The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-02
BOOKER wAsHINGToN's LETTER


Birmingham. Ala. November T.-Tne
following letter has beer received by
the Age Herald from Booker T. Wash
ington:
To the Editor OF The Age Herald:
/ notice that several
have recently connected my name with
political matters in such a manner as
to show that my position is not I'M
destood. 1 desire therefore to make
the following statement:
My life-work is the promotion of
the education OF my race. 1t is well
known that l have always advised my
>eople that il is of supreme Importance
At this period of their development that
they should concentrate their though.
and energy on the securing of
homes, the cultivation of habits of
thrift, economy. skill, intelligence, high
moral character and the gaining of the
respect and confidence of their neigh
bors, white and black. both in the
south n north. From such teaching
and counsel, no influence can ever al
vert me.
What conferences / have had with
the president or with any public official
have grown out of my position, not as
a politician, but as an educator. 1t
should be borne in mine that there a'e
about nine millions of negroes in the
United States who are liable under the
law for taxes and military service ard
who are punishable for infraction of
the law. These people at present have
90 member Ct their race in the nation
al law making body and it is right that
those charged with making and exc
cutting the laws of the and should at
times seek information directly from
the members Of the negro race, when
their interests and relations with the
whites among whorl they i've are con-
cerned.
Under no circumstances do / seek II
promote political candidates. or VOC
unteer information regarding men or
measures, nor have lone so in the
EAST; but because of the Importance
l nave always sought to place upon
education and industry among my peo-
pie as the basis for friendly relations
between the races there may be oc-
casions in the future as there have
been in the past when, if 1 am so re-
quested, | can gil information about
men and measure which would terd
to promote such :" endfy relations be-
tween the races. Ich information, it
is my duty to gil when it is asked
for.
AT every rop D~portunity I say to
the youth of our people that they will
make a mistake if they seek to sue
coed in life by mere political activity
or the hope of holding political Off e.
Now AMI then, however, public ques-
tons affecting our interests arise
which are so fundamental and far
reaching that they transcend the do
main of p~o:tics. When such ques-
ions present themselves in justice to
my race, 1 make my position known
right.
We cannot elevate and make useful
a race of people until there is held out
to them the hope If reward for right
living. Every revised constitution
throughout the southern states has put
a premium on Intelligence, ownership
CT property, thrift and character.
AS an educator, and not as a polite
ian, strive in every honorable and
rational way to encourage the wise
and enduring progress of any peopI=;
for if all inspiration and nope of re-
ward is to be denied them, they Will
be deprived Of one of the greatest in
centives to intelligence. industry, and
Righteousness. On the oner hand, f
they are encouraged in sensible and
conservative directions they will grow
year by year into contentedness and
added usefulness.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.