The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-18
Congressman Say He Assumes to be Master Instead of
 Servant of the People
OUTRAGES ON THE SOUTH
 PURELY POLITICAL WAVE
Mir. Pou Says the lndianola Case as Well as Others Is the Outgrowth of Allowing the President
 Too Much Power.
BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.

BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.
 Washington. January H-(special.)-
 Representative E. W. Pou of the Fourth
 North Carolina district, while one of the
 youngest members of the house, both in
 years and length of service, has forged
 to the front as one of the best men on the democratic side, and in this connec- tion his delegation may present his name
 for the free for all race for minority
 leadership, which is going to ensue when the next congress convenes.
 President Roosevelts recent southern l policies, especially that of the Indianola
 outrage, has been the subject of con-
 tinued comment among southern members
 in the last week. In discussing the mat
 ter today MT. Pou says the whole affair
 is simply the outgrowth of a dangerous
 evolution which seems to be in process in
 American politics-the largely increased
 powers which the executive of the nation
 assumes
 Not Servants, But Masters.
 'In the earlier days of the republic"
 said MT Pou today, public officials were
 regarded as servants of the people. The
 chief servant of the people was the Pres
 ident, elected by their votes. During re-
 cent years, probably during the last thir- ty or thirtyhve years, but most especial | ly during the last year, a persistent and | partially successful effort has been in pro-
 cess to convince the people that high pub | fp of haiY anta " l longer but their rulers and official mas l ters. More Frequently than ever the Pres l ident is spoken of. written about, as 1 the ruler of the American people, Our | country Is now called a 'nation,' not a l republic
 Ut can be said that our Presidents have | done very much to promote the growth of
 this idea. The exercise of power is at- | tractive to almost any man. It is sweet I to be called a ruler. Chief servant of the republic is regarded as a commoner ex-
 pression than ruler of the American na-
 ton.
 Thinks He Was Elected to Rule. MT Roosevelt evidently thinks he was
 elected to rule the people. There are
 very few towns in the United States in
 which a majority of the people prefer l that a negro rather than a white man l shall hold office Indianola Miss, Is one l of these towns, but MT. Roosevelt knows
 better than the people of that town whom l they should have to give out their mail 1 It does not appear that there is any 1 great public clamor for the appointment l of this negro woman to the postoffice. It 1 does not appear that anything like a majority of the people requested her ap-
 pointment On the contrary, it does ap- l pear that her appointment is very dis
 tasteful to many of the people of the vil-
 lage. That makes no difference with MT. ] President. He belongs to the Imperial | Regime He, not the people, knows what l is best to be done. He Is elected to rule
 the people, not to serve, to give orders,
 not to receive them. His wishes, his mo- i tions of propriety must be followed, not
 those of the people. Therefore when there | is a protest by the citizens of the town
 against the retention of the postmaster, 1 MT. Roosevelt says: eff you won't re- | ceive your mail from the person 1 ap-
 piont you shan't have any mail at all." | In effect he says: "The office is mine to | open or close as I see fit
 Full of Importance.
 1 Aside from the fact that the President l appears willing to treat with scorn the | social ideas of the southern people, the | incident is full of importance. If he is willing to ignore the wishes of the people l of Indianola with respect to the appoint | ment of this postmaster, it is undoubtedly | notice to the people of other communities | that he Is willing to ignore their wishes | in other matters, which may not be in l accord with his own Presidential will D The following views from southern members of congress on the Presidents S
 southern policies were also expressed: Representative Patterson of Tennessee The motives of the President are not dis | int ted ,l.if pubicans in the south capable of filling
 all the offices, and there is therefore no necessity to have any filled by negroes
 The normal and ethical significance of the Presidents position is to aggravate an already distressed situation in the south, which can do no good, and may do the greatest harm. The southern people are patient under adverse conditions; today l they represent the conservatism of the | union; they are intensely loyal and are l deserving of better treatment Whether | they get 1t or not. they will still be loyal | but under no circumstances at any time
 now or hereafter, will they submit to be | officered or controlled by the negro race | or any part of it.
 Grandstand Play.
 | Representative Johnson of South Caro- | lina-Mr. Roosevelt has not disappointed | me in the slightest in the operation of | his unjustifiable southern policy. He has
 not done anything for the southern peo- | pie that I thought he would not do. l He has done just what I expected-made a grand stand play to capture the negro | delegates to the next national republican convention. His policy is an outrage upon the southern people, and fair mind- ed men in the north are not in sympathy with him. His methods will disgust our people, who were anxious to see the Mo- Kinley policy continued.
 Representative Cochran of Missouri With all his strenuousness the President would not dare appoint a negro postmas- fContjnucd on Second Pace,