Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-02
Roosevelt Maintains His Atti-
tude Toward negroes In
Letter to Georgia Editor
HAS FAITH IN HIS APPolNTEEs
When the colored Man is Chosen for a
Potion of Trust it is eBcause He
is Fitted to Peform Such Duties.
Which Rule Applies to All White
Office Seekers as Well.


letter from President Roosevelt to the
editor of the Constitution, is in reply 10
a request for an expression concerning
the recent letter from Mr.. Harry Still
we'll Edwards Of Macon, in which Mr..
Edwards made a statement OF the
presidents position in the matter OF
federal appointments in the south,
holding that the president had been
misunderstood:
President Roosevelt writes:
White house, Washington, Feb. "a,
1903-Hon. Clark Howell, Editor of the
Constitution, Atlanta-My dear How
ell: AS to federal appointments in the
south frankly. it seems to me that
my appointments speak for themselves
and that my policy is self explanatory.
SO far from feeling that they need the
slightest apology or justification, my
position is that on the strength OF what
| have done / have the right to claim
the support of all good citizens who
wish not only high standard of fed
aral service but fair and equitable
dealing to the south as we'll as to the
north and policy OF consistent justice
and good will toward all men. In
making appointments have sought to
consider the feeling of the people of
each locality SO far as l could consis-
tently do so without sacrificing prin-
ciple. The prime tests l have applied
have been those of character, fitness
and ability, and when l have been dis
satisfied with what has been offered
within my own party lines have with
out hesitation gone to the opposite
party and you are. of course aware
that I have repeatedly done this In
your own state of Georgia.
| certainly can not treat mere color
as a permanent bar to holding office,
any more than l could so treat creed
or birthplace, always provided that In
other respects the applicant or incum-
bent is worthy and we'll behaved
American citizen. Just as little VIII
l treat it at comforting right to hold
office. / have sought sympathy with
the man of mere theory who refuses to
face facts But do you not think that
in the long run it is safer for every
up" rather than on that of Some men
down?" l ask you to judge not by
what / say but what in the last seven
teen months have actually done. In
YOUR own state of Georgia you are
to judge from your own eX-
perience. In the great bulk of cases
I have reappointed President McKin-
Iey's appointees. The changes l have
made were, as j think you Will agree,
changes for the better and not for the
worse. 1t happens have appointed
white man to succeed a colored man as
postmaster at Athens and surveyor
at Atlanta In South Carolina l have
appointed a white postmaster
10 succeed colored postmaster. Again
in South Carolina / have nominated a
colored man to fill a vacancy in the
position of collector of the port of
Charleston, just as in Georgia. l have
the colored man who is
low serving as collector of the port OF
Both are fit men. Why the
of one should cause any
more excitement than the appointment
If the other / am wholly at loss to
imagine. I need hardly say that to
either of these appointments,
,r any or all my other appointments,
Or my actions in UNFOLDING the law
it Indianola with such questions as
social equality" and negro domin-
lncy" is as absurd as to connect them
With nebular- hypothesis or the theory
If atoms.
I have consulted freely with your
,wn senators and congressman as to the
character and capacity Of anyappointee
Il Georgia concerning whom there was
question. My party advisors in the
tate have been Major Hanson of Ma
on. Mr.. Walter johnson of Atlanta |
10th OF them eX-confederate soldiers, |
nd Mr.. Harry Stillwell Edwards, also
Il Macon. l believe you will agree with |
ne that in no state would 1t be possible |
o find gentlemen ADLER and more up |
light or better qualified to fill the po-
itionS they have filled with reference
. me. In every instance where these |
Gentlemen have united in making a
recommendation l have been able to
ollow their advice. Am not right in |
aging that the federal officeholders
,hom ! have appointed turnout your
tate are, as a body, men and women
f a high order ow efficiency in integ-
ity? Ii you know of any federal Of
ceholder in Georgia OF whom this is
ot true pray let me know it. l will
felcome testimony from you or from
ny other reputable citizen who will
end to show that a givAn public officer
unworthy and most alphabetically
hort Will be the shift of any one whose
,ck of worth is proven. Incidentally
lay mention that a large percentage OF
lcumbents of federal offices in Georgia
nder me are, | understand, of your
wn political faith. But they are sup
orted by me in every way as long as
hey continue to render GOOD and faith
III service TO the public.
This is true of your own state, and
Y applying to Mr.. f. Thomas Nelson
age of Virginia, to Basil Duke of Ken
lcSy and to Mr.. George Crawford q
enhessee, to Mr.. McIlhenny of Louis
ma. To JUDGE Jones of Alabama, an
II. Edgar S. Wilson of Nississippi a
them democrats, aud all of thef
zen Of tn highest standing in the re
oective communities yo:l will find thu
hat have done in Georgia stands nas
) he execution, but MS the rule. fo
hat | have done thru the south.
have good reason to y lieve that NJ
ppointees in the different states mer
oned--and as the sum of the parts II
le whole necessarily in the south
rgs-represent not merely an i'm
rovement Npon those whose place
ley took - upon the whole a higher
anding OF federal service than nj
therto been attained In the communit
es in question ! may add that tn