New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-15
sorTBFRy APPOINTMENTS.

II has sometimes seemed a. If the luminosity
displayed In the South toward President Roose-
welt was due largely to his virtues. Other Pres
idents had appointed negroes 10 Office, but no
President had ever taken much pains to Sc
Iect negroes fitted for office as he. That fact
seemed responsible for the iii feeling. Southern
politicians could be content 10 see few lower
class negroes in federal Office. They served for
a horrible example and consolidated respectable
white sentiment IL was easy TO dismiss such
recognition OF the negro with a sheer, and say
that was a sample Of all that was TO be hoped
from the negro in politics. When however, the
President began filling the few offices he did
give 10 negroes with men Of unquestioned char
scter and ability, who in private relations had
the respect and confidence OF their white neigh
bors, he disturbed the comfortable, conventional
understanding that the negro was incapable OF
doing credit TO himself or his party. The white
politicians of the baser sort would rather have
half dozen negro insists in Office than one DR..
Crum. Accordingly, they have done their best
20 discTediI President Roosevelt with the South
ern people by harping on every little incident
that could awaken prejudice, in the hope Of
making impossible continuance Of his policy
OF recognizing merit, regardless OF race. instead
uf dividing spells on a racial basis and throwing
a sop 70 few negro workers.
In view OF this industrious and long continued
activity Of abuse, it is refreshing TO find a
strong Democratic paper in the heart of the
South pleading for Justice 10 President Roose-
welt. THE Montgomery Evening Times" thinks
that the South has overlooked President Roose-
veIts beneficial work for the South, and be-
neves that he has shown an unselish and brave
interest In the South's welfare, though it differs
with him on many questions. It says that his
appointments viii more than stand comparison
with the personnel Of federal Offices selected by
former Republican Presidents, and declares
II fs not too much to admit that no Presi-
dent since the war between the States has in
so large a measure seemed TO cast aside his
Owl political interests IN order 70 serve his
conception Of the needs Of the Civil Service in
the South.
The Times" points 20 Judge Jones and to
another Democrat, District Attorney Roulhac,
IS samples OF the Presidents good work in the
South, and points out that he has done the same
thing in practically every other Southern State,
notably in Louisiana, where he "has completely
turned out the old gang Of corruptonists and
placed the affairs OF the State In the hands Of
the very highest type OF men to be found"
This was q thoroughly unselish course, for It
RntagoniZed the clements in control of party
machinery and able to send delegates to the
Republican National Convention. Any Pres
1oent whose thoughts were on denomination,
rather than the conduct Of public affairs for
the benefit Of the people, would have let the
organizations have their way. He could have
safely done 50, because he had nothing to gain
in the South by considering the public welfare
End nothing 10 lose By turning federal patron
age where the South had been accustomed 10
see il turned Our Alabama contemporary thus
sums up the situation:
In certain instances Southern people may
siser with the President fn regard 10 the poli-