The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-05


Taylor, a negro, was his guest at din
ner at the White House, was made
with such promptness that 1t practi-
eally paraiyzed Congressman Scott OF
Kansas who made the statement on
the floor of the House. All that Mr..
Scott could say in support of his
statement was that somewhere, at
sometime he had seen it stated that
Taylor had dined with Mr. Cleveland
at the White House, but he was not
able to produce the paper. In future
Mr.. Scott will be more careful in
making statements respecting the af-
fairs of other people He is d COM
paratively young man, and, judging
from the sketch of himself in the
Congressional directory, modesty isn't
his strong point.
Taylor was a character and had
quite a career. He was a very short
and very fat man with a wonderful
gift of CAB" He could talk by the
hour and never seemed at loss
for something to say. He pro-
fessed to be a Democrat and he was
probably as much of a Democrat as
anything else. His alleged Democracy
was his capital, and he made it pay.
He held an Office in Kansas City and
was a delegate to one of the Democratic
National Conventions. Mr.. Cleveland
made him minister to Liberia, but the
place didn't suit him. He finally land
ed in the office of register of deeds
in Washington, d. c. His success in
getting office could not have been due
to his political influence with his race
because he does not appear to have
had any. 1t was due to his ability and
his cheek. His cheek was monumental.
No man of his race that has become
known to the public surpassed him
in that respect. When compared with
him even Booker Washington must
take d back seat. He believed in get
ting all he could out of the white peo-
pie and Booker Washington appears
to believe in the same thing.
However, there is no good reason
why Democrats should find fault with
President Roosevelt for having Book
er Washington to dine with him. That
incident cured Southern Democrats of
any leaning they ever have had to
Republicanism, and checked the tend
ency that was cropping out among
certain white people in some sections of
the South to gush over Booker WASH
ington as an exceptionally intelligent
and an altogether admirable represen-
tative of the negro race. AS a mat
ter of fact, Washington in Alabama
is a wholly different person from
Washington in New York or Boston.
He works fools according to their
folly. He is not to blame for that,
however. He is doing all he can for
himself, but in dining with the Presi-
dent he did the white people real
service, Both Washington and the
President are better understood be-
cause of that incident. Had it not
taken place it is probable that the
President would now have a larger
following in the South, particularly
among the young men.
But, coming back to Taylor. He
was born here in Savannah and start
ed out in the world from here to
seek his fortune. If he were alive
he would find keen enjoyment in the
question that has been raised rela-
tive to his dining with Mr.. Cleveland
at the White House. Failing to get
his feet under the White House ma
hogany he would have gloried in a
report that he had succeeded in do
ing so. He permitted no incident that
could be used to improve his political
fortunes to be neglected. Mr.. Cleve-
land, however. while willing to help
advance him in his political career,
knew where to draw the line. He is
better balanced than Mr.. Roosevelt is.
1t is safe to say that in this opinion
Congressman Scott cpncurs.