The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.12, page 463, Mar. 1914, U. of Illinois Press

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MARC H · I 9 I 4 marshalled our few friends together here—some times driving some by threats, and in due course of time you and the Doctor know how well his friends had control here. Some of ''our'' friends, as ~ have frequently confided to you, were opportunists; some were worth while to have even though they were more of a liability rather than a real asset. Few were as strong in their fealty when the Ides of March last rolled around as they had previously been. ~ protested against segregation of the race in the departments. ~ felt ~ was right in so doing, and would repeat the offense again. A commendable desire to hang on to their jobs caused some of ''our'' friends— all who were ''in,'' to regard my protest as a bid for notoriety, simply because their tenure might become involved, and as a consequence the erstwhile warmth, ''the Three Guardsmen'' loyalty underwent a change, and the spirit which once prompted ''all for each and each for all'' had been, presto change, crystalized into ''we and him.'' I noticed the change—felt it, but this has been the first time I have unsealed my lips to speak of it. What had usually been regarded as ''our cause,'' and ''our interests'' became an abandoned project in the effort of each to hold on to his job. ~ could have brought influence to remain influence was offered me without asking, but ~ would not accept and use it. ~ have not blamed others for their mindfulness of self preservation because I was so deaf to it. ~ do blame, however, any man who spurns the hand which once fed him, or attempts to destroy the bridge which carried him over. ~ know of the criticism leveled against me—have known of it, and knew it was prompted by selfish ambition and self-preservation rather than any actual offense ~ had committed. It is my nature to be always ready to go down with friends just as I am ready to go up with them. Take Moore for instance. Time and time again his peddled critic~sm of me has come to me. He has voiced it to those he thought would transmit it to me. Yet, examine the debit and credit side of the ledger and see to whom is due the credit balance or to whom is due the deficit. Fred holds me alone responsible for an attempt to secure management of The Age. His antipathy for me is built upon this assumption, and yet you yourself know how clearly wrong is his assumption. As I recall, very distinctly, it cost me fully Too for two trips to ''confer'' on the matter, upon request. I have never said to Fred, nor to those who brought me his criticism of me, how ~ became interested in the 463