The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-02
Writes Long Letter to Editor
Clark Howell Saying He is
PaIned al Criticism
HAS DONE NO MORE THAN
He THOUGHT WAS RIGHT
Saws He Has Appointed Many Demo-
erats, and Refers to Them as
70 the Correctness of
His Attitude.

Atlanta, March 1.-The following letter
from President Roosevelt to the editor of
the Constitution is a reply to request
for an expression concerning the recent
letter from Mr. Harry Stillwell Edwards
of Macon, in which Mr. Edwards made
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, February "a, 1903.
''Hon Clark Howell Editor The Consti-
tution,. Atlanta, Ca;
Dear Mr.. Howell-As to federal ap-
pointments in the south, frankly, it seems
to me that my appointments speak for
themselves and that my policy is self-ex-
planatory So far from feeling that they
need the slightest apology or justification
my position is that on the strength OF
what l have done l have the right TO
claim the support of all good citizens
who wish not only a high standard OF fed
eral service, but fair and equitable deal
ing to the south as well as to the north
and a policy of consistent justice and
good will toward all men. In making ap-
pointments I have sought to consider the
feelings of the people of each locality SO
far as [ could consistently do so without
sacrificing principle. The prime tests
have applied have been those of charae-
ter, fitness and ability, and when have
been dissatisfied with what has been Of
fered within my own party lines, l have
without hesitation, gone TO the opposite
party; and you are, of course, aware that
l have repeatedly done this in your own
state of Georgia.
Mere Color Not Bar.
.sJ certainly cannot treat mere color as
a permanent bar to holding office, any
more than l could treat creed or birth
place. always provided that in Other re-
spects the applicant or incumbent is
worthy and well-behaved American citi-
zen. Just as little will I treat 1t as con-
ferring a right to hold office. have seant
sympathy with the mere doctrinaire;
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 everybody
II we act on the motto All men up rather
than on that of Some men DOWN. "
"I ask you to judge not by what I say
but what during the last seventeen
months / 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 l have re-
appointed President McKinley's ap-
pointeesa The changes | have made,
such as that in the postmastership of
Athens and In the suryeyorship at At
lanta, were, as l think you will agree,
changes for the better and not for the
worse. 1t happens that in each OF these
offices l have appointed a white man to
succeed a colored man. In South Caro-
lima | have similarly appointed a white
postmaster to succeed a colored postmas-
ter, Again, in South Carolina, | have
nominated a colored man to fill va
cancy In the position of collector OF the
port of Charleston, just as in Georgia
have re-appointed the colored man who
is now serving as collector of the port
of Savannah. Both are fit men. Why the
appointment of one should cause any
more excitement than the appointment
of the other, | am wholly at a loss TO
imagine. AS I writing to man OF
keen and trained intelligence l need
hardly say that to connect either OF these
appointments, or any or all my other
appointments, or my actions in upholding
the law at Indianola, with such questions
as social equality" and negro domi-
nation" is as absurd as to connect them
with the nebular hypothesis or the theory
of atoms.
Has Consulted congressman.
II have consulted freely with your own
senators and congressman as to the char
acter and capacity of any appointee in
Georgia concerning whom there was
question. My party advisers in the state
have been Major Hanson of Macon, Mr..
Walter Johnson of Atlanta-both of them
ex-Confederate soldiers-and Mr.. Harry
Stilwell Edwards, also of Macon 1 be-
lieve you will agree with me that in no
state would 1t be possible to find gen.
tlemen abler and more upright or better
qualified to fill the positions they have
filled with reference to me- In every in
stance where these gentlemen have united
in making a recommendation, have been
able to follow their advice. Am l not
right In saying that the Federal office
holders whom l have appointed through
out your state are. as a body, men and
women of a high order of efficiency and
integrity? If you know of any Federal
office holder In Georgia of whom this
is not true, pray let me know it at once.
will welcome testimony from you or
any other reputable citizen which will
tend to show that given public officer
is unworthy; and, most emphatcally,
short will be the thrift of any one whose
lack of worth-is proven. incidentally,
my mention that a large percentage of
the incumbents of Federal offices in
Georgia under me. are. as | understand
IL. of your own political faith. But they
are supported by me in every way as
long as they continue to render good and
faithful service to the public.
Georgia Not an Exception.
This is true of your own state; ana
bv applying to Mr. Thomas Nelson Page
of Virginia to General Basil Duke OF
Kentucky, to Mr.. George Crawford of
Tennessee to Mr.. John McIlhenny of
Louisiana. to Judge Jones of Alabama,
and Mr.. Edgar s. Wilson of Mississippi,
all of them democrats and all of them
men of the highest standing In their re-
spectfve communities, you will find that
what have done in Georgia stands not
as the exception, but as the rule for
what I have done throughout the south.
] have good reason to believe that my
appointees in the different states men