The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.12, page 4, Sept. 1912, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON PaPeTS indicate the intellectual capabilities of the negro race. You know doubtless that Senator Vardaman maintains that the negro's mental life stops practically at the age of puberty. Of course this is absurd on its face and any intelligent man has many counter facts at hand, but ~ would like to have a showing as to the attainments of the negro race that would simply overwhelm such a statement. Then again ~ would be pleased to have literature that speaks of the initiative of the negro as that would be indicates! by business and professional successes where men were thrown upon their own resources. And still further ~ would like more material than ~ have as to the spiritual transformations of negro life. Senator Vardaman declares that Ch~istianit,y does not trance form the negro. ~ myself know so many noble Christian lives that such a statement seems to me nothing short of enormous In its injustice. But ~ would like to have at hand the record that you may have, as to the spiritual service of your people here and there in the great worId's life. Of course the Senator makes much of the unspeakable crime which frequently results in the death of negroes at the hancis of mobs of white men. Though it was to reflect upon my own race ~ felt it just to remind those who heard both him and me that lust knows no color line and that the story of the brothel life and the white slave traffic among the whites should at least make us humble In judgment of the negro. And it Is right In connection with this very matter, my dear Sir and Brother, that Senator Vardaman Is boicl enough to refer to you yourself In a baldly suggestive way that many of us resented as the very greatest insult. Perhaps you have learned that he aDudes to the pathetic and trying Incident In New York when you were assaulted and every intimation Is to the effect that the story as first told was true and that you were peeking into windows in an uncertain way and that you did use endearing names when first greeted by the women who saw you in the entry-way of the apartment building. Now ~ beg you to forgive me, a complete stranger, speaking of this thing but ~ do it out of unquestioning love and honor. ~ resented the Senator's word and did so before the congregation when ~ had the opportunity to speak, but ~ want to be In a position to say something more definitely than ~ am able to say now. The people did not know, and indeed do not know myself, what the final adjustment of the matter was. ~ would like to have from you the thing that you want your friends to say. That you are absolutely without taint in the matter is not the 4