The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-01-06
Takes Another Step in His
Southern Policy and Forces
Crun on the Whites
SENATOR T|[LMAN MAKES
RATHER WARM STATEMENT 7
One Representative Says That If Any
Trouble Occurs at lndianola 1t
viii Be Directly Due to the
Policy of the President.
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY.

BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.
Washington, January 5-(Special.)-
President Roosevelt today took another
step in his Southern policy" and forced
upon the people of Charleston s. c., a
negro surveyor of customs, one w. d.
Crum The case has already come in
for much comment owing to a letter re-
Gently written by the President to a
prominent citizen of Charleston. In this
letter the President took the ground that
there were no changes against Crum and
intimated that he would appoint him.
Citizens who desired to prevent the ap-
pointment of Crum preferred minor
charges against him, but generally speak
ing, he was opposed on the ground that
he is a negro. The Presidents action
has, therefore, caused no surprise and
it is expected tnat the nomination of the
negro Wick to the Wilson, N. c.. postoffice
will shortly be announced
Senator TiIlman Talks.
Senator Tillman of South Carolina said
tonight that the President in selecting
negroes for federal positions in the south
ern states was simply following a plan of
campaign evidently outlined to secure del
egates from the south in the next nation
al convention. Senator Tillman's words
were evoked by the submission to the
..,.t.. finx, 10
appointment was sent in this afternoon
the senator in response to an inquiry I'M
mediately announced that he would fight
confirmation.
$50 far as this special case is con-
cerned," said the senator, Il cannot see
that Crum is given this place for any
other reason than that he Is a negro, ana
If the qualifications requisite for federal
appointments are hereafter to be that the
prospective appointees are to be black.
white men of the south will be compelled
to object The President seems to stand
on a certain line of policy, which indi-
Gates the political considerations para
mount Just now. There appears to be a
race on for delegates to the national
convention. I do not think that In any
state public offices ought to be parceled
out along any settled basis of distribu-
ton. Throughout the whole state of
South Carolina great majority of white
men have protested against this nomna-
tion Of Crum. There are not 500 white
men in the whole state who will indorse
this selection. We think the President
could have selected some reputable white
republican for the place without subject
ing us to this modification. He could
even have gone to the extent of appoint
ing a carpetbagger.
Prefers Lesser of Two Evils.
1--WE now have carpetbagger postmas-
ter at Charleston. Personally am op-
posed to both negro and carpetbagger
appointees, but of the two evils l select
the latter. 1 argue that the President
should not discriminate In the states in
selecting negroes for federal offices. Why,
Tor instance, should the President not
appoint a negro postmaster at Cumber-
land, Md. Harrisburg. Pa, or some
other town in the north? Let all states
share alike; give us no partiality. 1t Is
all brutal politics. Negro delegates to
Senator McLaurin of Mississippi had a
long conference with the postmaster gen.
eral today about the Indianola postoffice,
which is closed up by executive order
much to the hardship Of the citizens of
that town, and the senator hopes that as
a result of his interview with the head
of the postoffice department some action
will be taken this week to relieve the sit
nation. The senator told the postmaster
general that the white residents of the
town were against the negro postmaster,
and the fact that a state senator had
gone on the negro woman's bond could
not be considered an Endorsement but was
simply a matter of business. TT is no
evidence of good character" said the SEN
ator "but simply evidence Of a reason
able good negro character"
Asks That Bondsmen 3e Appointed.
The senator asked thGt one OF the bonds
men be designated to act as postmaster
until an inspector sent to Indianola could
fully investigate the troubles between
their citizens and the postmaster. Senator
McI,aurin believes the administration s
information on the case is all one-sided,
and IL those who desire the postmaster's S
resignation could be heard there might
be more light thrown on the subject. 1t is
alleged by Mississippans resident here
tndl tne to"A PSoP'S - - "N- nv
responsible for the persecution of the
woman. but that number of politicians
who wished a change in the Office for
their own benefit made all the trouble
These men are said to have been for
merly allied with the democrats. Now
that they have become republicans they
wish some reward, as they always do,
and the only thing in sight is the post
office.
Administration Action Uncertain.
1T is not known here what the admin
istration will do about Senator McLau-
RMS request The statement issued from
the White House seemed to make the
acceptance by the citizens OF the Cox
tha office a sine quo non. 1t would clear
" be backdown to allow any other per-