The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.7, page 517, May 1904, U. of Illinois Press

The page presentation framework of the Booker T. Washington papers is designed to provide researchers worldwide with searchable access to the thousands of pages comprising the fourteen volumes, most of which are out of print. Adapted from the National Academy Press's Open Book framework, this framework allows searching down to the page level, provides sorting of search results chronologically, enables easy navigation across multiple volumes, and allows page-by-page local printing (via PDF) of every page.

[ Top of Page ]

[ Home ]

[ Contact Us ]

[ Help ]

OCRed data provided for searching only.
MAY 1 904 does, and I should like very much to have an opportunity to speak to the President about him, and he can get the same kind of evidence from many other public men in this state. Since it is likely that large numbers of colored people will be employed in one capacity or another in digging the canal, it seems to me that the President wouicl like to consider fudge Kyle since he is well acquainted with the character of the colored people. I hope for an immediate answer, if it is not asking too much of you. Yours very truly, Booker T. Washington TLpS Con. 3 BTW Papers DLC. ~ Born in Tuskegee in 186z, Osceola Kyle was a lawyer in Opelika and Decatur, Ala., and served in the legislature from Lee and Morgan counties. He was an Alabama state railroad commissioner and circuit court judge prior to President Roosevelt's appointment of him as a federal judge in the Canal Zone. Kyle did little in this position to justify BTW's endorsement. Perhaps he was well acquainted with blacks, but Secretary of War W. H. Taft forced him to resign after complaints that he did not know the Spanish language or Spanish law and showed no desire to learn. (Taft to Kyle, Jan. 7, and Kyle to Taft, Jan. ~7, 1905, Theodore Roosevelt Papers, DLC; Birmingham ~ge-Herald, Mar. I, 1905, a.) To Henry Ossawa Tanner ''Tuskegee, Ala.] May, 1909 Dear Mr. Tanner: I think that our very purpose would be defeated if I should make a special matter of appealing to Mr. Carnegie, as you have suggested. I think it would be better if I brought his attention to you incidentally when we are speaking sometime of other matters. This method would enlist his sympathies more than would the specific asking that he consider what you desire. If at any time I can serve you, I shall be very glad of the opportunity. With best wishes, I am, Very truly yours TLpS Con. 872 BTW Papers DLC. ~7 Booker T. Washington