Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-03-07

President kocScNCtt 10 the ckttof OF the
Atlanta Constitution. sta,ssg why he
appoints negroes CO Office in the South.
against the wishes Of white Rcpu5licans
and Democrats
I'm making appointments have
sought 70 consider the te.ings of the
p>opse of each territory SO far "a conld
>onsistentiy do so without. sacrificing
principle. The prime tests have APP
Piled have been those of character. ct
ness and ability. and whenl have Teen
dissatisfied with what has been ordered
within nv own party liues hsve with
ont hesitation gone 20 the opposite
party-and you arc. OF course, aware
that have repeatedly done this in your
own state Of Georgia certainly can
not treat mere color as a bar 10 holding
Office any uore thar l could so treat
creed or birshplace-slways provided
that in other respects the applicant OF
incumbcnt Is a worthy and well behaved
/ American citizen. Just as httis will I
treat it as comforting right to hold of.
hce.
81 ask you 10 judge not by what say,
bat by what during the last "a months
have actually done
In South Carolina have appointed
a white postmaster to succeed colored
postmaster. Again, in South Carolina.
l haae nominated coiored nan 20 fll a
vacancy IN The position Of collector of
the pert of Charleston, Just as in Georgia
have reappointed the eolored man " o
is now serving as collector of the port of
Savannah. Both are at men. Why the
appointrnent of one should eause any
more excitement than the other / am
wholly at loss TO imagine. AS l am
wriling to a man OF keen and trained In
telhgence need hardly say that TO con-
meet either Of these appointments or any
or all OF my other appointments or my
actions in UNFOLDING the law at In
dianola wi,h such questions as social
equality and negro domination is as
absurd as TO connect them with the
nebular hypothesis or the theory OF
atoms.
II have consulted freely with your own
senators and congressman as 20 the
character and capacity of any appointee
IN Geo1gia concerning whom there was
question.
"Myparty advisers in the state have
been Maj. Hanson. Of Macon; Walter
Johnson, Of Atiante-both Of them OK
confederate soldiers-and Harry Still
well Edwards. also Of Macon. Am not
right in saying that the federal Office
holders whom have apP pointed through
ont your state are as a body men auC
women Of high order OF efficiency an,
integrityS Incidentally may mention
that large precentage Of the incum
bSnts OF federal ofices ia Georgia undo
ne are. as understand it. OF your owl
: political faith This'is true Of your Owl
state; and by applying 10 Thomas Ne
son Page. Of Virginia; TO Gen. Basi
Duke. OF Kentucky: TO George Crawford
/ OF Tennessee; 20 John McIlhenny. q
Louisiana; 10 Judgc-Ienesr-of Alabama
and Edgar 5. Wilson. of Mississippi, a
Of them democrats ansfssH Of them me
OF the highest standing in their respeS
D tive communities. you viii find tina
E what have done in Georgia stands no
as the exception but as the rule Tor VIVA
I have done throughout the south
Il may add that the proportion {
eolored men among the new appointes
is only ABOUT one in a hundred
'sIn view % al these facts have bee
( surprised and somewhat panied q
what seems 10 be the inc )mprebensib
oatcry IN the south about my actions
< an outcry apparently started in Ne
x York for reasons wholly uuconnects
with the question nominaIIy az issue.
am concerned at she attitude thus tak'
BY 50 many ofts==srsrfsefrpsople; but
= am not IN the least angry; apd still K
= with this attitude have the rfect
q making ne sEerve one hairs breadth
d one side or the othcy from the course.
= have marked out-thc eorfse ha
= .consisteatiy followed an the<past a.
:. SHALL consistently follow IN the futul
le With regard.
a Sincerely yours,
Az '.THAODoRE RoosxsKLT.
vel =