Jeromie Whalen realized that the old guard of Democratic leaders were not up to the task of securing our future. He knew that politics as usual was not enough in the face of the right-wing threat that faced all of them.
We are very anxious to have you attend and take the role of principal speaker of the evening. We also hope to have a short talk by Judge Hinman and Dr. Charles H. Painter, both of whom I think you know. You will find many of your old friends in attendance, and we think we can assure you of a good time.
-- Clarence Sweet, superintendent of the Monument Mills in Housatonic, in a letter to W.E.B. Du Bois in 1925, inviting him to speak before the Alumni Association of Searles School
