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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers all your children and followers, we thought you would honor us with your presence and give us your benediction. Our movement has grown so much and our annual gatherings are getting to be such events that we long to enlarge its sphere so that every body that will may come, hear and learn. Acting upon the plans and in the lines promulgated at the last Tuskegee Conference we decided at our annual convocation to have a fair and we want you to come and see what we are doing and to tell us how to do better.'' In one of the Dec issues of the students I saw your plan how to lengthen the school term by planting and gathering a crop for the teacher. I laid this before the body and we were unanimous in resolving to put this in operation. I think we're going to win. We are all united and determined to succeed and I believe and feel that God Almighty is with us as he is with you. We are after the mudsillers. We want to teach the common people—those who never went a day to school in their lives industry economy thrift perseverance self control and develop higher ideas of home and its functions. I have had a straight out struggle this year. Ive had to fight every inch of my way in everything but thank God I am still on gaining ground and am enabled by his help to say ''Hitherto bath the Lord helped us.'' Now then we must have you. Our folks here will defray the expense unless its more than they can raise. But I must have you and it is absolutely necessary that you be with us and we have the faith that takes no denial. I think honestly if you'll come you'll be in better heart for your own special work. Regards to Mrs W Mr & Mrs Scott and other friends. R.L.Smith ALS Con. ~6e BTW Papers DLC. Written on stationery of the Farm'' ers' Improvement Society of Texas, R. L. Smith, president. The letterhead also contains the following description: WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR: The Abolition of the Credit System. Better Methods of Farming. Cooperation. Proper Care of the Sick and Dead. Improvement and Beautifying of our Homes.'' ~ Smith wrote to BTW: ''Each visit I have made [to Tuskegeq has been worth thousands of dollars to the people of Texas and I have often wished that I could inspire them as you all inspire me.'' He said that his Farmers' Improvement Society was organizing black women to raise poultry for market and wanted to expand the op oration to include other livestock such as hogs and cattle. (Jan. 19, 1899, Con. ~62, BTW Papers, DLC.) 2BTW, ''How to Build Up a Good School in the South,'' Tuskegee Student, ~e (Dec. I, 1898), 3-4. 4