The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-02
PRESIDENT FIRM IN
POLICY TOWARD NEGRO
Means No Social Equality, "
But Will Not SWerVe.
oUTCRY COMES FROM NORTH
Surprised and Panied to Find South
Taking 1t Up-Consults Confed-
crates and Democrats Freely.

ATLANTA. Ca. March President
Roosevelt has written letter 20 Clark
Howell. eIitor OF tho Atlanta Consti-
tuition" and a Leading Georgia Demo-
crat in reply 70 a request for his views
concerning recent letter from Harry
Stillwcll Edwards. Of Macon. with refer
ence to Federal appointments in the
South. In this communication the Presi-
dent says:
In making appointments I have
sought to consider the feelings Of the
people of each territory so far as l could
consistently do so without sacrificing
principle. The prime tests I have ap-
piled have been those OF character. fit-
ness. and ability. and when have been
dissatisfied with what has been offered
within my own party lines ] have with
out hesitation gone to the opposite par
ty. and you are. of course. aware that 1
have repeatedly done this in your own
State of Georgia.
Color No Bar to Office.
Il certainly cannot treat mere color
as bar 20 holding Office. any more than
I could so treat creed or birthplace
always providing that in other respects
the applicant or incumbent is a worthy
andlweII-behaved- American citizen. Just
as little will l treat It as comforting a
right to hold Office.
Il ask you to Judge not by what l say
but by what. during the past seventeen
months. I have actually done. In South
Carolina have appointed white post
master to succeed a colored postmaster.
Again IN South Carolina l have nomi-
mated a colored man TO fill vacancy in
the position OF collector OF the port Of
Charleston. just as in Georgia have re-
appointed the colorcd man who is now
serving rs colored collector OF the post
Of Savannah Both are At men. Why the
appointment OF one should cause any
more excitement than the appointment
Of the other I am wholly at a loss to
imagine
Social Equality" Absurd.
''As I am writing 10 a man OF keen
and trained intelligence I need hardly
Say that TO connect either OF these ap-
pointments or any or all my other ap-
pointments or my actions in UNFOLDING
the law at Indianola with such ques-
tions as social equality and negro
domination is as absurd as to connect
them with the pesplars hypothesis OF
the theory Of etOms, / have consulted
freely with your Senators and Congress
men as TO the character and capacity
Of any appointee in Georgia concerning
whom there was question. Ny party
advisers in the State have been Ma
tor Hanson. OF Macon; Walter Johnson,
OF Atlanta. both OF them ex-Confederate
soldiers. and Harry StiIIwelI Edwards
the incumbents OF Federal Offices in
Georgia under me are, as l understand
It. OF your own political faith.
Proportion I in 700.
This Is true Of your own state; and.
by applying 10 Thomas Nelson Page. OF
virginia; TO Gen Basil Duke. OF Ken
lucky; 10 George Crawford. or Tennes-
see: 10 John McIIhenny. OF Louisiana; to
Judge Jones OF Alabama, and Edgar s.
Wilson. OF Mississippi. ali Of them Dem
ocrats and all OF them men OF the high
est standing in their respective com
munities. you will find that what I have
done in Georgia stands not as the ex-
ceptIon. but a the rule for what 1 have
done throughout the South. | may add
that the proportion Of colored men
among new appointees is only about
IN 1O0.----.-..-
OutcTy Started in New York
In view OF all these facts / have been
surprised and somewhat panied at what
seems TO me the incomprehcnsible out
cry in the South about my actions-an
cutlery apparently started in New York
fer reasons wholly uncOnnected with the
question nominally at issue.
Il am concerned at the attitude thus
taken by so many OF the Southern peo-
pie but l am not in the least angry, and
still less viii this attitude have the eff
feet OF making me swerve ono hair
breadth to one side or the other from
the course I have marked out-the
course I have consistently followed IN
the past and shall consistently follow in
the future"