The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1908-07-10

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to see Mr. Ellerbe and my only
reason for doing SO was to show
him every courtesy to which he
could possibly be entitled by reason
of his official position. About
seven o'clock that evening, MI FL
lerbe came to the Raleigh hotel
where | was stopping and | then
Informed him of our purpose. He
disapproved of our plan and stated
that the President would construe
our position into Il threat and
would Immediately appoint Wilson
if We went to him. He said that
he could not understand why DIR
Hicks had not forwarded the
charges against Wilson. | toldhim
Or Hicks was dissatisfied With
Mr. Ellepbe's position on account
of the correspondence between
them. Mr. EIlerbe knew then | was
supporting Mr. Stroud and he
pledged me then, without reserva-
ton, to use his influence to get Mr.
Stroud appointed postmaster at
Florence. He objected to the com
mittec consisting of Messrs Smith,
Oliver and Barringcr, coming to
Washington and at his suggestion
wrote following telegram and
submitted it to him, he going to
the telegraph office in the hotel
with me.
Unny ~ tolouron,)
Hicks,
Florence, sc
Rush petition rs nov prepared
and signed to lIllerbe. Don't send
Committee.
j w Ragsdalc.
We then went back to the lobby
and he then suggested that | meet
the South Carolina Delegation and
discuss the matter with them ask
ing me if | knew them. ! told
him | knew all Of them very pleas
antiy except Congressman Legarc
whom | had never met and whom
| had cndcavored to get to assist
me when | went to Washington in
1904 to consult with Congressman
Scarborough about our Govern
ment Building and that Mr. Lee
gare did not even come out in the
lobby when | sent my card in and
for that reason | did not care to
ask anything at his hand. | in
formed him | would be glad to
meet anyone whom he might IL
vite to be present. The next day
| went by appointment to the Cap
itol and joined Congressman Lever
Findlcy and Ellerbe in a With
drawing Room where the question
OF the ACCESSIBILITY of going to the
President was again discussed. |
informed those present that Sena-
tor Tillman approved Of our plan
but Messrs Findley and Lever CON
Cured in Mr. Ellerbe's opinion
that it would be unwise to go to
the President. Explained freely
that we would make our position
clear, that we wcrc not threatening
but petitioning and Mr. Lever
said: President Roosevelt is 40
lOOtl,s crazy and you can't deal
with him as you would another
man" | then told chen frankly
that | was afraid Of personal
violence and asked if they knew Of
no way to prevent the appoint
mcnt. Mr. Findlcy stated he was
afraid nothing could be done until
after the Republican Conventions
this summer. | then suggested
that possibly Wilson could be per
suldcd to resign and recommend
a successor and asked if they
could have him appointed. Mr.
Findley asked me how we would
try to get Wilson to resign and |
told him by getting some one to act
as postmaster and give Wilson the
salary; thereby securing the APP
pointmcnt Of three white men in
the office instead Of the three
negroes now employed there,
besides the postmatcr. | SAID to
explain my position suppose |
were appointed-apparently |
would be postmaster while Wilson
would really draw the salary, it
being paid to him privately. | was
not in any sense Of the word a can
date for the Office and | am sure
no n present thought that | was.
My etlord was directed solely
to getting rid Of the negro post