The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
 MIR. ROOSEVELT Caters to Neither Lilies
 Nor Rivals. LOOKS ONLY TO FITNESS Administrations Answer to Wellman'S Ultimatum. In Effort to Be Straight Forward, 1t is Claimed, the President
 Treads on Toes of Both
 Factions.

Washington, Feb. H.-<Special- -l-The statemsnt issued by w. L. Wellman. chairman of the executive committee of the '.Lily White Republicans of Ala bama. is answ cred to-day by k. c. How land. of New York, a close friends of President Roosevelt. MT. Rowland was also . personal friend of President Mo kinley.
 Mr. Howlands statement Is cited as coming from MT. Roosevelt himself and the virtual answer from the President to MT. Weilman. MT. Rowland saadt At is apparent that 1t is the purpose of Chairman wellman to place himself in open antagonism to the policy of the ad- ministration and to appeal to race preju- dice in the politics of his State. It can be stated that his utterances do not an- noy the President or his advisers. Rath- CT they are welcome. as they serve more clearly to illuminate the situation.
 Came from White House.
 MT, Wellman's announcement that he refuses to call a meeting of the commit tee to rescind Its action in excluding ne- gro voters from the Republican organiza- ton is not a surprise. His numation that the effort to have that action re- scinded emanated from the White House is undoubtedly correct. And he might have made his intimation much stronger without fear of contradiction.
 "The plain fact that cannot be stated too often is that President Roosevelt is heartily. candidly, openly and avowedly opposed to any movement that would put the Republican party in the position of excluding and disfranchising the negro voter in the South, while standing for his equal political rights in the North.
 Tn his effort to be straightforward. to take no sides because of the race Ques- ton and to make fitness the chief quail ficatton for appointment to Federal of- fees in the South, the President is do ing the very thing that would alienAts from his support for nomination the or ganization and the men who control Il and who will in all probability dictate the personnel of the Southern delegations to the next National Convention.
 Instead of scurrying favors MT Roosevelt is constantly displeasing both factions in this controversy by his Anoe- pendence of either.
 Blacks and Tans Not Powerful.
 "A new fact for example MT. We'll mans utterance serves to bring into prominence is that the administration Is not allowing its appointments to be dc tated by the opponents of the '1dly White" organization any more than by the Lily White leaders
 He will not use patronage to punish or reward either side, but strives to be guided by ascertained fitness alone.
 For example the opponents of the Wellman organization in Alabama wished a certain postmaster not to be reap pointed this week because he was in fa- vor of the Lily White movement but Postmaster General Payne asoertaAned AwA0ltAY1t official of high standing in his commu- nity and the re-appointment was made probably as much to the surprise of the Lily Whites as to the disappointment of some of the purely political colored leaders.
 "In other words the administration would have 1t understood that 1t will not continuance dictat1on that says a man should not be appointed to office for the reason that he Is coLored nor on the other hand will the administration permAt the removal of men from office when they see At to punish faction.
 Tn making Alabama appointments the President has received the adV4oe Of Booker T. Washington. But he has also consulted the views of Judge Jones and ,of Judee Roulhac. two prominent white gold Democrats.
 Thus the assertion that General James &. Cfarkson, whom MT. Weahnan des- cribes as a federal office holder in New York has interfered in Alabama State politics may be passed without special attention.
 General Clarkson has bean interested in the welfare of the negro race ever since the days of the underground rail- road. but MT. Roosevelt Is not violating all his principles or reversing all his dec aarations by employing federal office holders for personal or factional purposes ip local politics"