The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-03
FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE
SOCTH.

President Roosevelts letter to Editor
Howell. of the Atlanta Constitution. not
only makes his position regarding federal
appointments in the South clear. but shows
that his action has been perfectly con-
sistent. A statement made by the Presi-
dent a few months ago defined his position
clearly enough for all who wished to un-
derstand it, but there are those who are
determined to misrepresent It, The Presi-
dent refers to this persistent effort at mis-
representation IAN outcry apparently
started in New York for reasons wholly
unconnected with the question nominally
at ISSUE This means that. in his opinion.
1T was started for political purposes. The
Presidents political enemies or rivals must
when they try to pervert his attitude of
sheer justice toward colored Republicans
as favoring social equality and negro
domination"
The first statement made by the Presi-
dent on this subject explained his position
from theoretical point of view. 1t was, in
effect, that he would neither appoint nor
refuse to appoint any person to office on
the ground of color alone, but would make
fitness the first and highest consideration.
If he could find fit and deserving man in
his own party he would, other things be-
ing equal, give him the preference, ire
spective of color, but If he could not find
fit and deserving Republican he would
look for such a person outside of the party.
He would never consent to close the door
Of hope and opportunity against colored
men simply because they were colored, any
more than he would appoint an unfit
colored man to office solely on account of
his color
The present letter deals with facts rather
than theories and shows that every act of
the President in making federal appoint
ments in the South has been in harmony
| with the views first expressed. 1t is in
teresting to learn what great care he has
exercised in making these appointments,
consulting prominent Democrats in every
Southern State as well as Republicans, in
many instances retaining Democrats in
office when he could not find good cause
for removing them, or even appointing
Democrats where he could not find a fit
and competent Republican. 1t must be
! remembered that very large majority
of the whites in all the Southern States are
Democrats and that In many towns and
villages there is not Republican, either
white or colored. competent to fill the Office
of postmaster. In such cases. making char
/ he cit he
President has appointed Democrats. 1.-THE
prime tests have applied he says, "have
been those OF character. fitness and ability,
and when I have been dissatisfied with
what has been offered within my own
party lines have without hesitation gone
to the opposite party He says that in
the great bulk of cases he has reappointed
President McKinleys appointees. and wher-
| ever he has made changes it has been on
the advice of citizens of the State of high
character. OF the new appointees, that is.
those made by himself, he says only about
| one in a hundred is colored man. Finally.
| he challenges investigation if the standard
! of federal service in every Southern State
! Is not higher than 1t was before his ac-
cession to the presidency, and he requests
| Mr.. Howell to inform him if he knows of
one federal ofhceholder in Georgia who is
not honest, faithful and capable.
The letter shows that there is absolutely
no foundation for the outcrv about the
| President appointing colored men to Office
solely on account Of their color. 1t shows
that he has taken the best possible advice
in regard to his appointments, and instead
of lowering the standard of public service
| he has raised it, and 1T shows that of the
new appointments made by him in the
South the proportion of colored men is only
about per cent. The letter vindicates the
Presidents action and should stop the
| mouths of his critics.