Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-30
Effort to Send Case Over to
the New Administration.
HOLDING UP NOMINATION
Tillman Trying to Line Up Demo.
Gratis Solidly.
WANT TO PUT TAFT ON RECORD
Southern Senator'S Anxious to Know
How Next President Will Stand
on Negro Appointments.

If the democrats of the Senate have
their way William III. Taft, within few
days after his inauguration as President
of the United States, will be compelled to
make known exactly what he intends to
do in regard to the appointment OF negroes
to federal offices in the south.
There is we'll defined movement al
ready on foot now to accomplish this end.
Efforts are being made by Senator Tillman
of South Carolina and others to hold up
President Roosevelt's nomination of DR..
William D. Crum, negro, to succeed
himself as collector of the port of Charles
ton. S c., until after March next. so
that Mr. Taft will have to fill this Office
and make known his position at the very
beginning of his administration.
The result of this fight to settle the
question of negro appointments will
doubtless depend on the success of Sen
ator Tillman and the others in their eff
forts to get the democratic senator's to
stand shoulder to shoulder for the next
five weeks against DR.. Crum's conflrma-
ton.
ceived letters from Mr.. Taft urging them
to push the confirmation of DIR. Crum
before Mr.. Taft becomes President. lie
has told these senators that he does not
wish to have the first few weeks or ms
administration marked by a fight over
this case The republicans are desirous
of carrying out Mr. Tafts wish
Southern Democrats Interested.
Mr. Taft's overtures to the south. how
ever. have been watched closely by the
southern democrats in the Senate. They
are frank to admit that they like him.
and that his counting has been. to large
degree successful-at least. that he has
won their hearts, even if he has not
changed their political faith. One south
ern senator had this to say about 1t:
IF Mr. Taft is going to assume tho
position that he should appoint negroes
to federal offices in the south, let MIN
say so, and the sooner the better. Or
IL he is not going to do that, let him
say So OF course, we southerners hope
that he will not appoint negroes, but
that is aside from the question.
IF he says that he does intend to ap-
point negroes, all right. We won
fight his nominations on that ground,
or as far as we can see on any other
ground. If he says he will not appoint
them, why, of course, we will not be
disposed to object to his nominations
either. But we want him to declare
himself
The opinion has been several times
expressed by southern senators that If
Mr.. Taft knew exactly how they felt
about this matter he might not urge
the confirmation of DR.. Crum at this
time. They hope he will not dodge
the question: but allow the Crum nOml-
nation to expire on March 4, and then
either renew it or nominate a white
man for the place.
Nomination Held Up.
DR.. Crums name was fayorably reported
from the committee on Commerce this
week. 1t had been held up since Decem-
Der s last by the democratic members of
the committee at the request of Senator
Tillman. who finally said that he would
make his fight against it on the floor. A
delegation of business men from Charles
ton was here yesterday to oppose the con-
firmation. They left last night for home
10 arouse others to take up the cause.
Senator Tiuman has sent number OF
kilograms to South Carolina for the same
purpose.
The southern senator's are hoping that
the republicans will forget to push Dr..
Crum's nomination. They recognize that
the majority could adopt the tactics by
which DR.. Crum was confirmed the first
time that is. remain in executive session
continuously until the democratic Oppo-
nents of the nomination tire themselves
out and allow the question to come to a
vote. but they hope this will not be done.
They have reason for hoping, too. they
say, because of the nearness of the end
of the present Congress.
AS for the republican senators, they
are maintaining discreet silence about
thing to settle the question is likely to
- INV da