The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.9, page 429, Jan. 1908, U. of Illinois Press

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JANUARY · ~ 908 both, and he can do both better together than he can do either alone. It is not the act of voting I speak of- it is the right of every citizen to have some part in the choice of those who rule him, and the only way he can express that choice is at the polls. It is just as effective if he votes once in five years as once a day. Would you maintain for a moment that the economic conditions in the South, which crush the Negro & drive away white immigration, would continue to exist if the Negroes could vote, and their votes were directed by intelligent leadership? If they could vote, and you with your power of leadership, would direct their votes in the right channel, do you believe their conditions would not be materially improved? I do, and you do. It is not all of life to eat or to put money in the banks, but, as I say, a free man can do both of those things better than a mere praedial serf, yoked to the mule, with no concern in life but his belly & his back. If the colored people ever expect to cut any figure in this Republic they must not pitch their ideals too low; tho their feet must of course rest upon the earth, it should not be forbidden to them to lift their eyes to the Hills. Wishing you a Happy & prosperous New Year, Cordially yours, Chas. W. Chesnutt ALS Con. 886 BTW Papers DLC. From Edwin Doak Mead Boston Jan. 2, 1908 Personal Dear Mr. Washington: I wish you would tell me in a word what the facts are in this matter of the ''N.Y. Age'' ventilated by Mr. Trotter in the last no. of his ''Guardian.'' Mr. Garrison and I have determined to put a stop, if possible, to this chronic row in the ''Guardian,'' which is making our colored people here as a body almost ine~cient for any good purpose. Garrison, whose name was used in the ''Guardian'' in opposition to you, has sent them a very stiff letter for publication. They are trying to avoid its publication; but they will have to publish it- probably this week or its publication immediately elsewhere will be the worse for them. And 429