The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-30
ROOSEVELT AND THE SOUTH.
written for The Manufacturers Re.
cord by T. G. Bush Of Birming-
ham, Ala.)

On a recent visit to Washington /
had the pleasure of an interview with
President Roosevelt. He received me
all his visitors, and though very busy
on h opening day of congress, he
very c~ourteoUsly and kindly gave me
time to discuss several questions OF
interest. and some of a nature partic-
ularly SO to a southcrner, No one
can talk with President Roosevelt
without being impressed with the
act that lie is honest, capable and
patriotic, and hat he deeply feels
the harden of his great respon-
sibility and Is geatly concerned about
the prosperity of every section of the
country. In talking evith him you
cannot but conclude that he has earn
to all governmental questions, with
a partiC Jlar desire to give to the peo-
pie the best class d government APP
pointees available, considering the
fact that he must necessarily rely on
the aid and Judgment of others TO a
very large degree. His action with
reference to appointments is under
stood and 6rfy appreciated By the
people of my own state when they re
member the appointment OF Judge
Thomas c. Jones. Judge Roulf1ac and
Judge Kyle-all demOcrats-to inn
portant and responsible positions. On
inquiry i learned shat of 1900 postra&s
tiers in Mississippi % are negroes, FIVE
being in comn7uHities where no white
people live. In the other Is cases
most Of not alb were, 1 believe, ap-
kpointees of Mr.. Mckinley, or disc
kwhere an effort had been made to
Nbstitpte more competent negroes for
pse aiready.tk1 office. The appoint
pts made IN the southern states
orally ave demonstrated theS fact
where { p president could not,
is judgment, find competent and
factory republicans, he has not
kted tosappoint democrats. either
gold or Bryan persuasion
NATURALLY 1 made reference to
klstrial development of the
spoke of the fact thzt the
D. WELD a tremendous force
and some day be>strong
kial politically. The pres
E fully recognized and ap-
coming development of
Id that when tie was
(laims of the Panama
pclusion he fully real
Rr advantages tina the
great ship waterway
the southern states,
n very muchsto know
rn people in their
rests, would be re-
w and large oppor-
quite evident TO me
kO~osevelt's sympathies
to the south, and that
Earnest desire to see this
Ky ~recuperate from the de-
II and disaster which naturally
Fed the civil war.
do mot hesitate to say that the
president has no desire whatever to
sse negro domination in tine south.
and is in no sense in favor of negro
social equality. He does no think
that the formal recognition aof the
negro in connection with the functions
of the great office he holds could be
fairly construed as making mrs an ad-
vocate of negro social equality. He
is of course, a friend to the negro, GER
tainly to tine extent of his having a
fair showing as to improving his en-
vironments and equipping himself for
the privileges which the constitutions
of che several southern states III form
and substance grant to him. Every
fair-minded sOutherner will
this much, for it must be apparent to
every intelligent southern man that
the negro will be more acceptable and
useful to the extent of being better
equipped for the department Of work
in which he can advantageousiy en-
gage and his moral character improv-
ed. 1t is evident to any employer of
labor that increased Intelligence
brings increased efficiency, and to a
great degree aHnigher appreciation of
responsibility. Those who are help
ing the negro along these fines are
doing a good work for hat race. as
we'll as for the best interests OF all
concerned.
The negro question has presented
itself in different phases. and morefre-
Gently has been discussed in connec-
ton with the proposed reduction IN
representation in congress from the
SouIIlCAh SluNCS i uu ilOl hAAO"
presidents views as to this matter,
but it is reasonable to assume that as
it was not mentioned in his message
to congress he did not think it OF SUI
fcient Importance to be considered |
at this time. No one iSputes the
fact that the adoption of new consti-
buttons by several of the southern
states vas for the purpose of restrict
ing suffrage in such a way as to place
the control Of said states in the hands
Of the intelligent and vfrtuous. From
a certain date the new constitution OF
Alabama places the same restrictions
upon the white and black with refer
ence to qualifications for suffrage. H.
however, this question of reduction IN
representation is to be seriously con-
sldered, with a view of affecting All
states alike-andl il shall be shown