The Detroit times., 1909-03-10
RESIDENT TAT 7
APPOINT TED ME- To
PLEASE SOUTH
JACOB VI. DICKINSON.
SECRETARY OF WAR DELIVERS
ADDRES AT iDooUois CLUB
TAFT WANTS TO BE FAIR WITH
ENTIRE COUNTRY.

vi.
inson. secretary of war in President
Taft's cabinet. delivered an address
at the Iroquois club, Democratic
organization, last night He said thai
President Taft had appointed him "a
an important place III his cabinet e
establish a better feeling, if possible
between the north aid the south. He
said after ex-Mayor Edward p. Dunno
had objected to his appearance at the
iroquois club on the ground OF in
consistency" he offered to withdraw
from the institution informally. bu,
the club officials would not allow him
to do so.
Mr.. Dickinson said:
AS publicity has been given to- a
protest made on political grounds,
feel that IL will not be indicate for
me TO refer 10 my own status. For
nearly forty years, and much OF that
time with great activity, | have been
In the ranks OF the Democratic party
| have never sought of 1t the reward
OF office, nor any other benefits, di
rect or indirect. Like many southern
men, | have at time disapproved its
policies, but on account OF local con
ditions did not actively oppose H.
1T is an abnormal condition when
almost al those who represent the
property and best citizenship of ten
contiguous states act together politi
cally. IL is certain that al OF them
do not think alike and all such ques
lions. and that differences OF opinion
would lead 10 opposite party afillia
ton In the southern states, as in the
other states, but for a constant and
powerful, compacting force.
1t is I misfortune To the south, n
misfortune To the whole country, that
memorable conditions were such that
differences on all other questions have
been subordinated 70 one question
When such action OF those best quail
fed 70 represent their people extend
ed throughout SO long a period and
so constantly, 1t would be like indict
ing q nation to affirm that II was
either unwise or unpatriotic.
Whether or not theSec onditionS
will operate In the future, as they
have In the past, do not claim thu
wisdom to predict. All lovers OF oui
country should unite In the hope tha
this may not be true-not so much on
account of the political result, as or
account OF the conditions themselves
which are a constant menace to the
SOUTH and in reflex menace To the
south and IN reflex action, operate
with unhappy effects upon the entire
country.
ION account of the cases to which
have referred. all OF the southern
states as the last election cast their
electoral votes against President Taft
as they have hitherto done with re.
spect To other Republican presidential
candidates. Therefore, politically
there was no bond between him and
the southern states. He is now, after
the battle has been fought, entering
upon the duties Of his office, as pres.
ident of the entire country.
He has been much In the south,
and FOR years has counted very many
'solithefn MEN MithiahIhe closest cif-
Gle Of friendship. HIS jurisdiction rs
Judge extended over the states OF
Kentucky and Tennessee. Through u
long period he was in close associa-
ton with the people there, visited
their homes intimately. was always an
earnest student OF everything affecting
the general welfare of the country,
and came TO know more about the
southern people and the causes con
trolling their social and political ac.
ton than any man OF the north who
has been called TO high national
office.
Moved by no obligations to the
south, but by strong friendship and
sympathy for the southern people,
and still more by patriotic love for
the entire country. whose. welfare is
necessarily bound up with that OF the
south, he determined TO invite into
his cabinet a southern man. thereby
giving assurance TO the southern peo'
pie. that although their solid electoral
vote was against him, he wanted them
TO feel that they were In close rela-
tons with hts administration and
would be I'm no sense alien TO II.
That the purpose operating in his
mind was broad, magnanimous and
patriotic no one can question. The
wisdom both OF the purpose and OF his
selection is TO tried by time. | have
every assurance, from letters and ex-
presslons in the public press. that his
action In appointing me and my ac'
ton I'm accepting are approved by the
south and having the approval or the
southern Democratic states, whose
Judgment was especially appealed to
in this matter by the president, can
bear with equanimity and criticism
that NAV come from individual Demo
Gratis elsewhere"