The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-30
4 HYrocRrrrcAL PLANT.

Roosevelt complains that the people boasts of his Southern blood. and de- ciares that if the people of our section understood him better they would not be prejudiced against him. With all due respect to him we assure him that he is the one who lacks understanding. The people of the South understand him only too well. for he gives them no reason for falling to do so.
 Take Alabama as a fair example of what is going on all over the South.
 what choice or voice have "the people, of this State over the selection of ofi- cials? A community cannot even select fourth class postmaster for them selves It must all be done through tho two men selected by the President as his referees, neither of whom could get any position in this State by the voice of the people. The President practically places the Federal patron age of Alabama in the keeping of these two men, and they do what they be- lieve will advance their interests and please him. It Is not what the people want, or what the good of the service requires. but what the referees want done and the President does 1t
 Take some recent instances of his carpet-bagging methods of locating Federal officials without consulting the wishes of the people most directly in- terested. An assistant postmaster car pet-bagged to Ensley, another to Bes- semer. postmasters to Dothan, to Ma rion and to Andalusia. Saying noth- ing of the character or reputation of these appointees. upon what the ory of moral ethics can two men like the Alabama referees shift men at will from one section of the State to an- other to fill local offices? If Roosevelt Is not satisfied and pleased withs such performances he Is exceedingly slow about showing disapproval.
 Can any one have a sufficiently vivid mind to imagine Grover Cleveland turn ing the Federal affairs of Alabama over Ito two obscure politicians. with auto cratic power to dictate appointments as they please? Would a Cleveland complain that he was not understood and appreciated by the people of Ala bama while at the same time he was pursuing a course best calculated to alienate them? The idea Is absurd. A man of his character, honesty and fair frxy fn In ba yisA of our people by consultation with men qualified to counsel and advise him. He would not put the entire matter into the keeping of men like the Alabama referees.
 Roosevelt's claim or plaint that he is not understood in the South Is the plea of a hypocrite. He knows he is under stood and that he is appreciated at his real value. He knows that the South ern people despise his methods and voluntarily and systematically made himself odious to this section and every act only serves to emphasize that feel ing. If he wants to do justice in Ala bama let him rid himself of his hang ers-on. who are out for what there is in it. and consult men who are qualified to advise him. Otherwise he has no right to complain If our people learn to despise him as much as they dread him as President.
 It is not strange that the people of the South should feel that there are vital issues in this contest. More than the tariff and the trusts. more than inn perIalism or finance, more than any one issue. do they dread Rooseveltism as applied here All the people of all the country should dread 1t. but we in the South feel that We can look for no settled peace and quiet till we elect President who will administer the gov ernment on constitutional lines and safeguard the well being of all the peo- pie. First, get rid of Roosevelt, and after that his tools will have to seek other occupations.