The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-02-20
the whole CITY iii mourning.

/
July, 1902. President Roosevelt re-
quested Souer. and Boothby to re-
sign, and In their places he appoint-
ed two anti-negro mon who had not
been recognized as Republicans be-
| fore that time. Mr. Howell, who
succeeded Souer, testified before Il
Congressional committee in con-
| tested election case that he did not
believe any colored man ought to he
allowed to sit In political COnNen-
| ton or be a member Of any political
committee.
Once Were Roosevelt Men.
both these men had sat in the
convention at Philadelphia and voted
for Roosevelt for e-Presidcnt.
These cases are especially point
cd out by way of illustration. Num-
brrs of old Republicans like these
men have been displaced. and in
many cases Democrats, or those not
heretofore identified with the Re-
publican party, appointed TO Federal
office in Georgia, Alabama. and 9TH
er States.
"Now, who were the persons who
induced President Roosevelt to
throw out men of high personal and
political character" Who led the
President into the fatal policy Of de-
nying political rights TO the Negro?
If we could name the persons who
misled the President. we could fix
the responsibility in part for the
break down Of the Republican party
in the Gulf States.
1t may be sufficient to state that
Williams. the lumber magnate, and
Clark, his Lily White associate, came
10 Washington and lunched with the
President soon after he succeeded
President Mckinley. and that the
Presidents adherence to the Lily
White movement dates from that
time. " Williams and Clark we're
made the referees, controlling all
Federal patronage III Louisiana.
Clark has since died. and in his place
the President has recognized Pearl
Wight. Of New Orleans. Il man who
is associated with Williams in the
lumber interests.
Old Guard at Chicago.
rThc old-time Republicans Of
Louisiana, having maintained their
organization in spite Of the attempt
to destroy the party that gave poilt-
ical rights to the Negro, sent dele
sation to- the national convention at
Chicago in 1904 and demanded ad-
mission. The. Lily Whites had also
elected eighteen delegates, mostly
Federal officeholders. The national
committee was composed largely OF
the same men who had voted in ia
vor Of the Lily Whites at Philadel-
phia four years before, against Han
mas protest Yet at Chicago the
committee reversed its action, and
by vote of thirty-four TO thirteen
decided to seat the old-line Repub-
licans
The Lily White leaders impOr-
tuned Republican leaders to use
their influence with the successful
delegates to agree to a compromise
giving all OF the thirty-six Louisi-
anans a seat, with half vote each.
They argued that as, Roosevelt was
to be nominated unanim ously, there
was no reason for friction. The old
timers agreed, on condition that
when they returned to Louisiana
there should be an agreement and
peace But as soon as the Lily
Whites were seated there was dis
agreement over the election of ma
tional committeeman from Louisl-
ana. and a deadlock resulted which
led to the appointment by Chairman
Cottelyou of Pearl Wight, Lily
White. Thus, the Old-faShiOned
equal-rights Republicans Of Louisl-
ana found that wherever the admin
Istration was concerned it was 'tur-
key for the Lily Whites and Duzzard
| for them The chairman of the old
organization wrote to Mr.. Wight ex-
pressing the hope that there would
| he harmony hereafter. Mr.. Wight
replied that he did not understand
there had been any definite agree
ment. and therefore he declined to
enter into any understanding.
| Colorcd Men Once More Ignored
| "Recently, in view Of the state
election in April and the national
convention next June, a cOmmunlca-
| ton was sent by tle chairman OF the
old Republican state committee to
| Mr.. Williams, the lumber magnate
who acts as dispenser Of federal pa
trOnase in Louisiana and as chair
man Of the Lily White committee,
| in the interests Of harmony. The
| Lily White leaders reply was that
they declined to cooperate in any
way. and that in the organization
Of their new committee the colOred
people would be ignored hereafter.
! a new committee has lately been or
| gained and no colored man is rec
ognized upon it.
OF the twenty-five members Of
the so-called campaign committee Of
Lily Whites in Louisiana twenty one
| hold federal offices. A large major
| ity Of the state committee Of tho