The Washington herald., 1911-12-04
WANT MORE JOBS
FOR LITTLE MEN"
COlOred Leader Takes Issue
with President Taft.
HOW RACE CAN BE ADVANCED
II. A. Clarke, Chairman of Republic
can Interstate League, Comments
the Chief Executive-"BIG Offices
for Big Men, Not a Benefit.

From the viewpoint of a well-known
representative of the colored population
of Washington, President Taft. in his re-
cent interview. published in The Wash
ington Herald last Friday, was not alto
gether happy.
II. A. Clarke, chairman of the Repub-
lican Interstate League. was asked by a
reporter for The Herald for his opinion
of the following statement in the Taft
interview:
What Mr.. Taft Said.
l have appointed many negroes 10
office. and have given some of them,
like Lewis. Napier, johnson. and Nc
kinlay, offices of essential dignity at
Washington. What l have not done is
to force them upon unwilling COM
munities in the South itself. i have
appointed none where l knew that
race feeling was strong. and l have
preferred giving large offices to we'll
equipped negroes of the higher class
to scattering a lot of petty ones
among the mass of their race. This
is not because l lack sympathy with
the negroes, but because 1 want to
see them advance. The worst thing
/ could have done for them was to
keep alive any i'll feeling their white
neighbors cherished toward them; but
it Stiffens their self-respect and spurs
them to more thorough preparation
for public service if they see political
honors going to their worthiest lead
ers.
Paying Political Debts.
Mr.. Clarke said: Nearly every Re-
publican President has made the same
mistake that President Taft has made.
In my opinion, they have seemingly mis-
understood the race recognition theory
for political services rendered, and done
that which will accomplish the least good
for the race. What the negro race
needs is more little Offices for little men,
and less big offices for big men. In the
past there has been too much smiling
upon the few and frowning upon the
many by Republican Executives"
Asked his opinion of the wisdom of the
Presidents course In regard to filling Of
fees in the South, Mr.. Clarke replied:
1T is my belief that the failure to ap-
point negroes to offices Of dignity in the
South and the appointment of lily
whites In their stead is not because
the appointing power desires to keep
down altogether any Ill feeling the white
neighbors cherish toward the negro, as
much as it is TO help to disrupt the
ing other Democratic strongholds, as the
President carried three Congressional
districts in North Carolina. and one
third of the counties in Georgia, thereby
taking the sting out of the relations be-
tween the North and the South.
Give Small Fry-Places.
Continuing along this line. when asked
the President had not conferred
high honor upon the race by his ap-
pointment Of Lewis, McKinlay. and 9TH
ers, Mr.. Clarke said:
"If the Chief Executives who are so
much interested in the welfare of the ne
gro race viii give the little negroes more
positions as laborer. messenger. or clerk,
and the so-called hg negroes less posi-
tons OF dignity, they will readily observe
the more rapid advancement of the race
by a more necessary. equitable, and just
Of nickels and dimes per
capita than by the distribution Of Presi-
Dental commissions and lucrative SAL
aries to a class that in the main draws
the line Of discrimination on heavier