, Clarkson in Crums be-
half. Crums friends are trying to
make national issue of the case. They
claim that they have completely re-
futed the charge of political treachery
made against him, and IN view of the
Presidents explanation of his attitude
towards the race there is nothing he
can do but appoint Crum.
There to Be Approached.
White Republican leaders here de-
cline to become excited over the con-
troversy or take any part in the Crum
relief expedition. Some of them shake
their heads knowingly and remark:
Past experience at Republican con-
ventions demonstrates that many of
the dusky delegates from the South
are there for the purpose of being ap-
preached"
Crum's friends are divided in their
ideas concerning the responsibility for
the charges against him, some accus-
ing Smals, while others believe the
revelations concerning the doctors po-
litical past came from the lily-white
element and Capers.