Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-03

fensive to the people and diseredits the
President. This evil has not been con-
fined to the republican party. We had it
in the democratic party when Johnson was
governor of this state. He had his referees,
or advisers, in every county; and while
they were doubtless as capable men as he
could have found, they and their methods
were offensive to the public The whole
system was undemocratic and repugnant
to the accepted principles of self-govern-
ment. For example, in a yellow fever scare
the boat which runs across the bay from
Mobile was quarantined. The people on
the other side were not afraid of contagion,
and about 30 per cent of the populat ton
signed petition to the governor to permit
the regular ferry to go On as usual, but
he would not do 1t until he had referred
the petition to his referees. who wrote their
names at the bottom of the document and
the words we approve of this Public in
dignation was excited. The people resent
ed such humiliation, and any autocratic
interference between the public and the
head of the government like that and like
the present method of making federal APP
pointments will always be; intensely I'M
popular. =
mo one can object to the President hav-
ing advisers; he must have somebody in
each state upon whose Information and
judgment he can rely. But 1t is not neces-
sary that these advisers should be known
to the public: and it is not only unseemly
the public as the representatives of au-
thority and as the dispensers of the fed
eral patronage. The referees, who have
been distinguished by the Presidents ia
vor, have become overlords in the political
field. They put on show of power and
make themselves obnoxious to the public
view. Worse still is it when the referees
are office holders and bend every energy
toward strengthening themselves in their
positions and use every influence to build
up an organization, not for the good of
their party or the public, but for the good
OF themselves. Every sub official must
koWtoW to them or thinks he must do so,
on peril of having a bad report sent in
about him. The situation is thus the parent
OF lnsidious widespread, progressive evil
Il believe that the President wants to
nave a decent republican party in the
south. The Alabama democrats want a
decent opposition party in the state. and
L volunteer the suggestion, therefore, that
the first step to make republicanism decent
Is to make the leadership of the party in
the south less in evidence less dictatoriaI,
less masterful in the rule over federal aft.
1alrs In these states where it is felt that
they are regarded in high places as some
thing akin to conquered provinces. There
can be no manner of doubt that much will
be gained for the public welfare bv the
purllcatlon of the republican party in
Alabama and its establishment upon the
plane of decency''
Negroes Not Politically Active.
Is the negro eliminated from politics
here?''
There is very little political activity
among the negroes" said Mr. Craighead.
very few of them registered as voters UNI
DER the new constitution-only 1S9 in this
county out of 30,C0o. Their preachers and
other leaders advised them not to quail
lily, on the theory that it would make a
stronger impression upon the north. The
cclored people of Mobile and the permanent
residents Of this vicinity, as a rule are
DONG very well. They have had good
schools, most of them have learned to read
and write, and they could have qualified
as voters very generally. But perhaps it
is just as well that they RETAINED from
DONG SO. for it takes them out of consider
fetal.
Generally speaking, the negroes in this
county are improving, but a great many
ignorant and worthless people from the
river country are drifting down here seek
Ing employment and the excitement of city
life. They work well for a short time, but
as soon as they get their pay they lay off
and spend the money in dissipation. The
great majority of the city negroes are in
dustrious, reliable men, and are constantly
In their condition. l wish you
could have been here on Labor day to have
witnessed their parade The mechanics and
ianorlhg classes are thoroughly organized
into labor unions, and you would have
seen long procession of well-dressed
good-looking, clean, self-respeeting, honest
men. they buy homes, support their fami-
lies, educate their children and put their
money in savings banks. The negroes here
are beginning to form castles and to shun
the worthless ones. There is no greater
adherence of an idle, worthless, dissipated
negro among the whites than there is
among the industrious and respectable peo-
pie of his own race.
The progress of the negro depends upon
industrial EDUCATION. There is place for
him If he will keep his place Booker
Washington's school at Tuskeeee and 9th
ers of the same kind are doing a great deal
of good and are deserving of every encour-
agement.
Not long ago, at my request, Wash
lngton sent man around quietly to look
up the records of all of his former stu
dents In montgomery county and 1t is
gratifying to know that there was a good
report of every one Few northern people
understand the negro character or appre-
ciate the situation here, but after they live
here while they learn it.
I'VE have in Mobile negro citizens that
are respected by the white people as highly
as If they were of white blood. AS a fair
Owens, one of the teachers in our public
schools, and until recently director of
home for old colored people. He is a re-
publican, but not politician, and comes
as near being a Christian gentleman as
any man in the south. He-has the COM
plete confidence of the public. which will re-
spond to anything he asks. Twenty-Five
to give the inmates of the Old Peoples
Home Thanksgiving dinner, and his char
ity has extended from year to year, until
now he gives not only a Thanksgiving
dinner but Christmas dinner to the in
mates of all the hospitals, the poor house