RECEIVED AT Cor. Jackson Boulevard and La Salle St., Chicago
CLEVELAND, O Aug 8-12.
DEAR MISS. ADDAMS: --
I WISHED TO SEE YOU IN PERSON TO THANK YOU FOR SECONDING ME. I DO IT NOW INSTEAD. I PRIZED YOUR ACTION NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE AND STAND FOR, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT SYMBOLIZED FOR THE NEW MOVEMENT. IN THIS GREAT NATIONAL CONVENTION STARTING THE NEW PARTY WOMEN HAVE THEREBY BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE THEIR PLACE TO FILL PRECISELY AS MEN HAVE, AND ON AN ABSOLUTE EQUALITY. IT IS IDLE NOW TO ARGUE WHETHER WOMEN CAN PLAY THEIR PART IN POLITICS, BECAUSE IN THIS CONVENTION WE SAW THE ACCOMPLISHED FACT AND MORE-OVER THE WOMEN WHO HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THIS WORK OF LAUNCHING THE NEW PARTY REPRESENT ALL THAT WE ARE MOST PROUD [page 2] TO ASSOCIATE WITH AMERICAN WOMANHOOD. MY [EARNEST] HOPE IS TO SEE THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY MOVEMENT IN ALL [ITS] STATE AND LOCAL DIVISIONS RECOGNIZE THIS FACT PRECISELY AS IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. OUR PARTY STANDS FOR SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL JUSTICE AND WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT WOMEN AND MEN WILL WORK WITHIN THE PARTY FOR THE CAUSE WITH THE SAME HIGH SINCERITY OF PURPOSE AND WITH LIKE EFFICIENCY. I THEREFORE EARNESTLY HOPE THAT IN THE CAMPAIGN [NOW] OPENED, WE SHALL SEE WOMEN ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS STATE AND COUNTY COMMITTEES. FOUR WOMEN ARE TO BE PUT ON THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND I TRUST THAT THERE WILL BE A FULL REPRESENTATION OF THEM ON EVERY [page 3] STATE AND COUNTY COMMITTEE. WHILE I AM NOW ADDRESSING YOU I DESIRE THAT THIS SHALL BE TAKEN AS THE EXPRESSION OF MY PERSONAL HOPE AND DESIRE BY ALL MEMBERS OF SUCH STATE AND COUNTY COMMITTEES AND I BELIEVE THAT I EXPRESS THE FEELINGS OF THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PROGRESSIVES IN MAKING THIS REQUEST. I HAVE JUDGE [HOTCHKISS'] ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL BE DONE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IT WILL BE DONE IN THE OTHER STATES. WITH GREAT ESTEEM, I AM, FAITHFULLY YOURS.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT..
320AM.
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