Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-02
The Presidents Difficult Game

d RESIDENT HARDING is engaged in the
dihicut-not to say impossible
ble-barrccd task OF trying TO build up
his party in the South and al the same time
10 parcel out such substantial rewards for
the fealty OF the colOrcd voters that they
will have cause for renewed partisan ac-
tivity in the next campaign. Apparently it
is playing both ends against the middle. but
10 date he has succeeded only in stirring up
political racial hornets nest about his
own ears. revivng the unfortunate race
question and alternating all that considerable
support the South contributed to him i'll
his race for the presidency. His unfortu-
nate and awkward cndcavors along this par
ticular line combined with the repeated ef-
forts of Representative Tinkham and his
followers to punish the South for its alleged
Acknowledgement OF the negroes. arc not
cont ributing materially TO that rapproche-
mcnt with the South over which he has
been so volube
Cite the OF Henry Lincoln Johnson.
Gcorgia's famous $4,000 peach who
achieved notoricty at the time OF the G.
o. p. National Convention and was reward
cd with a place on the national committee.
becoming the only dark shadow on its lily
Wilderness. The peach" has been bitter
fruit in the mouth Of the party management,
and bar to party upbuildng in the South.
How to get rid OF him without affronting
the colorcd brother has been problem.
Mr.. Harding believed he could solve ii by
appointing Johnson to be Recorder Of Deeds
for the District OF Columbia but the last
condition seems worse than the first. Geor-
gia in particular and all the other States of
the South generally are aroused TO high
pitch or Indignation and will fight TO the
last ditch the elevation of Il negro to po-
sition OF authority over white employees.
most Of whom are women. Nor is it so GER
tain that johnson, even after the political
beans have been spilled, will consent to re-
sign from the national committee, a place
of which he is Unfortunately proud. II he
rcfuscs-and the party would not dare to
Dust him-thc President will have nothing
hut political and racial Juror and loss of
his prestige in the South to show for his
plans.
Not content with the johnson appoint
ment, however, tho President is determined.
it is said to go into his own State Of Ohio
and bring James Cottrell a Toledo negro,
TO Washington to be Registrar of the Treas
ury Negroes have held this position III
former years, but conditions are different
now that the Office has grown to immense
proportions. Already more than 500 white
women employees of the Office have petit
toned against the appointment of negro
to position of authority over them, and
fresh embarrassment is promised.
The record to date of the Harding regime
is sufficient evidence that the President has
little sympathy, or at least little faith, in
the lily-whte movement in his party. Ger
lainly he has not hesitatcd to kill ii by his
appointments. This being the attitude OF
the national administration il will he in
tcresting to observe the course of the Vir-
ginia Republicans who will meet in con-
vcntion at Norfolk on July IA. They have
Invested themselves SO far as they dared OF
the influence OF their colored brothers and
denied them a voice in the party councils
though Still not adverse TO their votes on
election day. To put themselves in a more
thorough accord with the national leaders
it would seem incumbent upon them at
Norfolk 10 retrace their lily-white steps and
invite tho colorcd Republicans to meet again
with. them in political equality