Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-11
Hampon, Phoebus and Old Point
PRESIDENT CONSIDERS
SOUTHERN PATRONAGE
MANY Claims Have Been Presented
Situation at Charleston Con-
sidered Most Urgent.


dent Taft has begun to under
stand that one of the vital questions
confronting him from the viewpoint
/ OF the politician at least is patron
age The first situation with which
| he will be called on to dea! comes
I from the South in the matter of Sc
Letting a successor to W. ID. tlum'
collector OF Gus; oms at Charleston.
s. c.. whom the Senate refused to con
! firm for second term and who re-
signed rather than be the cause OF
embarrassment to the new admins
tration.
II Is generally conceded that white
; man will be nominated for this Office.
az the President made it plain in his
! inaugural address mat he did not be-
! lievc the cause of the negro would be
advanced by appointing him TO office
, IN such places ard in such localities
as would precipitatr or continue rae"
feeling.
Mr. Taft's Attitude.
+ Acknowledging the many things
done by the colored people of the
country emitting Them to recognition.
MIR. Taft expressed the view in his
| first public utterance after assuming
J the Presidency. that the colored man
would fare letter. and the country
likewise if efforts were made to avoid
am conflict between the races in
those sections where. unfortunaf ely.
the appointment of co!Ored men re-
suited in the antasCnism of the people.
Such condition. in n somewhat acute
stage has long existed in the city OF
Charleston. and il will no. he cen
tinued under the present chief magiS-
trate.
The matter of filling this vacancy
was the subject Ct a conference yes
terday between the President. Post
master General Hitchcock. and Post
master Harris. of Charleston one of
the leading Republicans of South
Carolina. Mr.. Harris came TO WASH
instOn as the representative or the in.
fimential men Of his Stale. regardless
of marty affiliaticn whose sole de
sire IS to have som" accept i'he WHIT"
man appointed TO this Office. II Is nm
derstoCd that f. -. Durant. OF Char
lesion. is being urged to take. the
place. although not candidate.
Other conferences will be held before
the merson chosen Tor this important
Southern post is announced.
R.feree System No More.
Ii Is known that President TAFT
will depart from the policy of permit
ting any one or two men in the South
ern States to designate those to whom
Offices shall be given. The referee
system will go out Of business. II
is believed that Postmaster General
Hitchcock. who more than any other
man connected with the administra-
ton. is personally familiar with polt'-
cal conditions in the South. and with
the men who have done the Replbli-
can work there. will have much 10
saw I'm determining the selection OF
suitable men. At the same tlme aF
plicants for Office must be backed by
the representative local people who
are interested in good government
and the proper conduct of the Office
TO which appointment is so1gh1. II
such Republicans cannot be found it Is
rot unlikely that some good Demo
Gratis may walk into office win tue
sanction Of President Taft.
There is some curiosity as to the
future of John G. Caoers. present COM
missioner OF internal revenue and ma
tional committeeman from South Caro-
lima. IN the Roosevelt admin!sfrc-
ton. Mr.. Capers had controllins
voice in the disposition OF political
, matters not only in his own state
but in North Carolina.
May Attract Democrats.
Mr.. Caprrs lives near the northern
torder Of his State and is as well
acquainted with Republican condi-
tons In North as he is in Sou'h
Carolina. II is asserted in his Eehai
: by those acquainted with conditions
; In South Carolina that II the negro IS
| eliminated from Republican politics
! there. Nr. Capers probably wonld y"
able to draw considerable of IN"
Younger Democratic element into IN"
Republican party.
I