Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-02
Would as Soon Consider Greed or Birth
place in Filing Offices
HOSTILE CRITICS MOSTLY NEW WORKERS
Men Totally Unaffected Start 0utory for
Reasons Hidden.
SAYS PUBLIC SERVANTS NAMED ARE GOOD
Refers 80 Many Democrats and
Promises TO Remove All who
May he Proved Unat for
Positions Given.

ATLANTA, Ca. March President
Roosevelt has written to the editor OF the
Constitution defending his policy with re-
gard to federal appointments in the south.
The letter was in reply to a request from
the editor that Mr.. Roosevelt answer cer>
tain criticisms passed on his actions by
Harry stillwell Edwards Of Macon.
The letter follows
Dear Mr. Howell: As to federal appoint-
ments in the south, frankly. Il seems to me
my appointments speak for themselves and
that my policy is self-explanatory. so far
from feeling that they need the slightest
apology or justification, my position is. that
on the strength Of what have done. have
the right TO claim the support of all good
citizens who wish not only high standard
Of federal service. but fair and equitable
north and policy Of consistent justice and
good will toward all men.
Considers Local Prejudlces.
In making appointments have sought to
consider the feeling of the people OF each
locality so far as l could consistently do so
without sacrificing principle. The prime
tests ! have applied have been those OF
have been dissatisfied with what has been
offered within my own party have without
hesitation gone to the opposite party, and
you are of course aware that | have re-
peatedly done this in your own state of
holding office 0or did do so should be
obliged to consider creed or birthplace also),
applicant or incumbent ls a worthy and
well behaved American citizen.
Just as little, however, viii l consider II
ucant sympathy with the man Of mere the
ory who refuses to face facts, but do you
not think that in the long run IL Is safer for
everybody IL we act on the motto "All men
up" rather than on that of Some men
DOWN. l ask you to judge not by what |
say, but what during the last seventeen
months have actually done. In your own
itate of Georgia you are competent to Judge
rom your own experience In the great
oulk OF the cases have reappointSd Pres-
lent McKiney's appontees The changes;
agree, changes for the better and not for
he worse.
whites often suppIant Blacks.
1t happens have appointed white man
TO succeed a colored man as postmaster Sn,,th az
carolipa | have similarly a3pointed white
e e. eGa5sS SsSe pos,nsaeTd terminated
colored man to I'LL vacancy in the posi-
ion of collector Of the port OF Charleston,
,oiored man who is now serving as collector
If the port of Savannah. Both are nj men.
Why the appointment of one should cause
my more excitement than the appointment
II the other am wholly at a loss to imagine.
need hardly say that to connect either OF
hese appointments or any or all my other
.ppointments or my actions IN uphoiding
,he law at Indianola, with such questions as
10 as absurd as to connect them with the
nebuar hypothesis or the theory of atoms
/
7enators and congressman as to the char
..cter and capacity OF any appointee In
Georgia concerning whom there were was was
have been Major H0nsonn of Macon, Wal
ter Johnson OF Atlanta, both Of them for for
We'll Edwards. also of Macon. believe
you will agree with me- that in no state
.sbler and more upright or better qualified
I'LL the positions they have hlled with
.eference to me. In every instance where
hau
recommendation l have been able to follow
heir advice. Am ! not right IN saying 1,s
appointed throughout your state are, as a
pody, men and women of q high order Of
ny federal ofacehoider in Georgia of whom
This is not true pray let me know al once.
will welcome testimony from you or from
any other reputable citizen which will tend
10 show that a given public 9iilcer lS un-
worthy most emPhatehSliy a h short s VII orte 9e
Is proved. Incidentally, | may mention
that large percentage of the incumbents
as 1 understand IL, of your own political
'aith But they are supported by me in
Ger good and faithful service to the public.
Refers 10 Many Democrats.
This is true of your own state and by
applying TO Thomas Nelson OF Virginia, 10
General Basil Duke of Kentucky, TO George
and Edgar s. Wilson of Mississippi, an OF
the highest standing in tsieir respective
communities, you will find that what
have done in Georgia stands not as the ex-
ception, but as the rule for what l have
done throughout the south.
/ have good reason to believe that my
appointees In the different states men
toned, and the sum of the parts Is the
whole necessarily In the south at large
represent not merely an Improvement upon
those whose places they took. but upon the
whole higher standard of federal service
than has hitherto been attained in the
communities I'm question. | may add that
the proportion Of colored men among these
new appointees Is only about / In 100
In view OF all these facts / have beer
surprised and somewhat pamed at what
seems 10 me the incOmprenensble outcry
In the south about my actions outcry
apparently started I'm New York for reasons
wholly unconnected with the question nom
inaly at issue. l am concerned at the at
titude thus taken by 50 many OF the south
ern people, but am not In the least angry
and still less will this attitude have the
effect OF making me swerve one hairs
breadth, to one side or the other, from tn,
course / have marked out, the course
have consistently followed H. the past anC
shall consistently follow in sre future.
With regards. sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.