The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.6, page 183, July 1901, U. of Illinois Press

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JULY · lgol the whole question. They may say that even if the Grandfather clause is void for unlawful discrimination between the races, it is separable from the educational and property qualifications, which can stand without it, and which by themselves disqualify our plaintiff Ryanes, so that he is not entitled to vote whether the Grandfather clause is or is not unconstitutional. Of course, we attack the whole scheme of suffrage qualifications, as one scheme, which, we say, must fall if arty part of it is unconstitutional and void. If we can get the court to go this length, which we are attempting in Ryan es ' case, we shall be completely successful; but in view of the character of the subject arid the disposition of the court to evade precipitating political issues by judicial decision, this is hardly to be expected. If we cannot do this, we must at least compel the court to finally decide upon the validity of the Grandfather clause. Apparently the only way in which we can be sure of compelling such decision is by a suit directly attacking the right to vote of some poor and illiterate white who is voting under it. If this also is done, it will drive the court to a decision of the validity of this clause. It seems impossible that the court should sustain this clause by itself. If overthrown, the only necessary result is to disfranchise the poor and illiterate whites who are voting ureter it, without opening the suffrage to the negroes. But this is at least a sentimental victory, and may be all that it is possible to accomplish. Several of our most intelligent colored men here have said to me that they would be satisfied with this, as it would at least establish equality of right. I presume you will be interested in this brief statement of the situation and prospects as I view them, and as you are frequently in contact with those who are interested in the cause, you ought to be fully informed upon it. Very truly yours, A. E. Pillsbury TLS BTW Papers ATT. ~ State ex ref. Ryanes v. Gleason, ~~ La. (~903~. David Jordan Ryanes, born in Tennessee in 184~, was a resident of New Orleans beginning in 1860. The case had a disappointing conclusion after four years of wrangling over strategy between the Afro-American Council lawyers, George H. White and Fredrick L. McGhee, and the three white lawyers, A. E. Pillsbury, A. A. Birney, and Armand Romain. The case was dropped without an appeal to the federal courts. BTW was somewhat disillusioned by the long struggle and never used a committee of lawyers again. (Harlan, ''Secret Life of BTW,'' 397.) 183