Milford chronicle., 1904-11-04
POLICY TOWARD S)JTH.
Presidents Plan Outlined Long
AgO-Made Careful Study of
Problem When Governor.
Has Sought Information From Best
People, White ard COlOred.
Fewer LynchilgS.

From an Editorial in outlook Of Oct. 29.l
The outlook happens to be in pos
session of information which leads it
to suggest that no man perhaps ever
went into the White House with a
keener desire to be of real and perma-
nent service to the former slave states
than Mr.. Roosevelt.
In the most careful manner the pres
ident has sought information from the
highest type of both white and colored
people concerning the political desires
and needs of both the black and the
white races and the status and defects
of their relations to the federal gov
ernment. This information was sought
for by the president before he became
president and even before he became
vice president.
The Outlook happens to know that
while Mr.. Roosevelt was holding the
position of governor Of New York he
outlined a policy which he would at
tempt to pursue If he should ever be
called to the presidency. The policy
which he then stated lie would pursue
was one which the daily press of the
south as well as the public men OF
the south had long advocated. The
/ Outlook happens to know, further, that
the president has pursued and consist
emily followed the policy outlined be-
t = 1.1r.,,,,., ~ nnnIIE
it has been possible for any human be-
( ing to do.
To begin with, in Mississippi the
president. while not seeking to over
throw or ignore the old political ma
chine. went straight to the heart Of
conditions and selected for his adviser
E. $. Wilson, a gold Democrat, the
former secretary to L Q. c. Lamar, the
Mississippi correspondent of the New
Orleans Picayune and the brother-in-
law of Governor LOngino. 1t would ar
least seem that this man had the CON
fidence and respect of the south. and
of Mississippi people especially. From
the day of his appointment by the
president this gentleman has been one
of the presidents southern advisers.
In seeking his advice upon southern
nolitics the president insisted upon one
limitation, and only one. His adviser
was to recommend none but clean men
to him for appointment giving Ike
DubIicans the first consideration, bul
where clean Republicans could not be
found. then Democrats Of good anO
proved character. The result is that
the United States district attorney Is
white Democrat, and the same j:
/. true of the register of the United States
land office and the United States mar
: shalship. These are native southern
white men who stand high i'll the es
. timation of their neighbOrs, and thes'
are but examples of what has beef
, done in dozens of other cases in MIS-
2 sissippi alone.
Now as to the negro Ofiiceholder II
= the south. The complaint that ha'
. been made against every Republican
o nresident since the civil war has beer
that many offices were filled by nord'
= Of ignorant and characterless colore'
S politicians. How did President Roose
e welt meet this situation? He has ap
nointed to office in the south fewe
$ colored men than any other president
It and i'm doing so has not only decrease'
u the quantity. but improved the quality
Il He has not only tried to do so. but ma
o actually done it,
= To how many of our readers has ]
: ever occurred that. Notwithstanding a.
n the discussion that has taken plac
it REGARDING Mr.. Roosevelt and the soutl
II nractfcally no criticism has been mad
a upou the character of the men holdln
s. office under him. white and black alike
n Fault has been found in few case
,S bacause of their color but not VII
1t their character. Not only has the elias
y Of white and colored men appointed 1
office I'm the south been Of such a hlg
character rs to escape criticism, bt
Mr. Roosevelt has done what no otht
, presidcut has done. and what the sout
n has MI along claimed should be dom
He has appointed colored men living
the north to important positions IN thi
section. as. for cX3mple, William !
II Lewis. apn9'~'a 10 the place Of assls
-o ant nITl FkdleS uloltlII 1e''A"N' ~
II Mass. ettts.
~ Wh.t the president has done in Mi
10 siss 9i in lifting up and purifying IL
st nul C service has been done in la
lie ger or smaller degree in every souther
G. staiy Special examples were IL
Mt throwing over Of the old and CORFU
Ne gang in Louisiana and the appointmel
of of former Governor Thomas G. Jon'
and Judge Roulhac, native white sout
n. erners. to important positions in Al
e. bama.
lis The main thing. however that Il
no nuhlic ought to know about is that
M failing to be controlled by old and co
ed rupt nolitical organizations, in gol
Io outside of his party to select men
m birb character for office, the preside
VS. was running a political risk which I
n ouired the very highest degree OF me
al courage and deeotiOn to public 'du
no to perform. He was taking a chanC
he as far as his political fortunes we
he concerned. which no otheR preside
in had ever taken. Time and time aga
nf tnn n