Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
POPULAR IN GEORGIA
The President Has More Sup
porters There Than Bryan.
DEMOCRATS ADMIRE HIM
But White Republicans and Colored
Men Don't Enthuse.
NEGROES UNITED FOR FORAKER
Delegates in a Dilemma-Afraid to
Vote Against Taft-Judson
Lyons Advice.
UNITED FOR FORAKER
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

(n61eEDOn0pNce
Chicago Record Herald.
ATLANTA, Ga, April Ii, 1905.
The President is wonderfully popular
down here, and the most prominent
democrat in the state asserted the other
evening that in test between the TWO
without involving other issues he would
poll more votes in Georgia than Bryan.
He has extremely bitter critics, however,
among both the white and the colored
people. On the other hand, he has more
extravagant admirers than any other
man in the United States. AS a rule. the
democrats like him better than the repub-
licans, and the business men have the
greatest degree of confidence in him,
which is a striking contrast to the feel
ing in New York. At the same time sew
eral prominent manufacturers and bank
ers and merchants of both parties have
been quite violent in their criticisms OF
his policy and their denuncia ton of his
utterances. The democratic les.;;ars do
not hesitate to say that tic would
| rather have Roosevelt in the White House
| than Bryan. because as they explain, both
have the same conscientious determine
ton to curb the trusts and give every
body a square deal, and they know the
methods Roosevelt is taking to accom-
plish that purpose, while Bryan would be
an experiment.
Theodore Roosevelt is the best demo-
crat l know" remarked a leading demo-
cratic business man of Atlanta. land
am willing to have him remain President
as long as he wants the job. If he will
leave the question for the democrats OF
Georgia to decide he will have third
term, regardless of what the republicans
think about it,
I notice that the democrats are more
enthusiastic in their expressions of COM
mendation of the President than the few
white republicans l have met. and the
Negroes All for Foraker.
There are more white republicans in
Georgia than in South Carolina. and sew
eral of them occupy prominent positions
In the business community and profess
sional circles. They are not taking much
interest In presidential politics. however.
There is an intense feeling among the in
telligent cofored people. They are de-
his activity in defense of the colored
soldiers who were dismissed from the
army because Of the Brownsville incident.
Although President Roosevelt was en-
tirely responsible for that act of the ad-
ministration, and Secretary Taft was very
reluctant to issue the order, the latter
bears all the blame down here and the
colored people are thoroughly incensed
over the matter. They have no news
papers, but a large number of religious
weeklies and monthlies are issued by the
various denominations, and for months
the Brownsville incident has been the
chief topic Of discussion in their columns
as we'll as the pulpits of the Baptist and
preachers of both these denominations
have taken a part in the discussion. Sen
ator Foraker's name has been uttered
and his attitude has been commended
with gratitude from the pulpit Of every
colored church in Georgia. They regard
him with a gratitude that approaches
reverence. They class him with Lincoln
and Grant and John Brown. and the col
ored people insist that the delegates from
Georgia to the republican national con-
ventjon shall support Senator Foraker
for President.
I asked a colored clergyman the other
day whom he favored for President, and
he answered very promptly that the COL
for "General'' Foraker.
Who is he?' l inquired
My colored friend looked at me with
some surprise and answered: Hes a
gentleman what has been defending the
colored soldiers in the Brownsville case
and he's about the best friend the colored
people has got these days.
where is he and what is he doing
now"
Gen. Foraker is up in Washington
helping the President to run the gov
ernment."
curate. but did not correct the venerable
preacher and could not help admiring
the enthusiasm he showed for General
Foraker.
Oficeholders Embarrassed.
The officeholders in Georgia are very
much embarrassed by the situation 1t
iS I'll RI tl,o&
administration expects all of its Official
representatives In this section to whoop it
up for Secretary Taft to the best of their
ability. and it is freely asserted that Or
ders have been issued from the White
House to that effect. But / have asked
every off1ceholder that I have seen in
the south and have not been able to find
any one of them who has received any such
instructions or even an intimation from
Washington to his attitude and action
in the selection of delegates for Chicago.
Every one understands without orders,
nomination of Secretary Taft Many of
them feel that their official tenure de-
Ponds upon their activity in support OF
the Secretary Of War, but this is an in
ference rather than the result Of instruc
lions. and Walter Johnson, United States
marshal. who looks after political matters
down here more actively than any other
republican, has removed any doubts that
might De lingering In the pOStmaSterS
and other federal officials on this subject
On the other hand, the colored people
are unanimously opposed to Taft and are
In favor of Foraker, so that the Office
holders. particularly the negroes, are in
painful dilemma. or. as one of them
frankly expressed it, between the devil
and the deep sea- Their popularity at
home depends on their support of For
aker; their popularity at Washington de-
ponds on their support Of Taft. and they
are pleading for an uninstructed and un-
pledged delegation. so that they will not
be compelled to commit themselves until
the latest moment. when something may
happen to relieve the situation 1t may
be that Taft will get SO many delegates
that a ballot will not be necessary to
disclose their preference; 1t may be that
they can devise some way to comply with
the wishes of the President without Of
Tending public opinion at home, and they
are praying for the privilege of conceal
ing their preference as long as possible.
Judson Lyons Advice.
Judson Lyon, the most prominent col
ored man in the state. who practices law
at Augusta. and. until recently, was reg
lister of the Treasury at Washington, has
charge Of the campaign for the anti-Taft
i