Evening journal., 1910-10-17
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Negro Who Convinced
a President That lie
Was Right
BY "HolIand."

The first negro TO serve in the
United states senate was the late
Blanche X. Bruce. Elected a member
OF that body, IN 1875, from Mississippi.
when that State was unoe. going re-
construction, he remained q Senator
until 1881, when he was appointed
registrar OF the Treasury by President
Garfield
That position Bruce was still hold
ing when Grover Cleveland was in
augurated president for the first time.
There was a good deal Of interest in
the purpose of the new president re-
specting the office Of registrar. II was
known that several colored members
OF the presidents party who had some
political influence were anxious to
serve as registrar, yet many of the
presidents friends predicted that he
would keep Bruce In the office. How
ever another appointment was made in
due course, and not until Mckinley
became president did the former reg
istrar emerge from private life when
he again became registrar of the
Treasury remaining in that position
until his death the following year.
And yet. for all that Bruce was not
reappointed registrar by President
/ desired that the colored man should
accept reappolntment.
Shortly after his Inauguration, and
/ while he was considering various
( minor, though important appoint
mente, the president sent a messenger
/ TO the registrar of the Treasury ask
/ ing that official to call upon him.
/ Bruce responded promptly and was
received with great courtesy.
Senator Bruce" said the president.
II have had many applications from
my personal friends to appoint some
one Of my own party as registrar Of
/ the treasury. But J have mad only one
mind about this appointment since my
| election. J am going TO reappoint you.
/ And no appointment that / could make
would give me more qualification.
Bruce was clearly taken aback.
| why, Mr. President" he said. 81 had
not expected anything like this And
| thank you from the bottom of my
! heart, and ! shall always remember
with gratitude this proof of your con-
! tidence In me. But, Mr.. President it
Is impossible; you must not make this
appointment"
Ii was the presidents turn TO show
surprise. And he did Il. But why?"
he asked. There Is no good reason
why you should not serve under a
Democratic administration.
No good personal reason Mr.. Presi-
dent" responded the registrar, cour-
teously. But there is an imperative
political reason why / could not ac-
cept the office"
Again the president showed plainly
his surprise. what is that?" he
/ queried IL don't understand. can
/ think OF no reason whatsoever that
should deter you from taking an ap-
pointment from me-"
Mr. President" said Senator Bruce
81 don't like to say IL to you, and
hope you will understand that say il
only TO make clear my position to you
since you have offered me this ap-
pointment-- but II I should accept Of
iiCe-any office whatever under {
Democratic Administrations. asiif--es
pecially after holding office under
Republican administration, my peopl.
could never be persuaded that I haC
not betrayed them"
For considerable period the presi
dent looked steadily at the negro be,
fore him, and the longer he looked tn,
7 less certain was Bruce OF the effect Oi
his explanation on the president. Bu
at last the latter spoke
Senator Bruce" he said, "if that i.
your feeling, you cannot anord TO ac
cept my oder. And though / had no
looked at the matter in that light, you
have convinced me that your reason 1.
a good one-that your decision is III,
only proper one. But let me tell yot
that the day is surely coming wher
your people viii not regard II as a be
trayal Of trust for one Of their race e
accept high appointment from a Demo
cratic president"
Copyright. 1910 by f. J Edwards, AL
Rights Reserved)
Tuesday Mr.. Edwards will tell 0
"Thc Aristcorat and the ex-Slaye VIII
We're Friends