The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-02
APPOINT MENT
OF C0L0RED MEN
President Roosevelt Writes a
Letter to Clark Howell.
WILL NOT TURN BACKWARD
SOUTHERN STATES MUST GRIN
AND BEAR THEIR AFFLICTIoN.

Atlanta, Ca, March 1.-The follow
ing letter from President Roosevelt 10
the editor Of the Constitution is in re-
ply 10 request for an expression con-
| corning the recent letter from Harry
Stllweii Edwards Of Macon. in which
I MI. Edwards made a statement Of the
presidents position 10 the matter OF
federal appointments in the south hold
I ing that the president had been misun-
derstuod. President Roosevelt writes:
White House. Washington. Feb. "a.
l90S.-Hon. Clark Howell editor Of the
Constitution. Atlanta, Ca;
Dear Mr.. Howell: AS 10 federal ap-
pointments in the south. Frankly, it
/ seems to me that my appointments
speak for themselves, and that my poll
I icy is explanatory SO far from
feeling that they need the slightest
apology or justification, my position IS
that on the strength of what L have
! done, 1 have the right TO claim the sup
port Of all good citizens who wish not
only a high standard Of federal service.
but fair and equitable dealing to the
south as well as 10 the north. and a
]
VIII toward all men In making ap-
pointments / have sought to consider
the feeling Of the people OF each local
ity so far as / could consistently do so
without sacrificing principle.
Tests Of Character.
THE prime tests I have applied have
been those Of character. fitness and
ability, and when I have been dissat-
ls1ed with what has been offered with
( In my own party lines I have. without
! hesitation, gone TO the opposite party,
and you are. of course, aware that I
have repeatedly done this in your own
state Of Georgia. 1 certainly viii not
! treat mere color as a permanent bar to
holding Office. any more than I could
/ so treat creed or rth-place-always
provided that in other respects the ap-
pllcant or incumbent is a worthy and
J WELL behaved American citizen. Just as
little win / treat Il as comforting a
right TO hold office. I have scant SYM
pathy with the man OF mere theory who
! refuses to face facts: but do YOU not
think that, in the long iuE, il is safer
/ for everybody lt we act on the motto.
/ AN men up rather than on that OF
Some men down? I ask You 10 Judge
4 T.
| last seventeen months, I have actually
done. In your own state OF Georgia
YOU are competent to Judge from your
| own experience. In the great bulk of
/ the cases / have reappointed President
/ McKinley's appointees. The changes
have made were. as I think you viii
/ agree, changes for the better and not
/ for the worse.
Recent Appointments.
1T happens I have appointed a white
man 70 succeed a colOred man as post
master at Athens and surveyor at At
lanta. In South Carolina 1 have sim
! ilarly appointed a white postmaster TO
/ succeed a colored postmaster. Again.
/ In South Carolina I have nominated a
/ colored postmaster 20 iii a vacancy in
! the position Of the collector Of the port
/ Of Charleston. just as IN Georgia / have
reappOinted the cOlOred man who is
now serving as collector Of the port OF
/ savannah. Both are fit men. Why the
appointment of one sisouid cause any
more excitement than the appointment
OF the other 1 am wholly at loss to
imagine. ] need hardly say that TO
/ connect either of these appointments.
I or any or all my appointments, or my
y
ola. with such questions as social
equality and negro domination is alb
surd as 20 connect them with the nebu-
lar hypothesis or the theory OF atoms.
Southern Advisers.
''I have consulted freely with your own
senetOrs and congressman as 90 the
character and capacity OF any appOntees
I iu Georgia concerning whom there was
any question. NV party advisers in the
! state have been Major Hanson Of Macon,
Walter Johnson 0f Atlapta-both Of them
I eN-confederate sOldiers-and Harry still
Wel Edwards of Macon. believe you
wifi agree with me that I'm no state would
I DO be possible 10 find gentlemen ADLER and
more upright or better qualified 10 I'LL the
positions they have filled with reference
| 10 me In every instance where these
gentlemen have united ln making a
recommendation ] bave been able 90 fol-
low thcir advice. Am 4 not right I'm say
ing that the federal 0ffiCe-h0lderS whom
I have appointed throughout your state,
as "a body, are men and women Of high
order of efficiency and integrity? II YOU
know OF any federal oftice-hOlder IN
Georgia Of whom this is not true. pray let
me know AZ once : VIII welcome teStl-
m0uy from YOU or from any other reput-
able citizen which viii tend 90 show that
a given public officer is unworthy; and,
most emphaucaily short viii be the shit
of anyone whose lack Of worth IS proven.
incidentally. ! may mention that q large
percentage Of the ucumhents Of federal
offices iu Georgia under me are. as I
undera, rnd 30. of your political faith. But
they are supported 6y me lH every way
as lerg as they continue 90 render good
and faithful service 20 the public.
Gives References,
ssfTHf- t. fr.fa oF .rau- assn state and Bsr