The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-20
MIR. TAFT AND CRUN.
Next President will Hep his Cause
by Refusing 10 ReappOint Negro.

1T is to be hoped that the renort
that Mr. Taft has intimated wish
mat the SenaIe would confirm the an
pointment OF C.um, the negro collec-
cor OF the port Of Charleston, S. c., so
as to get il out Of the way before he
comes into Office, has 10 foundation in
sact On tho contrary, Mr.. Taft
should welcome the opportunity to
convince the Southern people of the
sincerity Of his recent professions of
friendship and consideration. From
what Mr.. Taft said while in the
South this winter the Southern peo-
pie have right to believe that he in
Federal office in the Southern States
as will be satisfactory to and entirely
unobjectionable to the people with
whom the Federal officials are to
transact business. One of the most
important of these offices is that of
collector of customs at the port of
|
Crum to this Office early in his term.
Crum was ~"t. selected by Mr.. Roose-
veit upon any theory of fitness. On
the contrary, was shown conclusi-
vely that the appointment would be
detrimental to the public service.
More than this, it was made in de-
| nf uic Of fy,a of
South Carolina and in the teeth of
their determined opposition. Not
satisfied with putting this indignity
upon an honorable and highspirited
people during the term of his own ad-
ministration, Mr.. Roosevelt has reap
pointed Crum for new term, which
will carry him through the admins
tration of Mr.. Taft, if he is confirmed.
There is no good reason founded upon
make any appointment at this time.
The appointment of important officers
at this late period of his official term
is comparable with the midnight ap-
pointments of President John Adams,
which brought upon him the censure
Of the country.
If this place is left open it will af-
ford Mr.. Taft the opportunity to give
assurance of good will to the Southern
people at the very outset of his Ad-
ministration. 1t will give him the op-
portunity to convince the South that
he intends to be the President of the
whole people and not party only 1t
will be an opportunity to deal blow
to sectionalism and to race feelings.
1t is now the plain duty Of the Sem
ate to afford this opportunity to Mr.
Taft by refusing to confirm Crum.
The Southern senator's are entirely
right in insisting in this course in or
Ter to- bring Mr.. Taft face to face in
the beginning of his Administration
later he must confront. The threat
has been made in the Senate that by
persisting in their present opposition
to Crum's confirmation, the Southern
Senators will be jeopardizing the pay
ment of certain war claims by the
Government which are due to people
in Southern States. But that sacrifice
will be entirely justified in this contest
Tor principle. If the United States
government is to continue to deal
with the South as if it is still a con-
luered province, and to pay no respect
nor regard to the wishes and welfare
OF the people who are governed, then
it is we'll to know that fact without
delay.
For ourselves We believe that Mr.
Taft has no design for dealing with
the Southern States after this fashion
and he should have the opportunity
to prove it by appointing a man for
collector of customs at Carleston who
will be not only efficient, but accept
able to the people who will be COM
> PEELED to do business with him. II
sectiOnalism and race antagonism are
to end, then the President Of the Uni
. ted States will have to stop appointing
negroes to Office in the South in or.
der to placate negro voters in the
North. The best way to placate me-
gro voters in the North is to appoin,
D some of them to office there: say. as
collector Of the port Of Boston OF
Philadelphia or postmaster of Chica
go.
One ching is absolutely certain. The
u solid South will never be broken as
long as the Republican party insults
it by such appointments as that OF