The Washington bee., 1908-06-27

nees and reafirming their confidence
in the safety and sanity of the Repub-
lican party on all questions affecting
the well-being of the Negro race.
The first person to secure the word
that Taft had been nominated was the
War Secretary's faithful messenger,
William PannelI, who has Travelled
much with his chief, and who has
been for years a firm believer that
destiny had marked him for the preSi-
dency of the American Republic. An
other colored man who derives the
most intense satisfaction from the
success of the Secretary is Maj. Ar
/ thur Brooks, who went to Cuba and
the Philippines with him, and who is
as devoted to his personal fortunes
as any member of his family could
possibly be.
Every colored attache of the War
Department is as proud over the re-
suit as if he had been handed an in
dividual promotion. The only regret
that comes to them is that his genial
presence is to no longer illuminate
the recesses of the great department,
which has been made the main arm of
the Government by the mastery MN
ner in which he has administered it.
Two kilograms congratulating Sec
retary Taft upon his victory may be
taken as typical of the sentiment Of
the thoughtful Negroes as to the re-
suit of the deliberations at Chicago.
The first, coming from DR.. Booker T.
| Washington, reads as follows:
Tuskegee Institute, June 70, 'o8.
My Dear Sir: - Most hearty and
sincere congratulations You more
than deserve it all. I feel quite sure
you will be triumphantly elected to
the presidency, and that my race will
assist in bringing about the result.
Booker T. Washington.
The second was from Vice-Presi-
dent James J. Dosson, of the Liberian
| Commission, and the other two en-
voys joined in signing the significant
note of confidence The telegram
read:
New York, June 70, 'oS.
"Sir-The news of your nomina-
ton by an almost unanimous vote to
the highest position in the gift of
free people has just reached us, and
we hasten to send you, in the name
of the Republic of Liberia, our warm
est congratulations, praying Heavens
I blessings upon you
The cordial reception given the en-
voys by Secretary Taft a few days
ago in Washington has regarded by
them as an earnest of his deep in
terest in the welfare of the colored
race everywhere, and made distinct
ly favorable impression upon them.
They made it plain to friends here
that the people of Liberia could ask
nothing better than that their colored
well-wishers in this country would do
their level best to makeWilliam How
ard Taft the successor to President
Roosevelt at the White House.
Secretary Taft retires from Office
July I, and is to be succeeded by Gen.
Luke B. Wright, former Goevrnor-
General of the Philippines, following
Governor Taft in that position, and
later Ambassador to Japan. The new
Secretary is a Tenneseean, and is one
! of the leading lawyers not only of his
own State, but of the entire South.
1t is stated with confidence by those
who know him intimately that he has
always been foremost in advocating
and insisting upon fair treatment for
the colored people. AS Secretary of
War, General Wright will have an
army of colored employees under his
direction, and it will be very agree
able to them to be assured that they
may look to him for the same gen.
erous and sympathetic treatment that
was meted out with such a lavish
hand by his predecessor.
Secretary Taft, during the turmoil
and excitement attending his nomina-
tion for the presidency, issued an or
der to the quartermaster general of
the army, directing the reservation of
a suitable plot of ground in the Ar
lingtOn National Cemetery as a site
| for monument IN cOa~tof bo,,o~ =. {