Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-04-15
CONFIDENCE IN
DR.. WASHINGTON
Wealth Of Affection and Good
will Showered Upon Him.
cHEEREO BY HEAD OF NATION

Conspiracy to Blast the Reputation Of
the Great Tuskesssan Falls by Its
Own Hand Under ssarchlisht Of
Sweeping lnvsstisation-Foress Of
Prejudice Put to Flight.
BY N. BARNETT DODSON.
New York.-The attempted humilia
ton Of DR.. Booker L. Washington In
New York city recently signally failed.
The conspiracy to blast the reputation
of the great Tuskegeean fell by its own
weight under the searching light Of in
vestigation. AS humiliating as the
unjust notoriety has been to DR.. Wash
ington and his friends, nevertheless
Afro-Americans have had great OBJ
tect lesson. SANDER and prejudice
were futile by the side of the pure
spotIess life of the man who has done
so much for the uplift of his race.
The whole country. north. south.
east and west. was shocked when the
first tidings were published Of the
brutal assault upon DIR. Washington.
When this assault was followed by an
attempt to besmirch DR.. Washington's
reputation there was n rallying of his
friends which overwhelmed the forces
of prejudice and revealed the great
hold that DR.. Washington has upon
the hearts of the people of the United
States DR.. Washington received near
ly 5000 letters and kilograms from
admiring friends. Chief among these
letters. OF course. was the autographed
communication from President Will
liam Howard Taft. which has already
been published
But. important as this communica
ton was. It was no more important
than those which came from southern
white men. from hundreds of northern
white men and women and from Afro
American leaders and organizations In
all parts of the country. The tele-
grams which Immediately began to
pour In from DIR. Washington's home
state must have pleased him i'm
mensely.
Among the first assurances of con
bell. president of the Macon County
bank at Tuskegee. Ala: another from
J. II. Drakeford. cashier OF the Bank
OF Tuskegec. Tuskegee. Ala. and +.
W. Thompson. n member OF the legis-
lature OF the stntc Of Alabama. with
residence nj Tuskegec. These letters
DIR. Washington cordially appreciates
because they come from the town
where he has practically spent all OF
his life Mr. Campbells letter In as
follows:
Macon County Bank.
Tuskeecc. Ala. March q. 1911
b. T. Washington. New York.
Dear Sir-l regret very S'uch to learn OF
the accident which happened TO you In
Every one with whom 1 have discussed
the matter mas expressed sympathy for
you and his confidence that no blame at
ta chcr 20 you In tho matter
Wishing for you n speedy recovery. am
yours truly. w W. CAMPBELL
One telegram. signed by every impor
tant Negro citizen OF Montgomery
Ala. reads as follows.
The Negro citizens OF Montgomery wish
to tender TO you a reception on your re-
turn to the state as an expression OF their
confidence and esteem. II no objection
please name date.
From Selma. Ala. came the follow
ing telegram:
The executive board OF the coiorcd Ala
bama state convention. representing mem
bcrship OF 2os.doo. tenders you sympathy
In this your hour OF attempted humila-
tion. You have stlll our implicit conf
dcnee and most profound respect We
shall ever delight To honor you our
true and trusted leader.
J. ii. EASoN. President.
r. b. HUDSON. Secretary.
Among the educational forces OF the
country who quickly put themselves on
record in expressions of confidence
and good will were such important
men as DR.. Wallace Buttrick. secre
tnry Of the general education board.
the Rockefeller organization. which
controls $42.OO0.0OO worth Of invested
funds; DR.. s. C. Mitchell. n southern
white man. president OF the Univer-
sity Of South Carolina. Mt Columbia
DR.. !. II. billiard. president of the
Anna T. Jeanes Fund foundation.
The faculty OF Hampton institute,
OF which DIR. Washington is n gradu
ate. sent a special letter of symnashy,
and this was followed by another from
Mr.. Robert c. Ogden president OF the
bonrd OF trustees of the Hampton Nor.
NAL and Agricultural institute. man
who has known DIR. Washington mos.
Intimately from the time Of his gradu.
alton at Hampton.
The confidence Of the colored people
in the great leader was revealed by the
many eloquent and touching express
sions of concern for his henlth. and at |
the same time In attesta ton of their |
regard for him and their confidence in
his integrity.
All classes OF Afro Americans have |
united in these expressions OF conf |
dence. many letters coming from those |