The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-05
THE RACE PROBLEM IN THE SOUTH.

The Atlanta Constitution publishes Hon.
Clark Howelrs comments on President
Roosevelt's recent letter regarding federal
appointments In the South in the same
issue with the letter itself Like every
thing that comes from Mr.. Howell the
comments are in fair and candid spirit,
and they are not unfriendly to the Presi-
dent. He admits that the Presidents po-
sition may have been misunderstood, and
virtually bespeaks suspension of Judgment
until the Presidents policy and purposes
are more fully demonstrated. The follow
ing extract from Mr.. Howell's article
shows it's spirit:
The people of the South would be more
delighted than those of any other section
TO find that the Presidents position had
been misunderstood, and ii is but just to
the President to say that. In the lght OF
his own assurances. his words entitled
to due consideration and to the conserva-
tive thought of the Southern people. The
South would infinitely prefer to feel that
the President sympathizes with its better
sentiment than TO be forced to dwell In the
thought that its people are living under an
administration hostile to all that to which
naciously in defense of their underlying
civilization. The evident display of
conservatism and friendly feeling i'm Mr..
RoOsevelt's utterances Is so marked as TO
bespeak at least a suspension of criticism
with the view of rendering final Judgment
upon the subsequent events OF his admin
istration. There remains two years of his
present term of office. and unless appear
ances are deceptive Mr.. Roosevelt will be
renominated by his party as his own sue
cessor: Whether or not he will be elected
is a different thing-the Constitution hopes
and believes that he will be succeeded by
a Democrat-but there is abundant time
in the two closing years of this admins,
tration for the President to make good all
that has been said for him as regards his
attitude in the matter of Southern appoint
ments.
No doubt the President Is entirely willing
to be judged by his acts. If the Southern
people expect him to change his views or
policy in respect to making character and
fitness the prime test for appointments to
office, irrespective of color. they will be
disappointed, but if they have suspected him
of purpose to foster what they call ''ne-
gro domination" or social equality" they
will find they have been mistaken and have
done the President injustice. There has
been no ground for the recent outbreak of
criticism and censure of the President in
the South. and IL the Southern people will
keep cool and wait awhile they will see
that his views have been misinterpreted
and his acts distorted for a purpose. But
they must expect that. like all his Repub-
lican predecessors, he will now and then
appoint to office a colored man of recog-
nized character and fitness.
simultaneously with the Constitution
article an interview with Mr. Howell is
published in which he expresses his views
regarding the race question and the status
of the negro in the South. The substance
of his statement is that the Southern peo-
pie understand the negro and the negro
question much better than the Northern
alone it will work out the race problem
successfully. He says the better class of
whites and the better class of the blacks
in the South are dealing with the problem
| in an intelligent manner The following
contains some food for thought:
| The South is the only place in this coun-
| try where white and coored labor will
| work together. where the negro can get
| steady work and good pay for what he
! does. and the only place i'm the Union
where as a laborer he is not Disseminated
against. To-day i can take you
out near where | live, where a new house
| is in process of construction, and show you
| ten or fifteen negro carpenters masons
and other skilled laborers working side
by side of white men doing the same kind
| of work, and this. too without the slight
est Jar or friction. Conditions of this
| kind and they exist generally i'm this city
| and in many portions of the South car
| only be found in this section and nowhere
| else I'm the Union. In Labor day events
| and celebrations / can show you 5000 mer
| i'm line whites and blacks, mechanics
| and artisans. representing the different
labor and trade organizations In this city
| While IL is true that each has its
| place in the parade. and the social line is
| always clearly and distinctly drawn,
| cite this fact TO show that no discrimina-
| ton exists in this portion of the Soutk
| as TO negro labor. The professions are
| equally open to members of the colorec
| race and all this talk about the negro
being confined TO the narrow limits of pre-
| scribed lines OF activity Is false. The
| negro has entered the professions and Ii
/ continuing to do So
This shows that the negroes are making
distinct progress in industrial lines. and
! that In some respects they have more rec