The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-10
COL. MOSBY TALKS
 OF HIS VISIT HERE
HE SAYS HE ISN'T 4 PoSToFFlcE INSPECTOR AND HASN'T SEEN j. o. THoMPsoN-sELMA POST. OFFICE CASE.

Col. John s. Mosby. the gallant ex- Confederate soldier at present connected with the department of justice at Wash ington, and reputed to be the special en- voy of President Roosevelt to investigate the federal political affairs of Alabama, is the guest of his kinsman General E. w Fucker on South Highlands
 Col Mosby will leave tomorrow for Anniston to visit friends and relatives there and will return to Washington in q few days.
 When asked regarding the rumor that he was inspecting the referee system and the postoffice affairs of the state, Col. Mosby replied that he was no postoffice inspector and that he was not in Ala bama for the purpose of looking after alleged irregularities
 "Is the report true that you are in Birmingham for the purpose of investi- gating the referee system in Alabama and J. O. Thompson, internal revenue collector and state chairman. in partieu- lar?" was asked Col Mosby.
 'I am no government inspector" he replied, and have not even seen Mr. Thompson since I have been in Birming- ham. A short time ago 1 spent several days in Birmingham and did not call on Mir. Thompson during my stay in the city"
 Are you in the city for the purpose of looking Into the affairs of the Birming- ham pcatoffice?"
 q am not postoffce inspector and
 
 to look after such matters"
 How about the Selma postoffice2" was asked Col. Mosby.
 "I had been asked he replied, ito
 look into certain conditions relative to the appointing of a postmaster at that place l was of the opinion that an eff fort was being made to replace the pres- ent postmaster who Is q woman, by a man and was very much mortified to find that this was not the case but that some minor clerical Irregularities had been filed against the postmaster. It was somewhat embarrassing because was under the impression that 1 was go- ing over to Selma to see if 1 couldn't be of some assistance to the postmaster there. and can't understand why I was asked to look into the clerit Il conditions of the office.
 'I believe" continued the colonel, that it would bring any administration in favor were women postmasters appointed In all the postofices of the country where con- dtions would 90 permit Women are naturally better suited for the panstak- ! Ing duties required of postofhce clerks. In no sense should any postmaster, where she Is giving satisfaction, be turned out of office to make room for politician solely for political reasons q am pleased to see," said Colonel Mosby, who was here yesterday. that the people of the south are beginning to understand President Roosevelt. White on my present trip, I have heard only praise of the President from the people in all walks of life. I am also gratihed to see that the southern newspapers have come to know the President There is no doubt that this kindly feeelng to- wards him has deeply touched the Presi- l dent. and that he will manifest his ap- preciation on his trip south. Birmingham and Alabama, 1t appears. should naturally be republican. have heard many citizens of this city say that they voted for Parker in the last elec- ton and prayed for the election of Roose- welt. Many voters of this. district favor a protective tariff. At the meeting of the Cane Growers at Montgomery high tarifr on sugar was endorsed
 How about the negro issue?" was ask ed.
 That so-called issue,Y replied the col- onel, Ifs no issue at all. It is a fact, indisputable that during the last eight years of republican administration the negro in this state has welded far less influence in politics than he did during c1eveland's administration. Does that look as if the south is in any danger from this source? Can it be doubted that the colored man is better off than he was before? The confering of the ballot on the negro Instead of helping him caused many to be Killed that might otherwise have been alive"