The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-23

nate positions that we cannot help
feeling sorry for him. The aforemen-
toned characteristics, which his friends
ar one time applauded, are beginning
to pail on them ard 1t is now their
chief aim to curb him in this respect.
but they cannot always keep him in
bounds.
The latest trouble which the presi-
dent has brought upon himself by hasty
action and which, through stubborn
ness which Is another of his charac-
teristics. he has stuck to until he can
not now Withdraw from without a clear
b~ackdown. is the Indianola postmas-
tership. The closing Of that postoftice
and requiring the people to send Tor
their mail TO a town twenty-five miles
away, while there is a postoffice with
in four miles of them, raised such a
storm of Indignation all over the south
and even strongly pronounced adverse
criticism at the north that the presi-
| tent felt called upon to issue an extra
edition of The White House Explainer,
setting forth the why's and w~herefores
Of his action; but the explanation did
not explain to the satisfaction OF the
public. The criticism and condemna-
ton of his action continued, notwith-
! standing the explanation. Now the
president has called upon his friends In
congress to come to his relief. In the
house of representatives Mr.. Crum-
packer, who's hobby is reduction OF
southern representation because of dis
reimbursement of the negro, has come
to his assistance and introduces a reso-
luton calling upon the postmaster gen.
eral for all correspondence and records
in his department in reference to the
resignation of Minnie Cox and the
closing of the postoffice. In the other
10 become the presidents champion
and chief defender. The president.
finding he has greatly offended the peo-
pie, seeks vindication through an in
v~estigation and, of course, a white
washing resolution of congress-.
The Wilson postmastership is an
other case which very probably has
been the cause of a few more grey
hairs making their appearance upon
the presidents head. The latest phase
OF this case was the swooping down
upon the White house on Tuesday last
of a delegation of republicans from
this state as hackers of Senator Pritch-
ard in his demand that Wick should be
removed. The advocates Of enforce
ment of the "Pritchard idea" argued
this matter and the Greensboro con-
vention incident with the president for
a long time and when they retired were
unable to say what impression they
had made on him. Ex-senator Marion
Butler headed this delegation. Don't
you think the president is entitled to
sympathy in this case?
=, In the matter of the appointment Of
the negro Lewis as assistant district
attorney in Boston, it is now charged
by some persons who have not proper
: regard for the feelings of our chief eX-
> e~cutive, that the office was created and
! Lewis given the appointment SO h IA
Harvard University could continue to
profit by his services as coach to her
foot ball team. Cornell was about to
secure him for her eleven. In order to
=, prevent this the Harvard authorities
= were induced to take steps to secure
Lewis appointment to an office which
2 would induce him to remain in Boston.
To go back TO the I~ndianola postof-
|, fee case. The president refused to al
y low the mail of the citizens to be sent
, to Heathman, only four miles away.
Notwithstanding the fact that the post
; master there said he had two clerks in
e his store and could easily handle it;
!. but. instead, he ordered it sent to
6 Greenville. twenty-five or thirty miles
4 checknated this piece of spite work by
notifying all their correspondents to
address them at Heathman, and, Of
= course. all such letters so addressed
, must be 4 cause of worry and chagrin
y to the president to be outwitted in this
way.
9 Then ONE this demand on the presi-
! Council that he shall support their de-
q mand for admission Of negroes as of