The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.11, page 462, Feb. 1912, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers Unionists they make, etc. The information ~ have received, however, is conflicting and contradictory. ~ am taking this occasion to write to you and a number of other weD informed persons to see if ~ cannot get at the truth. ~ wiD be very grateful if you will kindly answer for me the follow questions: What are the rules of your Union concerning the admittance of Negroes? (e ~ Do Negroes in your opinion make good union men? ~ 3 ~ If they do not, what in your opinion Is the cause? ( What do you advise concerning the Negro and Trades Unions? Thanking you In advance for this information, ~ am, Very sincerely yours, TLSr John Mitchell Collection DCU. Booker T. Washington ~ John Mitchell ~ ~ 870-~ 9 ~ 9 ) entered the coal mines of Braidwood, Ill., at the age of twelve. He joined the Knights of Labor in 1885, but three years later the long, unsuccessful strike at a nearby mining town convinced him of the need for a separate miners' union. When members of the Knights and the National Federation of Miners formed the United Mine Workers in 1890, Mitchell joined. He advanced in the union hierarchy to become president in ~ 898. He led the Pennsylvania anthracite strike in 1909, when his skill at bringing together miners of many ethnic origins brought about victory over the recalcitrant operators. He lost his presidency in 1908 after unsuccessful strikes in the bituminous coal fields. Later, he headed the trade-agreement department of the National Civic Federatior~ and chaired the New York state industrial commission. Mitchell was a conservative business unionist but supported the solidarity of miners across racial and ethnic lines. Robert Ezra Park to Tames Bertram [Tuskegee, Ala.] February ~3, 19~2 Dear Sir: ~ am writing to you at the suggestion of Mr. Emmett J. Scott, Dr. Washington's Secretary, in regard to a project which he presented to you some weeks ago, for the organization of a Bureau of Research to be devoted to the study of problems connected with the Negro, particularly in the Southern States. As you no doubt gathered, the rather imperfect notes which he left with you, offer a mere sketch. My purpose in writing to you is not to complete that sketch, because 462