The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-06-16
ARE BEING HEAPED UPON THE
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
BY NEGRO PRESS.
Declares Johnson
Recently appointed Recorder of
Deeds points with pride to the love
Of Mr.. Hitchcock for the brother
!. in black.
(By Horace D. Slater. J

| - Atlanta, Ca, June 11-A propos
OF the widespread discomfort that has
been voiced by leading Negro journ-
ais with reference to the attitude
President has adopted, or as some
express it the lack Of attitude tow
ard the Negro people of the coun-
try, which attitude Cor lack) is mani
rested in his Negro appointments,
the opinion expressed by those who
are favorable to the President in
what they consider his policy might
be interesting.
Col. Henry Lincoln Johnson, with
out doubtu the best Negro lawyer in
the whole South, and a man Of force
full address and widespread reputa-
ton, Is not barred by any means
from giving an opinion by reason of
the fact that he himself is an office
holder. Of course Mr.. Johnson's
opinion may be given more or less
weight by reason Of that fact, but
those who know him know that his
being an Office holder wiuld not de-
ter him from expressing an opinion
that he really entertained, or that his
not being one would prevent him
from entertaining a favorable opin-
ion Of the President and his admin
lstratlon, If, to his mind, the facts
in the case warranted it.
A man who in his varied experi-
ence at the prejudice-ridden Atlanta
bar has run the gauntlet for a score
of years. who single handed braved
the tergnrs of Atlanta streets for the
safetypf his. people, in the troubu-
lous ttsSes of the Atlanta riots, when
other. valiant hearted race leaders
Were flying 2Northward on express
ana lstal HEmiittsd. trains. with the drapery
o1s co1ches wrapped about
l.them in Pullman drawing rooms ;
and who In his rightfuI indignation,
resented the calling of a lie by a
white attorney in open Court as only
men resent those things; can GER
tainly be excused from any charge
of cowardice.
We may safely opine, then that
what Mr.. Johnson has to say with
reference to the administration and
us policy towards Negroes has at
least the element Of sincerity with
out the remote tinge of syco-
phancy. Mr.. Johnson first maintains
that the President has done as much
in the way of appointing Negroes as
any other President, not excepting
the strenuous T. r. Hereefers to the
retention of Charles Anderson, Of
Judge Terrell and Cobb, Of William
II. Lewis, or DR.. Vernon, and to the
new appointments Of w. D. Johnson
of Kentucky; Of Emm EFT Scott on the
Llberian Commission, Of Nelson
Crews Of Kansas, and Of the recent
placing OF Dr. Crum in Liberia.
With reference to the case OF
Thomas L. Keyes, from Ocean
Springs, Miss, Mr.. Johnson declares
that the administration has beer
treated unfairly in that matter by
the Negro press, allowing, however
| that 1T Is quite likely that that force.
tul tactor In our race has not beer
rightly informed Of the real situa.
ton. He declares that at no time
during g-the-eonferenee- held by-Mr
keyes and the authorities at Wash.
| lngton was any discomfort uttered BY
| Mr.. keyes, but that he refused al
| the generous offers Of the govern.
ment In peculiarly happy vein, be
cause Of the fact that his private
interests In Mississippi would not
warrant him further remaining in
| the service.
| In lieu Of the postmastership al
Ocean Springs, which according tt
Mr.. Keyes' statement in Washington
paid him about 100, he was Of
fered position in Washington; no
| a minor one, as the Southwestern
Christian Advocate would have III
believe, but one that paid him NOR,
than twice the amount he would re
ceive as postmaster. This, accord
Ing to Mr.. JOhnson's statement. Mr.
keyos was moved to refuse becaust
his private interests in Mississippi
Would bring a greater income.
| This statement of Mr.. Johnson'
OF course, throws some new light OF
what was regarded by many as TAX
ing one OF the few chances from
Negroes. Mr.. Johnson emphaticall,
states that the criticism of the Negr
press with reference to the admins
tration 1s as far fetched as it /
premature, and does a serious in
Justice both to the President and MI
Hitchcock; adding that the latte
gentleman is better friend to tn
Negro and Republican organization
in the South than many suppose hin
to be.
| Hitchcock was a potent factor +
THAT feature Of the administration