Booker T. Washington’s Letter to William Howard Taft (1908)

Document Text

Personal and Very Confidential

My dear Mr. Secretary: Enclosed I send you some suggestions for a plank in the Chicago platform. Of course, I presume the wording will be changed, but I have tried to make my meaning clear. I think I know the situation pretty well among the colored people and I do think the substance of what is stated in this suggestion ought to go in the platform in some form. I have put it in plain language as the situation demands plain language, something which cannot be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

My own view is that something like the enclosed would do more good than the meaningless platform about reducing Southern representation. That was in the last platform and made no impression because it did not mean anything, and if another plank goes into the platform about reducing Southern representation I do not believe it will make the least impression, but what I have suggested, in my opinion, if put in some form would help the situation tremendously.

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