The Washington herald., 1907-04-10
Foraker, Through Secretary
Opposed Black Carrier.
BUT APPOINTMENT WAS MADE
Episode Attracted No Little AtteH-
sion IN High Quarters, Owing to Is
sue Raised in Brownsville Case.
superintendent SDilman. However,
Passed II out OF His Mind at Once.

dismissed Brownsville negro troops, and
thereby regarded among the negroes Of
the country as champion of their cause in
general, has. through his private secre-
tary, endeavored 10 block the appointment
OF d negro rural mail carrier at Batavia,
Ohio, on the sole ground of color, is the
interesting bit of gossip that has fioated
back ana forth between high government
officials during the past three months, but
only came to light yesterday.
It appears upon investigation that near
the close Of January, about the time that
the distinguished Ohioan WAS forcing the
Brownsville matter to its crisis and
launching his paraDhrase OF a popular
song. ''AIt Men Look Alike 10 Me Charles
L. Alden, his secretary. went to the Civil
Service Commission and thence TO the
Post-ohice Department, with a view 10
preventing. il possible, the appointment
OF the negro carrier. but was told that the
appointment had been made and that spe-
cifc charges would have TO be brought
against the carrier to cause his dismissal.
Secretary Assumes Blame.
Ia view of the Senator's attitude in the
Brownsville case and the consequent ia
vog In which he is regarded by the negro
voters Of Ohio and elsewhere. his pOliti
cal opponents are expected TO make the
most of the incident which is thought
By many to reflect upon the consistency
OF Mr.. Foraker's imDersonauon of the
role Of redressor Of wrongs, advocate OF
the square deal" 10 all, regardless Of
trace, color, or previous condition. &c.
Through his secretary, Mr.. Alden, the
Senator denies al knowledge of the Incl
dent, Mr.. Alden explaining that he took
the matter up himself without consulting
lis chief. bat as one official who knows the
details Of the affair." said yesterday, this
is hardly expected TO satisfy the Sena-
tors opponents
Unusual retiCence as 10 the details Of
the incident. but a decided air of we
could tell if we wanted to- greeted those
investigating the affair at the Post-olfice
Department. From the highest official
10 -he lowest employee there was appar-
entity a general knowledge OF the Sena-
tors sacret8rv's attempt to assist some
of his constituents To draw the color line,
but nobody seemed capable of remember
ing where he had heard the rumor Mr..
Alden. when questioned, admitted having
visited the Post-offce Department and
aol0red rural carrier appointed at Ba-
tayia. out Mr. Spllman. superintendent of
Tho Rural Delivery Division, 10 whom AIR,
Alden said he had applied professed not
10 have the slightest remembrance of the
affair
SpiIman's Memory in Eclipse.
The remarkable forgetfulness of Mr..
Spilmuu appeared all the more strange
ficers freely admitted having a certain
amount of knowledge of the Incident IN
asmuch as Mr.. Alden communicated with
no other p0st-office officials but Mr.. Spill
man ON the occasion in question. how Mr.
Spi.man could have managed to start the
story ON its way through all the principal
divisions of the department and onward to
the White House, and yet forget all about
il himself must ever Doe a mystery. For
example Mr.. Spilman's immediate supe-
rior Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral p. Y De Graw, knew much more
about the affair than Mr.. Splman cared
20 know.
Despite Mr. Spilman's lack of memory.
however il was finally learned that Janu-
AIRY -. Charles A. Jackson, colored, was
appointed as rural NAL carrier at Ba-
appointment MIR. Alden interviewed Mr..
Spilman and asked if il We're not possible
10 appoint another, as the people on the
route objected TO q negro carrier.
Some One EnIists AIden's Sympathy.
Just what Mir. Alden's conversation with
Mir. Spilman disclosed at the time can
not as Yet be learned. Mr.. Alden gives a
version of the affair, and MT. Spilman
doesn't remember it at all But that it
got 10 the ears of Mr. COrtelyou, then
Postmaster General, that Senator For
aker had sent an emssary 10 protest
against the appointment is not denied,
and inquiries at the White House show
that the story came eventually 10 the
President himself IN substantially the
same form
According TO Mr.. Alden. he acted upon
the information conveyed in a letter from
some one ia Cincinnati Who this some
one was Mr.. Alden has forgotten. al
though his memcry is somewhat OF an
Improvement on Mr.. Spilmau's. But il
appears that the letter was from some
Political power in Cincinnati who sug-
gested that tie people of Batavia would
rather have white carrier and that the
Senator should see what he could do
ABOUT it, Without consulting the Senator
Mr. Alden says, he went 10 the Civil
Service Commission and found that Jack
son had already been certified for ap-
pointment and that any move 10 block
the appointment must be made at the
P0st-ofice Department,
SDiIman sorry for the Secretary.
Mr. Alden said yesterday thar he spoke
with Mr.. Spiman. who said thar the ap-
pointment had been made. and that it
was, therefore, too late to make shift
According 10 1Ir. Alden. Mr. SpilmaR said
that had the request been made prior TO
the appointment, it would have been pos
sible 10 drop Jackson and appoint the
next eligible. despite the fact that he had
been certified for appointment by the
civil Service Commission and there We're
no charges against him except his color.
Then. according 10 Mr.. Alden. SIR
Spilman stated that nothing could be done
to help the Senator's secretary TO please
the Senator's political friend in Cincin-
natl and incidentally the people OF Ba-
tavia unless charges rejecting upon the
character f the appointee could be
brought 10 justify his dismissal from the
service. II would appear from Mr.. Al
den's account that Mr.. Spilman seemed
regretful that the matter had not been
brought 20 his attention in time TO allow
him 70 crafty the secretary OF the Sen
ator