The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-27


been appointed. He was a physi
cian of only moderate education anc
UNITED practlce. No white physiciar
OF similar ability or experience wonld
stand the slightest chance of being
made collector by the President. Dr.
Crum's only claim was that he was
colored man, and for this reason
alone he was forced upon commu.
nifty whose entire business interests
were antagonistic to him and pro.
tested against his appointment be
cause of his unfitness and want of
business experience. The Chamber
OF Commerce, the Cotton Exchange,
the Merchants Exchange, the Young
Mems Business League, the Com
mercial Club and the City Council
had written through their presidents
and the mayor their unqualified
opinion that the appointment of DR..
Crum would be injurious to the bust
ness interests of Charleston. 1t was
stated that this unanimous opposi.
tion to DR.. Crum was because he was
colored man. The fact was that it
was only because he was a colored
man that he had received this ap-
pointmentG Had he been q white
man with same qualifications DR..
Crum possessed the President never
would have considered him for a
moment.
NEGROES NOT BUSINESS MEN.
Among the papers submitted by
Senator Tillman WAS sworn state
ment of the city assessor of Charles
ton. 1t showed that only thirty one
colored citizens of Charleston took
out licenses in 1902 to do business
and paid licenses amounting to
S1,675, against $83,61O paid by the
white people. Not single one of
these thirty-one colored merchants
conducted business that would ever
bring them into contact with the
custom house. The entire imports
of Charleston, which amounted in
1902 to 81, ,775,141 larger than those
of Savannah, Wilmington, Bruins
wick, Norfolk and Portsmouth COM
bined, were brought in by the white
merchants, and they alone had bust
ness connections with the United
States collector.
In other places the President
seemed willing to consider the wishes
and interests of the business commu-
nifty and was glad to be called the
business mems President. Charles
ton seemed to be striking exception
to this rule.
NO MORE NEGRO RULE.
Mayor Smyth agreed very heartily
with Senator Tillman that such ap.
pointments as DR.. Crum's would in.
jure instead of helping the negro,
as it would stir up afresh the race
antagonism that had nearly died out
during the last twenty five years. 1t
would tend to make the negroes ag
gresslve, and that would be surely
resented by the white people, who,
remembering the days of reconstruc
ton, would never submit again to
anything like negro authority.
After Mayor smyth concluded MIR.
Hemphill made a brief statement
and read to the committee the fol-
lowing from his letter to the Presi
dent:
"There are three objections to DR..
Crum's appointment:
"First. He is colored man, and
that in itself ought to bar him from
the Office. He would not be selected
for sucn a position in any Northern
city. There is no reason, but his
COLOR why he should be selected for
the Office Mt Charleston. He could
represent nothing but his color and
race. His people are not engaged
in commercial affairs. They would
not come in contact with him.
Ninety nine and q half per cent. of
those who would have business with
him wonld he white people. Would
it be good policy for the President to
appoint man to this office who would
be obnoxious to almost the entire
busineas community having relations
with the Officer What possible gain