Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-03
OBJECTS TO METHODS
Views of a Southern Editor
on the Referee System.
CANDID in CRITICISM
IN SYMPATHY WITH THE ADMIN
IsTRATIoN's POLICY.
Believes That the Republican Party
Has a Future in the South Under
Certain Conditions.
BY VIM. E. CURTIS.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
the Chicago Record Herald
MOBILE, March % 1905.
Mr.. Erwin Craighead is editor of the
Mobile Register, one of the oldest, ablest
and. under its present management, one Of
the most liberal newspapers in the south
He Is man of high principles, impartial
observation and candid criticisms. While
a democrat by inheritance, education and
association, he was an ardent admrer of
the late President Mckinley, and believes,
with. many others, that he might have built
up strong republican party in the south
If his life had been spared to the end of
the term for which he was elected. He
adm1res President Roosevelt also, and never
fails to say a good word for him when oc-
casion offers. He is in full sympathy with
the principal features of the policy of the
present administration, and is a notable ex-
ample OF the southern thinking man who
believes in the republican platform and
votes the democratic ticket. 1 asked Mr..
Craighead if there was cny prospect of
building up republican party in the south,
and he replied:
The Chance for Republicans.
There is a chance of building up a re-
publican party provided the negro is not
made the principal reason for, or the prin-
cipal instrument of It; and provided office
holders are not allowed to control the or
ganization. If professional politicians, men
who make business of seeking office. are
excluded from that control plenty of earn
est, honest and patriotic white men. prop
erty owners and taxpayers, men who con-
troll large affairs and exercise social and
commercial influence, will join the repub-
i ao. party ana go to conventions and re-
cover for that party the respect and con-
hdence of the public Several conspicuous
citizens, formerly democrats, have already
announced themselves openly and 1 know
OF many others who would have done so
long ago, but for the odium that attaches
10 1t as the negro party and the office
holders party. So long as the republican
party has that reputation. so long as its
leaders are merely officeseekers and its vot-
ing strength is found among the negroes.
the class of men / refer to will hold back
entirelv?'
certainly not, He can come in, but not
as leader or an officeholder The negroes
or ssss state have unfortunately been the
tools. of professional politicians who have
uepeqded upon them to make demonstra-
uons IN state and national conventions, for
WheeYer was able to carry the delegation
got The best post office or the collector
snip, and in the absence of republican
senators and representatives the men who
controlled the organization distributed the
patronage. That was the prize every re-
publican leader has been working for. The
control OF the patronage has been eouiya-
lent to the control of the organization and
wee versa AS long as this condition ex-
lists, and it is in the power of the Presi
dent to terminate it at any time. the re-
publican party will be what it is and MOTH
ing more If the President will deprive the
working politicians of their Offices or pre-
vent the officeholders from controllin. the
organization, ! am confident that MANY
merchants, manufacturers and other busf-
ness men VIII! come forward and publicly
proclaim their adherence to republican
principles and participate publicly in tho
proceedings of that party. Under such
conditions they need not fear to lose caste,
because there they are so numerous and
there is no longer any social ostracism on
political grounds. But they will continue
to hold aloof from the persons who are now
In control of the organization by their own
efforts and in control of the offices by rea-
son of the Presidents favor.
Belief Of Alabama Democrats.
Twenty per cent of the democrats of
Alabama believe in republican principles"
continued Mr.. Craighead. Sin a protective
tariff, gold standard and support the
President in his foreign policy and the
Panama canal controversy, although they
continue to vote the democratic ticket
One-half Of the democratic party supports
the Philippine policy of the administered ton.
The other half could not offer any ex-
[
were asked for any reasons while none Of
them would be willing to let the islands go
for any consideration. The best men we
have in the community believe in President
Roosevelt. They consider him an honest, pa
triotic and able man, and admire him per-
SOnality."
You tell me there is no longer any So
cial ostracism for political reasons?"
None at all. It's a matter of the indi-
vidual. A man is reckoned according to
his personal worth, without regard to his
political sentiments. His own behavior fur
nishes the criterion by which he is judged
Joseph w. Burke. a man who settled here
after the war and held a federal office, was
as highly respected as any man in the COM
munity because he was a good citizen and
would never permit himself Or his organ
ization to use disreputable methods The
business men have erected a monument to
him in the shape of portrait which hangs
in the Commercial Club, an organization
made up chiefly of southern men. He was
a carpet-bagger but was honest and de-
voted himself to the interests of the state
and the city. At the same time he had a
great deal to do with politics. was fire.
quently a delegate to republican conven-
tons and made no secret of his political
op!nions.
''One CT the features of the federal adj
ministration will never be popular" con-
tinued Mr.. Craighead, land will prohibit
party. / refer to what is known as the
referee systematic appointment by the
President OF committee of professional
politicians and oficeholders to dispense the
federal patronage of the state In the first
place the chief motive which occupies the
mind and controls the action of the ref
cree is to hold on to his own office; and,
in order to do that 1t is necessary for him
to build around him organization which
shall control the republican conventions and
the state committee and keep him at the
head of them. Hence, it is vital for him
to put his friends and supporters into of
fees where they can serve him best He
has his representatives in every county and
consults them and not the public about fed
eral appointments. Every aspirant for Of
fee, every man who wants anything from
the administration, must cultivate the good
will of the referee. This practice has been
carried so far that Alabama is now ruled
by a triumvirate, satrapy, which controls
the republican organizations distributes the
federal patronage and represents the Pres
ident in all matters pertaining to this state.
Methods, Not Men, Objectionable.
II do not object to the men personally; l
do not object to the President having ref
erees or advisers, but the way in which the
business is managed at present is very Of