Tom L. Johnson to Charles W. Chesnutt, 11 June 1892
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House of Representatives U.S.
Washington, D. C.
June 11, 1892.
Charles W. Chesnutt, Esq.,
736 Society for Savings Building, Cleveland, O.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 7th came to hand. I have read with interest the pamphletpreamble‸ and resolution enclosed.1 I appreciate the evils you complain of and will always do what I can to correct the wrong. I do not think things are quite so bad as you picture, and see many signs to indicate an improvement. There is yet room for much to be done in the right direction. So many laws are passed, and many more are interpreted against the interests of the poor and helpless members of the commonwealth of the United States. My interest in this subject generally, especially in trying to relieve the masses of people from the burden of indirect taxation is the thing that induces me to take an interest in politics.
Correspondent: Tom L. Johnson (1854–1911) was a White Ohio manufacturer, a U.S. Congressman (1891–1895), and mayor of Cleveland (1901–1909).
1. The resolution referenced is probably "Resolutions Concerning Recent Southern Outrages," composed by Chesnutt for and approved by a group of Black Clevelanders. It appeared in the June 4, 1892, issue of the Cleveland Gazette. (See Joseph R. McElrath, Jr., Robert C. Leitz, III, and Jesse S. Crisler, eds. Charles W. Chesnutt: Essays and Speeches [Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999]: 88–90.) [back]
