Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-06-12
PRESIDENT TAFTs NEW POLICY

The Washington d. c. Post. in its
issue Of the 9Th inst. publishes the
following interesting bit of informa-
ton;
A movement is afoot TO have the
President make a change i'm the Of
fee Of register Of the Treasury. IL
I is said a delegation of Southern Re
| . blicans and Democrats viii call up
on ne President i'm q few days and
petition him to name white man
for the position now held by William
r. Vernon. colored. appointed by
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Vernon
has been almost a daily caller at the
White House in the last two weeks.
Coincident with the report of the
movement was the conversation of
the President and Booker r. Wash
ingtou Thursday az the White House.
President Taft made 10 knswn fin
the conversation with DR. Washing
ton that he intended wiping out sec
tional lines an over the country. both
I'm the so-called solid South" and
the North 10 ifs not the Intention OF
the President TO confne merely TO
Southern States which might be
brought into the Republican column
his policy of appointing 90 the Office
only such men as have the thorough
respect and confidence of the commu-
mites In which they live and iu which
they hold offices
This is the logical outcome of the
very positive declarations made by
President Taft in his inaugural adj
dress To was this fact that led as
TO condemn il and to take a position
which would place the thoughtful
conservative colored citizens of the
country i'm the proper light before the
world. Race prejudice exists by what
IT, feeds upon. To yield up one prin-
ciplc In the interest OF harmony IS
70 give up all others for the same
reason. Colored men must contend
for vital principles and submit only
when forced so TO 30 and then only
under protest
The injustice involved in this at
titude of President William II. Taft
should be evident even 20 a blind
man. He is endeavoring 20 make
peace when he is really stirring up
discord. No great question Is ever
settled until IL is settled right. In
endeavoring 90 please the Negro-hat-
ing contingent OF the Southland. he
Is shocking the moral sentiment OF
the North and il will be heard from
sooner or later No injustice done
to the colored citizen can fail to re-
act upon the white citizen.
That Register ". T. Vernon. rea-
Lies the seriousness Of the situation.
is apparent " we are 10 Judge by his
frequent visits 20 the White House OF
the nation. AS strange as il may
seem 20 some people. we are not
among those who believe that DR..
Booker r. Washington has gone so
far as 10 approve the removal OF
colored man OF MI Vernons type
and calibre from the office he nov
occupies. II any one has any such
evidence. we should be glad 10 have
II furnished 20 the colored people OF
the country. IL may be seen now too
the far-reaching effect Of President
Taft's action in unohicially notifying
DR.. Crum that he would not be re-
appointed by him.
This was first blood" for the Ne
gro-haters and they have been very
active ever since. The Post says
further:
A prominent Southern Republican
said last night that MT. Taft would
make greater Roadway in his efforts
10 wipe out sectionalism by dropping
all negroes appointed 10 Offices in
which Southern white men work
This Republican added that the
President would gain a strong follow
ing in the South If he would appoint
a white man to the position OF regis
ter of the Treasury.
Conditions in the Southern States
formed the subject Of the converse
ton between the President and DR..
Washington. Mr.. Taft took the oc-
casion 10 make known to DR.. Wash
ington some ideas he had formed in
regard 20 Southern political and in
dustrial problems involving the ne
gro.
In the course of the conversation
the President indicated that in his
opinion the training of negroes in in
dustrial pursuits was having the ef.
feet of obtaining for such negroes a
greater degree OF respect from the
best element of the white population.
The President spoke also of his de-
sire to do all that was possible dur
ing his administration to eradicate
sectional feeling and erase prejudices
that had developed between the