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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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-15
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-12
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.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-09
William H. Brawley understands President Roosevelt’s position regarding the marshalship and agrees with him. He does not believe that people of color have the capacity to hold public office and opposes the appointment of William Demos Crum as Collector of the Port of Charleston.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-09
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-01
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-06
J. C. Hemphill has written to President Roosevelt on why he objects to the appointment of William D. Crum as Collector of the Port of Charleston. Hemphill offers to give his opinion on any similar situation that Roosevelt asks. He also mentions that he thinks of George B. Cortelyou and the party that recently visited and hopes that they will return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-11
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-05
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-07
Booker T. Washington does not want the Thompson appointment held up. He requests that John S. Webb be appointed as postmaster at Tuskegee, Alabama. Washington will provide further advice after his meeting with James Sullivan Clarkson. He also believes the opposition to William Demos Crum is based on color, not character, and that white support would be helpful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-07
John G. Capers is stopping at the Raleigh. He has forwarded the mailing address for William Demos Crum, an appointee for office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-08
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-10
J. C. Hemphill lays out his reasoning as to why William D. Crum should not be appointed Collector of the Port of Charleston. His main reasoning is racially based. Hemphill believes having a “colored man” in the position would be “obnoxious” to most businessmen. He mentions Crum’s race extensively but also mentions that Crum is not engaged in business. Hemphill suggests that a white Republican could be given the position with little problem.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-11
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-07
Two articles from the New York Age discuss political meetings and resolutions by various African American societies and meetings. The first reports on a visit of New York Age editor Timothy Thomas Fortune to San Francisco, where he spoke about the need for political unity among African Americans, and praised President Roosevelt’s statesmanship. The second reports on a meeting of the Union League Republican Club of Detroit, which upholds its support of President Roosevelt after he wrote a letter condemning those who opposed his nomination of the African American William Demos Crum for Customs Collector in Charleston, South Carolina. The club also speaks against the “lily white” Republicans and the invitation of Senator Benjamin R. Tillman to speak in Detroit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-25
Senator McLaurin reports that William Demos Crum is more interested in a consulship than appointment as collector of customs at Charleston, South Carolina. Crum, an African American, would prefer a position where “his race would not be a handicap.” The appointment of George Washington Murray will be made as soon as George R. Koester takes charge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-30
Booker T. Washington reports what he knows about a certain person and his political convictions. He notes that the party voted for John M. Palmer and Simon Bolivar Buckner of the National Democratic Party in 1896, but entered the Democratic primaries in 1900 to help defeat the nomination of William Jennings Bryan. Washington suggests their friends be advised to appoint a Montgomery man to represent the “best class of white people” and to appoint William Demos Crum as internal revenue collector for South Carolina, representing the “best class of colored.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-04