eople in this trying time he sent the following letter to the entire
press of the South of both races:

"PIGS AND EDUCATION; PIGS AND DEBTS"

_To the Editor:_

Our race is in constant search of means with which to
provide better homes, schools, colleges, and churches, and
with which to pay debts. This is especially true during the
hard financial conditions obtaining on account of the
European War. All of this cannot be done at once, but great
progress can be made by a good strong pull together in a
simple, direct manner. How?

There are 1,400,000 colored families who live on farms or in
villages, or small towns. Of this number, at the present
time, 700,000 have no pigs. I want to ask that each family
raise at least one pig this fall. Where one or more pigs are
already owned, I want to ask that each family raise one
additional pig this fall.

As soon as possible, I want to ask that this plan be
followed by the organization of a Pig Club in every
community where one does not already exist. I want to ask
that the matter be taken up at once through families,
schools, churches, and societies, Farmers' Institutes,
Business Leagues, etc.

The average pig is valued at about $5. If each family adds
only one pig, in a few months at the present price for hogs,
$10 would be added to the wealth of the owner, and
$14,000,000 to the wealth of the colored people. If each
family adds two pigs, it would have in a few months $20 more
wealth, and $28,000,000 would be added with which to promote
the welfare of the race during the money stringency created
by the European War.

Let us not put it off, but organize Pig Clubs everywhere.
Give each boy and girl an opportunity to own and grow at
least one pig.

[Signed] BOOKER T. WASHINGTON,
Tuskegee Institute, Alabama.

This letter was not only printed by most of the white papers as well
as all of the Negro papers, but it was widely endorsed editorially in
the white as well as the black press. Many of the newspapers for
whites urged that the white farmers also follow the suggestion. The
granges and farmers' institutes of both races took up the appeal and
urged it upon their members. There can be no doubt that through the
publication of this one brief letter, sent out at just the right
psychological moment, Booker