Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-09

President Taft certainly deserves
credit for his attitude in this mat
ter. We are OF the opinion that he
erred though in suggesting that a
commission be appointed to enquire
whether or not a semi-centenuial ex-
position should be held, when he hal
said that it should be held. He seems
20 have been somewh hat tender
footed" upon the subject and in eff
feet told the Congress OF the United
States that ne was not so sure OF il
himself. He therefore desired a com
mission TO investigate the matter and
report whether or not this was the
best thing 20 do. In the meantime
both Dr Booker T Washington and
President r. r. Wright are forced
to mark time" until the red tape
incident upon the action of com
mission has been spun out" and
then in our opinion, it will be too
late 90 hold the semi-centenniaI ex-
position or If il is held. e will be
ushered upon the public in an uu-
finished state and to the detriment
of the parties managing the affair.
But then President Taft meant well
and he did what he thought was
best in the premises Mr.. Tyler is
correct when he says:
And. also il must not be lost
sight of. when I'm forming q iudz-
meut Of President Taft. that in every
measure. policy or legislative enact
ment recommended by him TO bene-
tit the people of the United States as
whole the Negro. as q part. must
necessarily be benefited. and for this
We have a right. In common with
the whites % feel grateful TO him.
Mr.. Tyler says:
The fact that the President retain
ed his membership on the Jeanes
Fund Board, board having the
management and disposition OF a
fund for Negro education. although
he had retired from active partici-
patton ia all his many societies and
boards, save the Yale corporation.
makes 10 inCOuCeiyable that he can
be regarded in any other light than
one who aims TO be a friend And
that he takes keen interest IN the
work of the Jeanes Fund Board is
evidenced by his having had It's mem
bers meet with him az the White
House last December.
No one alleges that President Taft
is friend TO the colored people 20
the extent Of wishing them well, but
he is no more OF q friend than are
thousands OF liberal minded white
Democrats. many OF them living in
the Southland and who show an in.
terest in the welfare OF the colored
people. Mr. Tyler should know that
every effort made 20 elevate and
make more useful the Negroes as
citizens, benefits the public az large.
and every white man in the country
is proportionately the recipient OF
his proportion of such advancement.
He says.
After all. the paramount consid.
eratIons involved In the Negro ques-
ton is not what influence should be
eNerted for any restricted or pre-
scribed sphere for the Negro. but
what influence should be put forth
20 form an incentive 20 a forward
match all down the line. Not what
influence should be exerted merely
10 q
rants for Office but what influence is
necessary to conserve the Industrial.
commercial and professional advance
or the race. Not what influence should
be directed merely 10 and for the
Negro. Out what influence should be
directed affecting both the Negroes
and whites in order to amellorate the
conditions OF the one by attracting
the sympathy and help Of the other.
This is the correct and proper view
10 take and it is very good argument
too against the Negroes holding pub
lie Office. Thess declarations must
have been insT4red or else. Mr.. Ty-
Ter could not have been induced to
give voice 20 them. We take II that
he is ready and willing To retire from
the position he now occupies and
without a murmur, whenever his
chief gives the nod and intimates
that his further occupancy of the
position is distasteful to certain Ne
gro-haters, who look with envy upon
the Office of Auditor for the Navy.
But Mr.. Tyler could not let this
statement go without the proper
modification and in the next few lines
he comes back. retraces his steps
so to speak. when he says:
THAT President Taft is DESTROYS
OF having, and means 20 see that the
| Negroes receive a fair and equitable
| political representation no one who
| is informed doubts. Not because OF
any possible bearing it may have
on his future political fortunes, but
because he believes it their just right
and due