The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-22
VISIT WHITE HOUSE
SOUTHERN CONGREssMEN CALLING
 ON TAFT.
This Causes Much Comment in Wash- inEton, for Very Few Southern.
 Members of Congress Vis- = tted Roosevelt.


 Washington. March .21.-(Special. )- Southern Congressmen are visiting the White House in large numbers these days.
 This causes much comment in Wash ington. for 1t is a noteworthy. fact that only a small percentage of the Dem ocrats went to the mansion during the two last years of the term of Presi- dent Roosevelt. From alf accounts they are getting along so far most amicablyt with President Taft. He is affable and cordial to the Senators and Representatives who belong to the par ty opposed to his own. These Demo- crats are with possibly here and there an exception asking no favors what ever of Mfr. Taft. They have simply been going to the White House to pay their respects to the President of the United States. In this way they feel that they are honoring the man because of the high office he fills by the ex- pressed will of the voters of the land.
 According to, what many of the Dem- ocratic Senators and Representatives say, President Taft appears to be anx- ious to cultivate friendly relations with the law makers of the opposing party. They are not trucking in any sense to him. and he evidently Is not trying to influence the Democrats to come around to his. way of thinking when
 
 have got to bc fought out during the next four years. u is a good thing. they think, for the President and Con- gress to be on the pest of terms, for there are a great many measures that have to be discussed in Congress and passed in which political consideration does not cut any figure.
 So far as he has gone, President Taft seems to be trying his best to find out how he can best please the people generally in the South. He Is certain ly asking a great many questions about this and that thing down in that sec- tion. Within few days some of the employees in the executive offices have been getting all the clippings possible from the newspapers of the South. These include especially editorials in reference to Mir. Taft's inauguration address. Besides. the clerks are get ting together as many expressions from the news columns as possible to show what Southern people are saying about the new administrations.
 The opinion Is freely expressed here that President Taft Is not going to give the Southern people much if any trouble by appointing negroes to Federal offices. And the talk Is pret- ty strong, too, that he has practically made up his mind to abolish the referee system established bX President Roose-
 
 representatives in either branch of Congress. MT. Taft saw how badly that arrangement worked under the last administration. But fon the un- reliable and pestiferous referees in Mississippi. Alabama and other States many mistakes could have been avoid |, ed. President Taft Is now said to re- alize that If 1t had not been for Thompson in n>Alabama and Scott. this everlasting and annoying fight over Oscar R. Hundley could have been l avoided.
 This case being tangled up with four | other judges which the Senate at the last session refused tq confirm has giv- l en President Taft no bnd of worry. The understanding Is that he will person. ally settle all of these himself. and as 1t seems to be thought that Hundley is going to be left out when Mir. Taft makes his selections that will satisfy the Senators from the several States who have opposed the others, and able and worthy men will be named as judges. thus removing the nasty con tenttons that have been going on for nearly two years.
 Alfred J. Stofer.