The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-08-06

with Mr. Ellerbe and the information
derived on my two visits to Washing
ton, I believe that Mr. Ragsdale was
acting throughout in good faith and
endeavoring at all times to secure
the appointment of Mr. j W Stroud.
(Slgned) n W Hicks.
MR. DIVERS STATEMENT.
On the 14th day of January of
this year,Dr N w Hicks met me on
Evans street in Florence, s G, and
asked me to come to his Office that
afternoon to meet and talk with
other citizens of Florence concerning
the post office situation and Mr. j W
Stroud's candidacy for the postmas-
tership.
There were dozen or more gentle
men present at this conference at DR.
Hicks's office, all, with the excep-
ton of myself, business men of the
city. MIR w r Barringer was asked
to act as chairman and did so. The
object of the meeting was stated as
being fold-primarilv, to try to
secure white postmaster. Second
arily-if any method could be devil
sed to secure assurance of a white
postmaster, to urge the appointment
of Mr. Stroud, who was the nominee
of general citizens mass meeting,
held some days previous to this con-
ference. These two propositions
were freely discussed, every man
present taking part in the discus
NIon-and as the first proposition
was logically and by stress of cir
cumstances the chief topic, it was
given principal consideration. Va
rious ideas were advanced, consid-
cred and discarded. Several gen.
tlemen feared that violence and race
antsgonism might result should a
negro be appointed or re.appointed;
but all expressed desire to avoid
any trouble and a willingness to do
anything reasonable to prevent it.
Finally it was agreed that a com.
mlttee, supplementary to the com.
mittee appointed by the above men
toned mass meeting should be sent
to Washington to lay the situation
before the President-if any inter
view could be had with him and to
appeal to his sencefo fairness and of
his power to relieve us, both of ex-
listing unpleasant conditions and Of
danger of future violence. This
committee was instructed to 60 di-
rect to President Roosevelt, if posi-
BILE, and it was thought best not to
annoy our congressman with the
matter as he was already said to be
working through routine channels
in conjuction with the citizens COM
mittee and, also, as he was under
stood to be under certain obligations
that might cause embarrassment.
The expenses of the committe were
to be borne by the gentlemen taking
part in the conference. made a
motion that Messrs J W Ragsdale,
ED Smith and W R Barringer
should be the members of this COM
mittee. These gentlemen were chos-
en- and my name was added.
1t was useless for the committee
to 60 to Washington as a whole
without knowing when the Presi-
dent would see US or whether we
could obtain audience at all; there
fore we decided to send one man to
arrange for an interview and Mr.
Ragsdale was asked to go,the others
holding themselves in readiness to
answer his summons. Before leav-
ingFlorence on the night of January
10th, he had a conversation with me
in which he stated that he thought
courtesy demanded recognition of
our representative in this matter
and that he would see both Nh e.
lerbe and Senator Tillman and
uauld uira or write as soon as any