The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-11-04
rom the Macon Telegraph.


of a Worthy n
From the Macon Telegraph.
President Roosevelt, who fed
Booker T. Washington at his family
table, seems to have soured on his
negro friends.
Recently there was organized in
Wadesboro, N. c., 1.-The National
Afro-American League" which was
chartered by democratic courts Of
that state. and commended editorial
" bv some of the North Carolina
democratic newspapers. Its purposes
are as set forth, to provide play
grounds for negro children, parks for
grown-up negroes, good hotel accom-
modations for our race. the beautify-
ing of negro houses, the lettering of
the condition of the negro farmers,
etc"
The officers of the League, having
seen that the president had written
letter commencing just such
movement among the whites, wrote
him, asking for word of encourage
ment from them. Imagine their sur
prise when they received the follow
ing from Mr.. Loeb, Jr.:
The White Hhouse, Washington,
Oct. l6. 1908-My Dear Sir: In re-
ply to your letter of the 18th inst,
| regret very much to state that the
president cannot undertake to COM
ply with your wishes. He is con-
stantly receiving requests that he en-
dorse and express approval Of various
undertakings, and if complied with
IN one case he feels that he would
have to do so in literally hundreds of
others, which would be out of the
question. His action in not endors-
ing any undertaking of course des not
imply an opinion one way or the 9TH
er as to the merits of the movement
in question. Trusting that you will
understand the conditions in this re-
gard l am very truly yours,
WIN. LOEB, JR,
Secretary to the President.
Mr. R. J. Beverly, Wadesboro,
n c."
This was a bitter disappointment
for had not the hated southern
democratic newspapers said a good
word for their undertaking. and
bitter letter was written in reply,
setting forth this disappointment,
and stating in conclusion that follow
ing his example they were giving
their letter to the public.
1t seems that Roosevelt, in giving
his letter to the public, meant to
cut out the negroes, probably with
the hope of getting white recruits IN
the south-in Georgia and North
Carolina, The letter in reJolnder
complains that they (the negroes
are not allowed to go into Lily
White republican convention in the
southern states" and a general bolt
from the republican party is threat
eHed
All Of this is interesting, because
1t shows that the republicans never
mad any use for the negro except Tor
ms vote, it shows that they are Will
ing to slap the southern negro IN
lne lace where he is practically out
ol the voting, in the hope of getting
white votes in their stead, and trust
ing to their ability to buy and hold
the negroes in the close states OF the
north; it shows that there is we'll
Planned and deliberate meaning IN
Ine TACT that the republican conVen-
uon held in Macon on Monday did
not have a single black face in 1t.
The first president in the history
%! our country to feed a negro at
HIS family table in the white house
puts his boot to the negroes backs
oelore that president leaves the white
house
me first act was a political play
80 was the last act.
ne negroes were fooled by the
first act.
Are there any southern whites silly
enough to be fooled by the last act?
When Roosevelt fed a negro at the
"nIte house table it was grand
'lahu play for the negroes, and they
ahe tumbling readily at his feet,
oI they are of race which is IN
them.
but now Roosevelt is dealing with
'"other race of men-men of the
2ouIh made of sterner stuff-when
Az Az plays the game to their preju-
o,Ces' Will they tumble to him be-
n rauSe he kicked a niger" like the
Pgs[oes tumbled to him when he fed
Il, lew might do such thing, per-
n D"Ea, pHt the great mass of southern
r reIple VIII not be caught with the
ii i+n53 nook angled by the great po-