African Americans--Politics and government

Excerpt from a biography of Captain Francis Warrington Dawson, published in pamphlet form in 1877, focusing on Dawson’s actions during the municipal elections in Charleston, South Carolina in 1868. Dawson’s attempt to unite with African American men and put them on the ticket failed. He was able to bring Democrats and African American men together for the first political meeting between the two groups. Dawson had great concern for the welfare and prosperity of the freed persons at the time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-07

David C. Outlear thanks the members of the New York County Colored Republican Organization for electing him as president to the newly established Republican Organization. He hopes to bring together African American Republicans to defeat Democrats who have been turning Republicans to their side. Outlear hopes their organization will be able to work with the “regular Republican organization” to maintain Republican influence and success. The article includes a photograph of Outlear.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-30

William H. Taft shares commentary on William Allen White’s letter with President Roosevelt. In his upcoming speech, Taft does not address the “negro question” but plans to do so later. Taft enjoyed the speeches of Secretary of State Elihu Root and Representative J. S. Sherman. In a postscript, Taft believes in the necessity of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes. He shares misgivings about his election prospects and wants to give speeches in several states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

An editorial congratulates the Cleveland Gazette, a prominent African American newspaper, for its role in Theodore E. Burton’s electoral defeat and theorizes that the African American vote was crucial for Tom Loftin Johnson’s reelection as mayor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-17

The Lexington Leader prints Secretary of War William H. Taft’s speech at the Lexington, Kentucky auditorium in its entirety. He discusses at length the question of race and its relation to political participation. Taft details the differences between President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan and appeals to Kentuckian Democrats to evaluate their party alliance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Campaign booklet addressing the Progressive Party’s views towards African Americans. The booklet has three sections: Theodore Roosevelt’s “Reply to a Query at the Progressive National Convention,” a letter Roosevelt wrote to Julian La Rose Harris, and a statement from the African American delegates to the National Progressive Convention.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1912

Representative Metcalf recommends E. S. Pilsbury for the advisory committee. President Roosevelt suggests that Representative Cousins second his nomination at the Republican National Convention. He asks if an African American should speak, such as Judson Whitlocke Lyons or William Demos Crum.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-10

Newspaper article examining the different views on the “Negro question” between the north and south. The article concludes that it is best for “national unity” that each section of the country pursue “its own inclination.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-31

The author supports President Roosevelt and his decision to host Booker T. Washington at the White House. Roosevelt is the first Republican to practically demonstrate African American civil rights and equality.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-26

J. F. Hanson believes it would be dangerous to pursue a policy in the South that would endanger Republican strength in northern states. The old party organizations of the South should not be ignored.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-23

A Roosevelt club composed of African Americans, the 1904 Colored Roosevelt Club No. 4, has been formed with around 100 members. E. Mont Reily, the founder of the first Roosevelt club, presented the new club with a constitution and bylaws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-08-28

Thomas Goode Jones argues that race conflicts have not increased since President Roosevelt took office and will continue no matter who is president. Politicians simply took advantage of Roosevelt’s support for African Americans and his interactions with William Demos Crum and Booker T. Washington. Jones would like to quote from Roosevelt’s letter regarding the peonage cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-03

Resolutions adopted by the National Afro-American Council, asking President Roosevelt and Congress to pass laws protecting African American constitutional rights and lives.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-06

Theodore Roosevelt sends his thanks to J. Gordon McPherson for the telegram and thanks him for the work and support he and other “colored citizens” did in securing a victory in California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-28

Theodore Roosevelt addresses the “negro question,” concerning African American delegates to the National Progressive Convention. Roosevelt deliberately brought into the Progressive Party African American delegates of good character from the Northern states, which was accomplished by encouraging men in the North to act fairly toward their neighbors, giving African Americans the opportunity to earn respect instead of “paying obligation to them” as the Republican Party did in the South. Roosevelt argues that following the course of action taken by the Republican Party, while politically expedient, would ultimately be detrimental to both black men and white men in the South, as well as the Progressive Party itself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-06

Oscar K. Davis releases this item for the morning papers of August 3, 1912. Theodore Roosevelt describes in detail the treatment of African Americans by both the Republican and Democratic Parties, but believes that for the Progressive Party, this issue is not a race issue, but a moral issue. Roosevelt concludes that the Progressive Party, as well as Southern black men, will be best served by appealing to Southern white men who support civil rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-01

Proceedings of the Provisional National Progressive Committee held August 5, 1912. The status of contested delegations for the temporary roll from Ohio, Florida, and Mississippi were discussed. Delegates from Ohio and Mississippi were given seats at the convention, but neither of the contesting delegations from Florida were seated. Race issues and the question of negro domination in the south were discussed at length.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-05

Proceedings of the Provisional National Progressive Committee held August 3, 1912. Following introductory remarks by the Chairman, Senator Joseph M. Dixon of Montana, the committee took up the task of seating delegates to the convention on the temporary roll. The question whether territorial delegates would be allowed to be seated and/or to vote during the convention was discussed (pages 12-48), resulting in delegates from Hawaii, Alaska, and the District of Columbia being given the right to participate in debate but not vote, until the Committee on Rules determined their status. Colonel John M. Parker of Louisiana tried to introduce the question of making the Progressive Party a “white man’s party,” but the committee moved on to complete the temporary roll (pages 49-52). Delegates from states where there was no contest were seated (page 53). Five states had sent more than one set of delegates, and these contested cases were referred to a committee of seven for investigation (pages 54-61). Arguments were heard from Alabama (pages 62-108), Florida (pages 108-153), Georgia (pages 154-155), and Mississippi (pages 156-199). The proceedings having run late into the evening, Ohio was deferred until the following day. Most of the contests stemmed from issues of race in the southern states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-03

Ansley Wilcox commends President Roosevelt’s policy on the “negro question” and is sorry to hear of the failure of the Philippine tariff bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-05

In an editorial for The Century, Editor Richard Watson Gilder defends President Theodore Roosevelt’s actions on the “colored question” in the South. Gilder reminds readers that Roosevelt’s mother hailed from the South and suggests patience to Roosevelt’s critics, encouraging them to “judge the President by his whole conduct toward the South” and by all of his appointments, regardless of their racial makeup. Gilder asserts that the minority appointments Roosevelt has made are not radical or threatening but are in line with his “especial endeavor to appoint good men to office everywhere.” In concluding, Gilder qualifies his remarks with a reminder that the magazine has not agreed with every Roosevelt appointment and that its chief aim is to champion fair play.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division