The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
Tells South Carolina That Men As
Men Are Appointed.
he DECLARES HIS ATTITUDE.

Washington, Dec. 1.-Prominent cit
liens OF South Carolina having adj
dressed the president in remonstrance
against the appointment of a negro as
collector of the port of Charleston, Mr..
Roosevelt replies clearly and forcioly
defining his attitude. He says:
"In your letter you make certain
specific charges against DR.. Crum,
tending to show his unfitness in several
respects for the Office sought. These
charges are entitled to the utmost con-
sideration from me and l shall go over
them carefully before taking any ac-
ton. After making these charges you
add, as further reason for opposition
to him, that he is colored man, ana
YOU say that I'VE have sworn never
again to submit TO the rule OF the
African, and such an appointment as
that of Dr. Crum to any such office
forces us to protest unanimously against
this insult to the white blood and you
add that you understand me to say that
/ would never force negro on such
community as yours.
"Mr. - puts the objection OF
color first; saying that first, he is
colored man, and that of itself ought
to bar him from the office. In view OF
these last statements think l ought to
make it clear to you why l am con-
cerned and panied by your making
them and what my attitude is regards
all such appointments.
st is and shall be my consistent
policy in every state where their num-
bers warranted it to recognize colored
men of good repute and standing IN
making appointments to office. These
Appointments of colored men have in
no state made more than n small pro-
portion of the total number of appoint
ments. am unable to see how | can
legitimately be asked to make excep-
ton for South Carolina.
Il do not intend to appoint any unfit
man to Office. So far as l legitimately
can | shall always endeavor to pay
regard to the wishes and feelings OF
the people of each locality, but can
not consent to take the position that
the door of hope, the door of oppor-
tunity, is to be shut upon any man, no
matter how worthy, purely upon the
grounds of race or color. Such an
attitude would, according to my con-
victions, be fundamentally wrong. If,
as you hold, the great bulk of the col
ored people are not fit in point OF
character and infuencerto hold such
positions, it seems to me that it is
worth while putting a premium upon
the effort among them to achieve the
character and standing which will tit
them.
1.-THE question of negro domination
does OF enter into the matter at all.
1.-The question raised by you and Mr.
is simply whether it is to be
declared that under no circumstances
shall any man of color, no matter how
upright and honest, no matter how
coed citizen, no matter how fair in
his dealings with all his fellows, be
permitted to hold office under our gov
eminent. l certainly cannot assume
such an attitude, and you must permit
me to say that in my view it is an atti-
tude no man shall assume. 1t seems
10 me that it is a good thing from
every standpoint to let the colored
man know that if he shows in a mark
ed degree the qualities of good citizen
ship-the qualities which in a white
man we feel are entitled TO reward,
then he will not be cut from all hope of
similar reward.
: "Without any regard as to what my
decision may be on the merits of this
particular applicant for this particular
place, l feel that 1 ought to let you
know clearly my attitude on the far
lryySder question raised by you and
MIR. --, an attitude from which 1
s,ovc not varied during my term of
Office Faithfully yours.
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT"