The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-12-10

WdSuIu6 IOu, ~, VI, DeC. S.-lHc
first colored man to be invited to
Hot Springs for a conference with
President-elect William Howard Taft
was DR.. Booker T. Washington.. A
special message sent to DR.. Washing
ton a fortnight ago by Mr.. Taft sug-
costing that he would like to see him
and go. over a number Of matters OF
vital Importance to the Negro people
OF the country. Previous engage
ments preventing. his acceptance OF
the invitation, however, the Tuske-
gee educator arranged to have his
private secretary, Mr.. Emmett J.
Scott, go in his stead.
Mr.. Scott reached Hot Springs, the
policial Mecca, on Saturday Of last
week and had an extended conference
with the President-elect, the discus
sion lasting fully two hours The
exact subjects taken up were not
given out by either Mr.. Taft or Mr..
Scott, but 1t Is understood that the
Interview covered pretty thoroughly
the, mooted questions touching the
relation Of the Negro to the Ameri-
can body polite, and that the views
W DA' WHICH MT. l1II
was quite anxious to know, were
very ably presented by the eminent
Tuskegeean's faithful secretary Mr..
Scott. There are ample reasons to
believe that the Interview was in
every way satisfactory and great
good 4sHsin >:alEo n. sasaSa4of the eonclu-,
sions reached through the facts so
clearly ana cRndiaiS sBet; forth at Dr.
5 Washih gton's suggestion: At the
close OF the conference Mr.. Scott left
Hot Springs" for New York, passing
through Washington en- route. He
returns here this week, and will
have. an opportunity to meet several
Of the colored leaders who were ac-
tive in the recent campaign in sup
port Of the Republican national
ticket.
The fact that the President-elec4
paid DR.. Washington the compliment
Of asking him FOR the first express
sion touching the policies most like
ly to prove beneficial to the Negro
race leaves no doubt as to the s$ghd-
ing Of the "Wi2etd" with the incom-
ing administration, and indicates
very plainly that the welfare Of the
colored American Is to have due con-
sideration at the hands Of new Chief
Executive.
President Taft-as he will be when
he takes the reins on March 4th--
VIII agreeably surprise some OF the
folks who do not wish to be agree
ably" surprised, by his generous at
titude toward the Negro, and by the
strong constructive policies that will
characterize his administration with
reference to the questions that uffect
the race. He holds no animosty to-
ward those who failed to support
him for the nomination last spring.
No attention will be paid to the
croakers and prophets of evil, who
predicted dtreful things in the event
or his accession to the presidential
chair. He will go on in the even ten
or Of his way, consulting whomso-
ever he regards as having something
to say that 1t iB worth while, ignoring
the malcontents who seek to discred-
1t him in advance, and doing what
he deems to be right in the premises.
His inaugural address, it Is said, will
be Of especial Significance, and will
be retterat1on of the broad ReDub-
lican principles that won for him the
confidence and affectionate support
Of the colored masses at the polls in
November. His interest in the edit
cational interests of the race is un.
abated, despite his elevation to the
Presidency and, the enormously in
creased pressure upon his time and
strength, and it Is stated that he will
retain his membership on the board
Of trustees appointed to administer
the $1,000,000 Jeanes fund for the
benefit of the colored rural schools
Of the South. He will~also speak
with DR.. washington in New York
this winter at q meeting designed to
stimulate financial interest in the
Tuskegee Institute. These and 9th
er incidents are brought forth at this
time to show the colorei voters CT
the country that they made no mis-
take in helping to place Mr.. TAFT
in the White House. He will be the
President Of all the people and more
than make good the promises made
in his name by his sponsors on the
stump and In the many editorial
sanctums OF, the race throughout the
land, .... ..,
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