The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-13
why DICKINSON GOT il.
SECRETARY OF WAR EXPLAINS
PRESIDENT TAFTeS PURPOSE.

To Hold South's sympathies-south-
ern Republican or Democrat Who
Voted for Him Would Not Have
Done So Well.
Chicago, March 10.-Secretary of
War Jacob M. Dickinson appeared
before the Iroquois Club, Democra-
tic organization tonight, and made his
first formal address since his appoint
ment by President Taft.
Mr.. Dickinson's presence before
this body was objected to last week
by former Mayor Edward F. Dunno, a
Democrat. on the ground of "incon-
sistency." In his remarks, the secre-
tary explained his status as a Demo-
crat. and told the club members what
sentiments toward the South moved
the president to appoint him.
For nearly 40 years." said secre-
tary Dickinson, "and much Of that
time with great activity, / have been
In the ranks Of the Democratic party.
l have never sought Of II the reward OF
Office nor any other benefits, direct or
indirect. Like many Southern men, I
have at times disapproved it's policies,
lut on account Of local conditions did
not actively oppose It,"
It is a misfortune to the South--a
to the whole country-that
inexoreble conditions were such that
differences on all other questions have
been subordinated to one question.
When such action OF those best quari-
Ned to represent their people extend
ed throughout so long q period and
80 constantly. Il would be like indict-
Ing . nation to affirm that It was eth
er unwise or unpatriotic. Whether or
not these conditions will operate In
the future a. they have In the past,
DO not claim the wisdom to predict.
All lovers Of our country should unite
In the hope that this may not be true
mot 90 much on account Of the poll
ticsl results 40 ON account OF the con.
ditions themselves. which are d con-
slant menace to the South, and IN re-
fiex action operate with unhappy ef-
fects upon the entire country.
ION account Of the causes to
which I have referred. all Of the
Southern States at the last election
cast their electoral votes against Pres
ident Taft. as they have hitherto done
with respect to other Republican
presidential candidates. Therefore.
there was no bond between
him and the Southern States. h is
now. after the battle has been fought.
entering upon the duties Of his office,
as president Of the entire country. He
has been much in the South, and for
years has counted very many South
ern men within the Closest circle of
Ills Jurisdiction as Judge extended
!
Through long period he was in close
association with the people there.
visited their homes intimately, was
always an earnest student Of every
thing affecting the general welfare of
.he country. and came to know more
about the Southern people and the
causes controlling their social and po-
litical action than any man Of the
North who has been called to high
national Office. Moved by no obliga-
uoh to the South, but by strong
friendship and sympathy for the
Southern people and still more by
patriotic love for the entire eonutry,
whose welfare is necessarily bound
up with that Of the South, he deter
rained to invite Into his cabinet a
Southern man, thereby giving assur-
ance to the Southern people that, al
though their solid electoral vote was
against him. he wanted them to feel
tnat they were In close relations with
his administration and would be in
no sense alien to 1t.
IF he had selected for this purpose
a Southern Republican. however we'll
qualified to discharge the duties OF
the office, II would not have fulfilled
the purpose he had in mind. If he
had selected n Democrat who had
voted for him, there would have been
room for carping criticism to say,
however, unjustfS. that the apoint-
ment had been rendered and accepted
as reward for such support; and be-
sides, such an appointment might
have lacked that ligament with the
Southern people which would exist