The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-11-18

Thompson Waytes, who was the chair
man of the eolored women's national
Republican committee here during the
recent national political campaign.
Miss Waytes is a native of Union
county, S. C. After completing her
public school course Miss Waytes en-
tered Benedict college, where she took
the college preparatory course. She
also completed a course In missionary
training at Shaw university, Raleigh,
In 1901, From Shaw university Miss
Waytes went to the Moody Bible In
stitute, at Chicago, In which she fur
Their perfected her studies, finishing
Howard graded school at Columbia
and, all told. has had six years ex-
perience as schoolteacher.
In 1910 Miss Waytes was appointed
superintendent Of Bible school work by
the Church Federation society of New
York. AS a speaker and lecturer she
has had an interesting career. Upon
the formation of the Progressive party
at Chicago in 1912 Miss Waytes was
selected as one of the campaign speak
crs and did effective work ON tour
through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota
and Massachusetts.
Besides her work as above given she
is gospel preacher of no mean ability
and also an author and writer Among
her best works are Modern Proverbs
onJ tho IJi1dap LNiro Che I,a, 4rovo
ed extensively throughout the United
States working for the advancement
of the race in various movements. At
Columbia, S. c., she succeeded in or
ganizing the Columbia City mission.
through which hundreds of garments
were distributed to the poor. She was
one of the prime factors in the organi-
zation of the Frederick Douglass Cen.
ter in Chicago and also organized the
Bible class of the Mount Olivet Bap-
list church In Chicago In 1906 Miss
Waytes was teacher at the Live Oak
institute, Live Oak, Fla.
During 1911 Miss Waytes was the
pastor of the Shiloh Baptist church,
West Medford, Mass On resigning the
pastOrate of the church at West Med
ford she was called to church in one
of the western states. but an urgent
demand for her services among prison
ers won~h sympathies. In this line
Of religious and social service work she
Travelled great deal. She has deliver
ed lectures to the student body at Fisk
university, Roger Williams university
Hartshorn college, Virginia Union uni
yersity, Howard university and at the
Florida Baptist college.
Miss Waytes has received number
of letters of commentator from prom
inent educators, statesmen and clergy
men on her work. The one from for
mer President Roosevelt states that
Mr.. Roosevelt was very much pleased
with her work as campaign speaker
for tbe Progressive party in 1912. An
other letter of the same tone of senti-
ment was sent to Miss Waytes from
the Tribune-Herald at Rome, Ca. and
from a number Of other papers in the
various sections Of the country.
Miss Waytes did yeoman service for
the Republican party in the political
campaign which closed on Nov. 7. Her
services are in constant demand. and
she is kept busy at all times. She is q
contributor to four weekly papers. She
knows the art of newspaper writing
quite well and states the facts as they
are. She knows how to create favor
able public sentiment for the race In
her writing and lectures. As an organ.
izer and leader she has won her way
up through difficulties and from oh
security to great prominence.