The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-10
TilIman Answers Frankly

with characteristic frankness. 81 think
it is due to the unwilingness of the white
women and white men of the south to go
TO school as 1t were, alongside of ne
groes," he said.
'The white people of the south are not
much in love with the equality implied by
the civil service examinations. When the
examiners are Yankees, the whites get
more out with the process of becoming
government officials than ever
I'm other words, they do not like to be.
even in appearance, on level with the
negroes. They, therefore, neglect to take
the examinations and get on the eligible
list. These lists are humbugs, of course,
as we all know, because the certihcation
of the three names at the top from which
the appointing officer must choose. and
failing to find the proper material for the
clerk in the first three, can call for an
other certif1cation, makes it possible for
| the republican who is in charge of the
bureau or department to find the kind OF
man woman he is looking for, and il
| he is a negro lover, as many republicans
are STILL and there is negro in the bunch
| reasonably bright. the negro is usually
selected for the appointment. At least
| that is my Interpretation.
II do not think this Is a healthy thins
| for the negro race, because 1t increases
! the antagonism of the white race for the
| negro race. and will result ultimately II
the negro's being completely shut out
/ from the government service.
| "I have not got the statistics to show
! the relative racial status. but from gen
eral knowledge of conditions, I am in.
| clined to believe that In the railway maj;
| service, for instance. considering the rela
| tive population to be served. there mus
be three to one of the negroes who are
qualified according to the civil service
| ideas and regulations.
| IT would heartily favor segregation ir
| the departments If 1t were practica BILE.
never would consent, If were able tc
prevent 1t, to having white merf under
negroes because that Is a reversal Of
the eternal fitness of things. And tt
have white women under negroes is un
speakable to me.
Judging by the eagerness with whicl
white men and women are seeking place:
and asking me to get them jobs. the siz,
of the salary has nothing to do with IT,
Leaven Is at Work
"The leaven Is at work in the north
and / find public opinion and sentimen
very much changed since first began tt
go among northern people as a lecturer
Caste feeling is at the bottom of i
all, and the yankees will some day learr
more about 1t than they now know. TIL,
the northern people, the sooner this prob
lem will be solved, for closer contac
always gives fuller insight.
"If President wilson, continued Sena
tor Tillman, land the cabinet Officers
under him use the proper corrective ant
it need not be drastic or revolutionary
I should think In three or four years W,
would have a very radical change in con
ditions in the civil service in Washing
ton"
Whether the civil service reforms advo
Gated will be carried out or not, ii is fac
that some of the cabinet officers and the
assistants are seeking to separate th
negroes and whites in the service as mucl
as possible. John Shelton Williams o
Virginia, Assistant Secretary of tn
Treasury, In paying visit TO the Bureau
| of Printing and Engraving a short whit
ago. found the white and negro employs
eating lunch together. He ordered /
stopped at once, and insisted that sepa
| rate places be provided. He said that i
might be necessary for them to work to
gether, but it was not necessary for then
to eat together.