Autograph Letter, signed, on United States Senate letterhead. 4 pages. Undated, ca. 1911-1915. To Rev. Paul Hickock, Washington, D.C., a critique of elitist college fraternities.

Spalding was critical of the “many fraternities…. whose activities are almost entirely social and whose membership is determined not so much by merit as by social favor and social standing. These must inevitably establish a college caste and an artificial exclusiveness entirely inconsistent with the American Democratic Spirit. Wealth sooner or later becomes the arbiter of membership and the poor aspirant for its favors will be rare indeed if successful. The resentments and heart burnings which these conditions beget are unfortunate. They are bad for those within as well as without the charmed circle and justify much of the criticisms directed against all secret fraternities…” Charles Spalding Thomas (1849-1934) was born in Georgia and served as a boy in the Confederate Army, but after becoming a lawyer, moved to Colorado in 1875, and was elected Governor in 1899 and, in 1913, US Senator. Woodrow Wilson was then on his way to the White House and his past opposition, while President of Princeton University, to snobbish fraternal “eating clubs” may have prompted this inquiry to his fellow progressive Democrat from Denver. A timely subject given recent headlines.