The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-28
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Why MT. YensII Was AUenated.
o the Editor of the. Age-Herald: {:

To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
 Apropos to your reference in Mondays 8 issue to my recent repudiation of Roose- veltism and my utilization with the demoe- racy of Alabama, I would say that these steps were not taken without considerable deliberation. and, I might add, provoca- tion. I was a sincere and earnest sup porter of Roosevelt until after he became President, and could be put down as an original Roosevelt man; and I still recog- nize his many admirable traits although his southern policy covers a multitude of virtues.
 At the convention at Birmingham to which l was delegate from DeKalb county, was the only one of the delega- tion of nine that voted for his endorse ment and renomination, and I held out to the very last in his favor. The last straw that broke the camers back was the removal of Bingham. Not that was particularly a Bingham man, as I had no hand in any factional fight; nor that I was over infatuated with the lilly white" movement, as I considered 1t worked in- justice unto some worthy negroes, but the utter lack of toleration toward, and the Strenuous" prescription against, re- publicans who differed from him and the weak statesmanship and worse policy dis played in stirring up the slumbering race feelings of the south and the waning sec tionalism of the nation, aIienate ed me from one who had become almost my political idol.
 Just before McKinley's awful death, while lir. Roosevelt was vice-president. 1t was announced that Roosevelt was coming south, and very largely under the auspices O. Booker T. Washington. l took the liberty of addressing a let ter of welcome to our state to him, and suggested that as the repubhcans were weak numerically and otherwise in the south, that when our leaders visited us we were very anxious for them to make as good an impression upon our people as possible I said 1t was all right for him to go to Tuskegee, but that Booker T. Washington and his world-famed insti- tuition were not the whole of Alabama. l also said that while of course he could not expect any great political help in the south that he must certainly appre- ciate the personal respect and good will of This mothers people," He replied in a characteristically Rooseveltian vein, winding up by saying, If anyone ob- jects to my friendship for Booker T. Washington, let him object" Coming events thus cast their shadows before and the seeds of the present policy of race and sectional, personal and poli- tical estrangement were being sown.
 Roosevelt is the only pebble on the beach. He and his policy are destined to dominate the republican party for some time to come radicalsm is in the sad dle. The spirit of reconstruction is in the air.
 The south is rallying against this as- sault of Clarkson, Payne and Roosevelt. Men without regard to party or previous conditions of "turpitude" are standing shoulder to shoulder for the legitimate and necessary supremacy of the white race. The hopes of a strong republican party south are forever blasted The best element of the south, however much they may differ on financial and com mercial issues in the nation, will con- tinue to stand for single standard white-and protection-of home and socie- ty in the state and section, however much Roosevelt may rave, and the radicals imagine a vain thing
 Republican politics in Alabama today Is play, child's play, fools play, knaves' play. It's all gigantic sham, from which intelligent cultured men are re- coiling daily. There is no rest for the republican. In the democracy only Is there peace in Alabama and the south. cLARIS YEUELL.
 Fort Payne Ala