The colored American., 1903-07-25
Southern Politics
Continued from page 1.

Iney all look alike TO us. Ih6y nave
been voting the Democratic ticket all
of their lives, and never voted the Re
publican ticket.
l don't know of a single instance of
a Presidential post-off1ce being given
to an old liner nor to a well-knoWn
Republican. There are few instances
of reappOintment of Republicans when
they were fell in with the McLaurin-
Capers combination, or when the fight
against these gentlemen became so
fierce by their friends. Besides they
made good records, were efficient post
masters, and the President had to in
terpose himself, as the villainy was too
patent These are exceedingly few
too. The only instance where a new
man has been appointed over the Ca
pers-McLaurin combination was at
Bamburge, S. c., when the incumbent
was recommended by the late National
Committeeman Webster and his
friends. Messrs. McLaurin and Ca
pers wanted a Mr.. A. Wilkes Knight
appointed then, as is shown by a COM
munication he had sent Mr.. Deas ask
ing for his recommendation for this
man, and also that the patronage of
the State be assigned him. Mr.. Deas
spurned it, under date of May 16, 1901
Now, let us see about the other Re
publicans Mr. CaperS had appointed to
office. The late Mr.. Cunningham's ap-
pointment was due to the urgent So
hcitation of judges and other citizens
of South Carolina. After his death
Mr.. Capers urged and had appointed a
Mr. Adams as his successor. He was
made a deputy collector upon Mr. Mi
cah Jenkins induction into Office as
collector of internal revenue This is
the first l had heard of Mr.. Adams,
Notwithstanding had been in politics
In this State upward of thirty years.
l understood that Mr.. Capers used the
argument that he (Mr. Adams) made
speeches somewhere in West Virginia,
but learned more definitely that he
had sold patent medicine or introduced
some Kind OF patents in that State
He didn't make any speeches here. In
VeStigate and you will find nearly ey-
cry one of the prominent places under
him are filled by Democrats. The post
master at Charleston had one new
Office created and Democrat ''pal'' of
Capers was put into it-an ex-post-
master who was removed from office
upon the report of Inspector McGinnis
during the administration of Postmas-
ter-Generay Gary. Mr.. Capers says he
has resisted all pressure which has
been brought to bear upon him, to eX-
erclse his influence in having compe-
ten coIored men removed from the
oCINICS, anu III ILe revenue
service one of the deputy collectors of
internal revenue, one of the most i'm
portant clerkships in the office of the
collector, the chief distiller at the
large Richmond distillery, and a num-
Der of similar appointments of colored
men have been made or the appointees
retained directly upon his recommen-
dation." Why Mr.. Capers, be truth
full and admit that this important
clerkship and chief distiller above re-
ferred to are covered by the civil serv-
ice and cannot be removed except for
cause, and cause sufficient would have
been found to get rid of them but one
Of them is member of the State COM
mittee and the other is secretary of the
committee. The deputy collector re-
ferred to is also a member of the State
committee and chairman of the most
important Congressional district in the
State. When Collector Jenkins took
charge OF his office there were two
colOred deputies, and the deputy that
was not member of the State commit
tee is gone. The white man who sue
ceeded him is also a member of the
State committee. This man used to
be strongly anti-Capers and antf-Mc-
Laurin and nothing but a straight out
old liner Now he is the most blatant
apostles of Capers and his crew
And 7 have the OrOOf of how tho oop