The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.4, page 329, Sept. 1897, U. of Illinois Press

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SEPTEMBER · I 897 To William R. Morris and jasper Gibbs ''[Tuskegee, Ala., cat Sept. ~ 4, ~ 897] My Dear Friends: Replying to your favor of Aug. 3 ~ I would say that I should have answered more promptly, but have been sick for several days to the extent that my physician forbade my doing any work. I thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to set matters right in regard to the press dispatch which has been very widely disseminated purporting to give my views regarding the matter of lynching. ~ would say that this dispatch is an example of many others which have misrepresented me. When once such matters get into the newspapers through the press bureaus it is almost impossible to do anything that will modify their influence. I might on some occasion have said that most of the people lynched in the South were of the worthless or vagrant class, but if any one understood by this expression that I meant to justify lynching or lawlessness he was certainly far from understanding my views or position. I condemn in the strongest terms lynching for any cause. I believe that the most miserable and most unfortunate being, whether black or white, should have the fullest protection of the law, and that lynching under any circumstances is to be condemned. Nothing is hurting our country so much today as the reign of lawlessness, which shows itself through the medium of lynching. While ~ condemn in the severest terms those who are guilty of committing outrages upon women, I claim that they should have a fair trial, which is the only protection to our civilization. Yours truly, Booker T. Washington Minneapolis Tribune, Sept. 18, :897, 5. The newspaper ran BTW's letter under the headline ''Sets Himself Right.'' ~ Morris and Gibbs replied, saying that they had arranged for the newspaper to display BTW's statement over his signature. They wrote: ''We do not propose to suffer anything to go unanswered that comes to our notice that in any way reflects upon your fidelity, integrity and sound judgment.'' (Morris and Gibbs to BTW, Sept. ~ 8, ~ 89 7, Con. ~ 3 I, BTW Papers, DLC. 329