The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09
KNOX REVIEWS THE
ROOSEVELT POLICY
Writes an Open Letter 10 Editor
of the Sun
HE DEFENDS THE SOUTH
Says Presidents Attitude Has Only
Strengthened South Against Re-
publican Party-Refutes
Alabama Democrat.
HE DEFENDS THE SOUTH

John B. Knox, president of the late con-
stitutional convention of Alabama, writes
a letter to the editor of the Sun" reply
ing to a letter recently published in that
paper purporting to emanate from a
prominent democrat of Alabama endors-
ing the Presidents position on the negro
question The letter follows:
Mr.. Chester s. Lord Editor, New York
Sun.
Dear Sir-You publish with headlines a
letter purporting to emanate from a
prominent democrat of Alabama, APP
plauding the attitude of Mr.. Roosevelt
toward the south with reference to the
negro question. and yet you have no space
in your columns for southern man who
wishes to challenge the correctness of
the views there expressed.
Mr.. Jefferson, whose craftsmanship 1t
has been the policy of the republican
party for more than a generation to dis
credit, caused to be posted, If I am cor
rectly Informed, in a prominent place In
the University of Virginia, for the guild
ance of the youth of present and flu
the truth, and the truth shall make you
free"
The trouble with you, and large class
who seem 10 agree with YOU 1t is feared,
is that you do not want to know the
truth with reference to southern condi-
lions, and hence refuse to hear those who
are qualified to testify on this subject.
A gentleman from Massachusetts re-
Gently gave out the information that in
hn x.,ha hA he had
founded a society which met weekly to
debate the negro question, and when ask
ed what facts he had to CO. replied: I'VE
have all the facts we want we have
Mr.. Schurz' article in McClures on this
subject"
Phianthropic gentlemen from the north
send few thousand dollars to Booker
Washington and complacently conclude
that they have inaugurated movement
which will work the redemption of the
negro. They seem to regard 1t as of lit
tie Importance that the south, In the
meantime, out of its poverty, has given
one hundred and thirty-flve million dol
lars to educate the negro, and from year
to year, as conditions improve, is in
creasing these appropriations
What other people in the world have
done so much for the uplifting of an in
ferior race with whom they are in poll
teal antagonism and which a large ele-
ment in the north has sought to give do
minion over them?
In the recent constitutional convention
of Alabama, a proposition was introduced
to confine the funds appropriated to edu-
cate the negro to the taxes paid by the
negro. Together with many others, I OPP
osed this end as showing the spirit of
justice which prevailed in that conven-
ton, 1 will say that the proposition was
| oyerWhe lmingly defeated,
1t Is painfully true, however that the
| conservative influence among our people
| and the efforts of those who are In po-
| sition to render substantial and practi-
| cal aid in the uplifting of this unfor-
tunate race, are greatly hampered by a
( persistent outside interference In our local
| affairs Very respectfully,
(signed) JOHN B. KNOX.
Letter Which Was Refused.
The letter referred to bv Mr.. Knox and
which the Sun refused to publish, is as
| follows:
September 10, 1904
| To the Editor of the New York Sun;
| In a recent issue of your paper, you
| publish a letter which you say emanates
from a prominent democrat in Alabama,
| defending Mr. Roosevelts southern policy
! with reference to the negro. Your paper
has had a great deal to say, within a
comparatively recent period In criticism
| of Mr.. Roosevelt. You have also given
| expression to many kindly sentiments
with reference to the great business and
| commercial development which Is going
| on in these southern states. | could not,
| II / would, criticise Mr. Roosevelt with
| more vigor-not to say intemperance-
| than your paper has INDUCED In; but II
| you will permit 1 would. like to explain
| why 1t is that southern people, with prac-
| teal unanimity, object to Mr.. Roosevelt.
| and are especially concerned with refer
ence to his policy as regards the race
| issue
| The prominent democrat whose letter
| you quote in defense of Mr.. Roosevelt's
/ policy, says that he has appointed fewer
| negroes to office than any President since
| 1868. This perhaps is true. Mr.. Cleveland
| appointed negroes to office, and Mr.. Nc
| Kinley appointed negroes to office, and 1t
/ gave no offense to the south. The differ
| ence consist in this that with Mr.. Ceve-
| land and Mr.. Mckinley the appointment
| of negroes to office and places which they
| were competent to fill, and under condi-
| tons where the appointment was other
| wise unobjectionable, was mere incl
| dent of administration, but with Mr..
| Roosevelt the appointment of negroes to
| office and his whole policy with refer
| ence to the race issue, is made a fea-
| ture of his administration. Commencing
! with the Booker Washington dinner Incl
| dent, he has industriously used all the
| powers of the executive to express his
| contempt for the most sacred feelings of
| the southern people as to the proper re-
| lation between the two races In this Sec
| ton.
The small number of negroes In your
| section perhaps makes 1t difficult to UNI
| derstand with what apprehension the
| southern man views the handling of this
I, question by a man. not only wholly out
| of sympathy with our condition, but who
i seeks to enforce his policy in contempt
uous disregard Of the interests to be i'm
! perilled If not destroyed.
The Chinese Question.
In California, the people were confront