COPY.
June 12, 1922.
My dear Miss Addams:
It has been an ambition of mine to help in so bringing things about that the national Conference would give you -- without your having to think about it beforehand -- an expression of practically sentiment asking you to be the president of the Fiftieth Conference. It was for this reason that I did not seek an opportunity to discuss the matter with you when you were here in May.
However, Dr. Hamilton was here today and told me of the conferences which she and Miss Lathrop had with you. And also a telegram reached me this morning from Miss Lathrop. In view of all the circumstances and Miss Hamilton's suggestion, I am sending you a copy of a letter I have today written Miss Lathrop.
May I tell you how very earnestly I hope you will consent to let your name stand among the nominees. I feel certain that the outcome will be an expression of affection and loyalty to you in which the vast majority of the Conference will feel privileged to share and which will be an honor to the Conference itself.
I enclose the excerpt from the N.Y. Times not because of any satisfaction you may find in having your name associated with the three others mentioned, but simply to show that even the Times -- which might have made some comment of an unpleasant sort concerning "internationalism" or "pacifism" did not do so. I know that there are some few in the National Conference who seem to fear what they imagine the public will think if you are chosen president. But they are very few and I think the situation can be handled -- in the way I [suggest] to Miss Lathrop - -so that they will be inaudible. As I have said to Miss Lathrop, if any unpleasant contest seems imminent I will be the first to counsel --such a decision on your part as will save you from it. And I shall hope that in this the [judgment] of Miss Lathrop and Dr. Hamilton will be available at Providence -- as well as your own. But I do not think there is any real danger of such a situation developing.
May I point out that Mr. Folks does not wish to run if you also are a nominee -- and will withdraw his name. But he most certainly will run if Miss Richmond is a candidate and you are not. And in such an event my [judgment] is that he would be elected. And this is because he and many others feel that for the 50th Conference the president should not be a leader in a specialized group, however preeminent in the group, but one who is representative of the whole field of social work. Miss Richmond could be elected next year.
I can only add that if you should let us continue to work for your nomination and election -- which I believe would result -- I should have ↑from that result↓ a new faith in the courage and idealism and breadth of vision of social workers as a group.
Faithfully yours,
Graham Romeyn Taylor. [signed]
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