Evening journal., 1903-04-02
Mr. RooasveIt,s Queer Method..

IRON the Ihllddclpnld Evening Bulletin.
1t is far from being easy TO discover a
line of consistency In the manner and
method of some Of President Roosevelts
recent nominations for office. Thus the
President has insisted three times on the
nomination of a candidate for United
States District Attorney in Delaware who
was notoriously candidate for Congress
in that State last year with the sole pur-
pose Of defeating the Republican ticlxet
and comprising the election Of q Demo-
crat. AT the same time he has equally
often insisted ON the nomination Of a
colored man for Collector Of the Port ait
Charleston, s. c.. for the reason that the
objections which have been raised against
his color should not be recognized, in
view of his character and fitness.
But now comes n case Of colored Post
master at Wilson, N. c., whom President
Roosevelt has avowedly removed from Of
Ace because ne did not support the Repub-
lican ticket, and who has been replaced
with white man brought forward by the
supporters OF his race who drew the color
Line against the postmaster. The official
memorandum in the Postofhce Depart
ment which stated the cause OF the change
was that THE postmaster "had not sup
ported the Republican ticket, and conse-
quenily has forfeited his claim to party
recognition"
In other words, the President has appar-
emily taken the ground that the office
holder Is net enhtled to his place IL he did
not vote the Republican ticket at the last
election, although the offceholder may
declare that he Is still Republican
and that his detection was due only to
local and personal causes. Former SEN
ator Pritchard, OF North Carolina, as head
OF the Lily White Republicans OF that
State, had Il seems, been appealing TO
the President to remove the postmaster
In question because he had not supported
Pritchard or Prtchards candidates at the
polls, and the official memorandum which
we have quoted above shows clearly that
the President has interfered In the case
on political grounds.
II has also been unofnc.ally reported
that Pntchard wished the President to
make a test" case as TO whether the
colored Republicans OF the Lily White
Republicans were TO ~ recognized" at
the Whute House In the distribution OF
North Carolina patronage and that he
therefore took particular care that the
candidate whom he recommended and
whom the President named should be n
white man.
But there was nothing DIN the record OF
the outgoing postmaster that appears to
have reflected uhe slightest dlscredm upon
him. He is reported to have laid before
tho President many letters from white cit-
Gems OF the town OF Wilson, certifying to
his satisfactory official conduct and per-
sonal honesty. Even ex-senator pritchard
Is admitted ITO have conceded his compet-
ency, or at least to have advanced no OBJ
lection on that score
Exactly how President Roosevelt. in his
treatment OF this case. squares himself
In point OF consistency with mis- emphatic
reappointment OF Byrne last December In
Delaware, who had been quite as much
out Of Joint with his party as the post
master at Wilson. N. c., appears to have
been, and with his stubborn insdstence
phat Crum, OF Charleston, shall be Coliec-
tor OF North Carolina because he is a col
ored man OF character and integrity, as
the postmaster at Wilson, N. c., is also
represented TO be, is by no means clear to
his disinterested fellow citizens
II ls by no means improbable, however,
that II confidential recourse were TO be
had to Postmaster-General Payne in his
capacity as principal manager Of the
Roosevelt second term movement in the
lining up OF prospective delegations, in
the South, much moro precise hight might
be shed upon the causes OF what seem tc
be the Presidents recent vagaries In max.
ing some OF his appointments