The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-23
PRESIDENT LIKES
 REFEREE SYSTEM Thompson Speaks of Oyster
 Bay Conference THE ALABAMA SITUATION Thompson and Aldrch Conferred Last Nght-conferenc of Friends of Administration Will Soon
 Be Called.
THE ALABAMA SITUATION

Internal Revenue Collector J. O. Thomp- son and w F. Aldrlch, two of the Ala bama referees of President Roosevelt held a conference last night and 1t was decided to call a conference of the ad- ministrations friends in the state in the near future
 It will be the purpose of the gathering to determine the future policy of the ad- ministration republicans in Alabama and to agree on the candidates to be presented to the party for national committeeman and chairman of the state committee.
 The conference will probably be called immediately upon the return to Brming- ham of Capt. Charles H. Scott, the third Alabama referee. who is now in the east Oyster Bay Interview.
 Collector Thompson has just returned from Oyster Bay where he had an extend ed interview with President Roosevelt and he stated last night that all the talk about return of the chief executive to the lilly white faction was the veriest fiction He said that the President is well 
 that it was his expressed determination to continue the system of referees in Ala bama until the next national convention and probably longer.
 "The President thinks that the system has worked we'll" remarked MT. Thomp- son, and that the government service has improved under it. I spent several d in ri nd up there the Presidents nomination seems to be conceded by every one The democrats do not seem to agree on either candidate or policy. while the President 8 friends feel as sure of his election as of his nomination"
 Thompson on Roosevelt.
 Among other things Mir Thompson re- marked that he was greatly impressed with the Presidents kindly feeling to- wards the southern people.
 His temperament is essentially south ern," said MT. Thompson. "He showed us a copy of document signed by one of his ancestors as governor of Georgia and seemed to consider 1t among the most valuable of his possessions. He feels the livelest interest in everything that will promote the welfare and prosperity of the southern states, and does not hes itate to so express himself, whenever the | occasion calls for it.
 He seemed to regret the criticisms of the southern press, chiefly because he felt that they ascribed to him motives for some of his actions, wholly foreign both to his nature and to any purpose regard to the southern people. The south made the same mistake in respect to Gen eral Grant, who at the close of the war was one of the staunchest friends that the southern people had, but who when he became a candidate for President and afterwards filled that office received noth- ing but abuse at the hands of the south ern press.
 "I do not believe that anywhere north of the Mason and Dixon line the south has more cordial friend. or one who is a truer well-wisher for its good. than the present chief executive of the United States. Every man from the south who meets him soon realizes this as well as the fact that he Is a man of strong con his honest beliefs Many a thing for which he has received censure by south ern papers and politicians, would, if pro- perly understood, present him in a very different light to our people and entitle him to their grateful respect and conf- dence