The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-04-02
TAFT RECOGNIZES PARTY.
viii Not Dump Southern Republicans
for White Democrats.

viii Not Dump Southern Republicans
for White Democrats.
Washington, March 27.-People who
haunt the executive offices at the
White House and particularly some of
the newer senators and representa-
tives, are slowly but surely hndmg
that President Taft can smile and
smile and be a villain still from the
standpoint of the professional poIirf.
clan.
Mr.. Taft is not as explosive as MIR
Roosevelt He does not bubble over
with either enthusiasm or resentment
There is judge in the White House
and not a colonel. He listens to all
sides in friendly, but impassive fash
ion, and the newer senators, incmdiug
several from the southern states, have
mistaken this attitude, which is purely
one of judicial poise, for one of hearty
acquiescence
Several people nave gone up to talk
to President Taft about tariff and
came away convinced he is a standpai
ter and that he will sign any bill
which congress chooses to pass
Others, of the more radical element
believe he is on the point of instfgat-
ing political revolution because he is
so completely in accord with their
own views. Southern Democrats have
participated in these mistakes and
some believe that President Taft is
about to dump the entire southern Re
publican organization and turn over
the entire patronage of that section
to white Democrats.
So far as can be learned, the policy
OF the new president will not be es-
sentlally different from that of his
predecessor He is a Republican and
always has been. If he succeeds i'm
office he undoubtedly expects to ap-
peal to the voters of his own organiza-
tion for reelection. Prior to re-elec-
ton comes denomination, and in this
the votes of southern Republicans are
somewhat more essential than they
really ought to be.
Senator Smith of South Carolina and
some other southern statesmen con-
ceiVe the idea that the president is
about to abandon southern Republi-
can organizations everywhere merely
because he did not care to insist on
the confirmation of DR.. Crum This
was great mistake. Wherever in any
section of the south there is a decent
Republican who is fairly well fitted
for any office he will be given the
place in preference to a Democrat, as
matter of course.
And in picking out these men the
republican organization in every state
VIII be recognized, not exclusively.
but in such a way as to make it as.
Sured of the sympathy of the presi-
dent as head of the party. In this
policy Postmaster General Hitchcock.
who only recently retired from the
chalrmanship of the Republican ma
lonal committee, will cooperate.
instead of attempting to destroy the
republican organization in the south,
ne purpose of the administration I'M
loubtedly will be to build it up, and
% DO this in tne best way. That is.
% say, an effort will be made to select
he best Republicans rather than
nose who were the most active politi-
ally.
In every southern state, with one or
Wo exceptions, the Republican organi-
.atlon is mere skeleton of a politi-
'al party. This is not the fault of
he Republicans, but of peculiar politi.
'al conditions in the south. The great
mass OF Republican voters are negroes,
'ho are barred from the polls on one
,reteNt or another The result is that
ne Democrats have only a fight among
themselves. They wage their battles
u the primaries, and hardly find il
necessary to go to the polls, so COM
'letely are negro Republicans depriv-
d of suffrage.
In distributing offices in the south.
ccurding to the best information rhe
urpose of the president is first of all
o secure the best material. Wherever
mere Is Republican of good ante
euehts and fairly well fitted for some
articular office, he will be appointed
hesitation. Wherever there is
o such Republican who would reflect
redit on the administration a Demo
rat Will be chosen.
In no case will an important office
e given to an unworthy man, whether
mite or black, merely because he
ais himself a Republican and once
-FOUR years participates in the cere--
lony OF nominating a Republican can
idate for the presidency.