By the middle of the following month the President had definitely
decided to attend the Peace Jubilee at Atlanta. I went to Washington
again and saw him, with a view of getting him to extend his trip to
Tuskegee. On this second visit Mr. Charles W. Hare, a prominent white
citizen of Tuskegee, kindly volunteered to accompany me, to reenforce
[sic] my invitation with one from the white people of Tuskegee and the
vicinity.
Just previous to my going to Washington the second time, the
country had been excited, and the coloured people greatly depressed,
because of several severe race riots which had occurred at different
points in the South. As soon as I saw the President, I perceived that
his heart was greatly burdened by reason of these race disturbances.
Although there were many people waiting to see him, he detained me for
some time, discussing the condition and prospects of the race. He
remarked several times that he was determined to show his interest and
faith in the race, not merely in words, but by acts. When I told him
that I thought that at that time scarcely anything would go father in
giving hope and encouragement to the race than the fact that the
President of the Nation would be willing to travel one hundred and
forty miles out of his way to spend a day at a Negro institution, he
seemed deeply impressed.
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