Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-13

rell was confirmed after a struggle. /
There were eight white justices and
TWO colored ones. The usual tao
tics were resorted to and -four heads
went into the basket. three white
and one colored. There was no
racial discrimination in this case.
but the colored brother got il in
the neck" just the same.
President Roosevelt appointed
five white justices and one colored.
OF course this appears to be fair
distribution on the face of things
and IL you limit TO the appointment
Of justices alone it is a fair even
ing up" among those appointed
But do not look at the judiciary Of
the District OF Columbia, every mem
Der of which belongs 20 the whiJe
race. If you do. this appointment
VIII jwindle down to the size OF a
mustard seed. Still We are thankful
for this recognition and President
Roosevelt is being rightly commend
ed for his square deaI' in this case.
II the white brother lives up to
his past record. he viii discover in
few months that the work is too
great for six justices and proceed
to increase the number to ten again.
with the obiectional Afro-American
justice left out This is what the
white folks call political diploma
cy." an easy way to dispose Of a
man. without making him ''feel
too bad"
1t seems then that we nave
snapped the real government Jobs
for "honors to the race" and that
white Republican friends at The
White House were able to land
more positions for us than Prof.
Washington has been able 10 bring
within our grasp. There should be
no surprise then that all manner oil
abuse and viulfcation are levelled
az his devoted head. Every public
man. who has been in politics has
felt the venom Of the politician and
he knows that truth is not the Ia
vorite weapon with which he at
tacks those against whom he may
have a real or imaginary grudge.
The correspondent continues:
The point OF this letter. however,
is Go state and emphasize tho fact
H H..a
Consults so freely with DR.. Washing
ton and why his suggestions carry
weight with nim IS that Dr. Wash
inEton has never permitted himself
90 become an Office broker or a
special pleader or the endorscr Of
Ia particular Individual should
DIT. Washington permit himself 20
become the endorser OF q special In
dividual or individuals. az that min
ute would his usefulness to the
President cease.
This entertaining correspondent
is very unfortunate at this point IN
his declarations for this is the very
thing that Prof. Washington IS
charged with doing and no denial
has been made Of the charges. IT
is alleged that he did endorse Nr.
w. r. Vernon. a special individual
Il is alleged that he did endorse Mr..
s.. Laing Williams. a special indi-
vidual The question narrows IT
self down to, Did Prof Washington
endorse Mr.. Vernon? DID nc en-
dorse Mr.. Williams? Did he sim
ply carry out the rule laid down by
the correspondent when he says:
The writer happens to be in pos
session Of information which ena-
bles him TO state that from the first
there has been q complete under
standing between the President AMI
D.. Washington to the effect that
DR.. Washington is not to endorse
anyone for Office. but 10 hold him
self in position, when called into
consultation. 90 give facts concern
ing the character and qualifications
OF the Individual or individuals
whom the President is considering
for appointment 70 Office.
We can see no harm in this last
position which the Ages cores
pondent assures us that MI Wash
ington has assumed. The reason
that follows is no reason. He says:
Another reason DR.. Washington is
p consulted and has influence with
the President Is that he does not
seek an Office for himself, as many
OF our public men have done.
President Roosevelt has no posi-
tlon within his gift of appointment
that would pay Prof. Washington
so well as the one he now holds.
We speak advisedly, knowing that
the range of appointment OF Prof.
Washington's cali6re and color is
limited. In our opinion, he has
the best job held by any cOlored
man on earth. He has won his way