African Americans--Politics and government

Letter from William H. Brawley toTheodore Roosevelt

William H. Brawley has a low opinion of the Republican Party in South Carolina. He agrees with President Roosevelt regarding the Marshalship and he approves of not appointing William D. Crum to the Collectorship. Brawley expresses his belief that Crum’s standing in the community would not suggest such an appointment and that that no one would “consider him for the place if he were not a colored man.” Brawley disclaims racism and mentions fighting against the Ku Klux Klan while a solicitor in the 6th Circuit, but he also states that the efforts to improve the political rights of African Americans are “hindered rather than helped” by appointing them to jobs that “awaken resentments.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-09

Letter from William H. Brawley toTheodore Roosevelt

William H. Brawley sends information regarding William D. Crum’s dubious political history and does not believe that Crum should receive an appointment anywhere in South Carolina. At the Republican convention to renominate President Benjamin Harrison, Crum supported James G. Blaine until promised an office for supporting Harrison.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-12

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles William Anderson has declined the mission to Liberia because of the fatalities that Americans tend to incur. James Sullivan Clarkson would like to keep Anderson in New York as he is doing an excellent job recruiting African Americans to the Republican Party. After Anderson is able to recruit African Americans in Brooklyn and Manhattan to the Republican cause, he is to go to the rest of the state. There is work to set up Republican clubs in New York state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-12

Letter from William H. Brawley to George B. Cortelyou

William H. Brawley backs his sources on the negative character of Dr. Crum in an attempt to keep Crum from being appointed as Collector of the Port of Charleston. He encourages George B. Cortelyou to write a confidential letter to confirm these assertions of Crum’s abandonment of President Harrison at the Republican Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-15

The President on the appointment of Negroes

Magazine article supporting President Roosevelt’s appointment of William Demos Crum as Collector of the Port of Charleston and his policy of appointing African Americans to government positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-06

Letter from Jeter Connelly Pritchard to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Pritchard would like to speak with President Roosevelt about his efforts to promote the Republican Party in North Carolina. Pritchard believes he has built an effective Republican organization in North Carolina. He points out that some African Americans were denied admittance to the Greensboro Convention because they were not elected by qualified voters and were there to stir up trouble. He says that he is a Roosevelt supporter, but that he will resign from the National Committee if forced to appoint African Americans to prominent positions. Pritchard argues that these appointments would undermine Republican efforts at a time when more white voters supported the Republicans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-21

Letter from Booker T. Washington to Theodore Roosevelt

Booker T. Washington gives his opinion of Dr. William Demos Crum, who has been suggested for Collector of the Port of Charleston in South Carolina. Several white men oppose Crum’s appointment, saying that he bartered his vote in the 1888 Republican convention. However, Washington supports Crum in the face of white opposition to his appointment, saying that when an African American appointment was required in Charleston previously, both races supported Crum.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-01

Letter from Thomas R. Waring to R. Goodwyn Rhett

Thomas R. Waring has information that President Roosevelt is going to appoint William Demoa Crum, an African American, as the collector of customs at Charleston, South Carolina. Waring believes that such an appointment would be disastrous and asks R. Goodwyn Rhett to intercede with President Roosevelt and prevent Crum’s appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-05

Letter from R. Goodwyn Rhett to George B. Cortelyou

R. Goodwyn Rhett disapproves of the appointment of William Demos Crum as collector of the Port of Charleston. He claims that since Reconstruction, white people have been in “political bondage” and that appointing an African American to a position of office would be disastrous not only to Charleston, South Carolina, but also “to the South, and, possibly, the whole Nation.” Furthermore, such an appointment would be a “stigma” upon the white population. As such, he hopes his admiration and the admiration of the other white individuals in the area for President Roosevelt will succeed in preventing the appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-07

Letter from James Adger Smyth to George B. Cortelyou

Mayor Smyth objects to the appointment of Dr. Crum as collector for the Port of Charleston on the basis of lack of qualifications and race. Smyth points out that Crum switched his vote at the Republican convention from James G. Blaine to Benjamin Harrison with the promise of a political office. Smyth argues that Crum does not have the business experience to handle the job. He also argues that an African American should not be in the position, especially in light of the Reconstruction era.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-10

Letter from Matthew Stanley Quay to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Quay writes on behalf of John Stephens Durham, a former minister to Haiti, who is seeking a foreign appointment from President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-27

Letter from Edgar S. Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar S. Wilson responds to President Roosevelt, who has asked his opinion of a letter Roosevelt received from Frederic Speed. Wilson states that Speed is not respected or considered trustworthy in his community. Contrary to Speed’s charges, Governor Longino and Senator McLaurin from Mississippi have taken direct action to prevent lynching in that state. Wilson hopes to meet with Roosevelt to discuss a number of matters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-28

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to William Loeb

James Sullivan Clarkson hopes that a position can be found for Charles William Anderson. Sullivan has received a letter from Booker T. Washington urging the appointment of John Stephens Durham to an important position. Appointments for Anderson and Durham will be popular with the African American community.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-20

Summary of letter from Henry M. Sage

Henry M. Sage encloses a letter from his friend, John R. Vidmer of Alabama. Vidmer comments on Alabama politics and does not want President Roosevelt to take part in the “color line deal.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-13

Telegram from Booker T. Washington to James Sullivan Clarkson

Booker T. Washington is confident that President Roosevelt will continue with Mr. Roulhac’s appointment even against white opposition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-07

Summary of letter from R. Goodwyn Rhett

R. Goodwyn Rhett of Charleston, South Carolina, protests the appointment of William Demos Crum, an African American, as collector of customs in Charleston, South Carolina. He reviews the status of African Americans and the Republican Party in South Carolina and believes that the removal of African Americans from politics would be best for everyone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-07

Letter from Frederic Speed to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederic Speed questions President Roosevelt on what he sees as inconsistencies between Roosevelt’s actions and his words regarding African Americans. Speed is primarily concerned with Roosevelt allowing Senator McLaurin and Governor Longino to control federal patronage in Mississippi because Speed believes them to be ardent racists with a history of allowing mob violence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-09

Letter from A. Walters and G. W. Clinton to Theodore Roosevelt

The Executive Committee of the Afro-American Council is concerned about attempts to remove African American delegates from Republican state conventions in several southern states. They would like to discuss the matter with President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-06

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to Theodore Roosevelt

James Sullivan Clarkson suggests replacements for former United States Attorney Vaughan who was removed due to his role in excluding African American delegates from the Alabama Republican State Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-27

Letter from Booker T. Washington to Theodore Roosevelt

Booker T. Washington believes that he can work with James Sullivan Clarkson and that Clarkson understands the Alabama situation. The opposition to “decent, property holding Negroes” by Republican leaders in Alabama is morally wrong and will affect the African American vote in the northern states. Washington hopes that President Roosevelt will rebuke the actions of these Republicans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-27