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The Commoner
VOL. 14, NO. 9
President Wilson Says "Duty First"
f Washington, D. C.f Sept. 1, 1914.
t Honorablo Wodrow Wilson, The White House,
Washington, D. C. My dear Mr. President: For
Homo time tho national democratic congressional
committee has been recoiving requests from every
state in tho Union, urging us to enlist your active
participation in tho important election contest
just before us. These requests come from scores
of friends of your administration who view with
intense pride and satisfaction tho splendid
achievements that have resulted through, to use
your own phrase, tho co-operation of one "human
being with other human beings in a common
service."
I hazard nothing when I say that yoif are very
near to tho hearts 'of tho American people and
that your presence amongst them would be to
thorn a source of much gratification.
I realize how occupied you are in these trying
dnys and how steadfastly you have remained at
your post of duty, safeguarding the best inter
ests of all the people In this groat crisis and for
that reason I almost hesitate to take up with you
tho matter of a speaking campaign. However,
it is important that we who are responsible for
putting before the American peoplo in the com
ing election contest, as best we can, the splendid
record of achievement of your administration,
should know as early ns possible to what extent,
if any, you can give us your valuable time.
Yours very sincerely,
FRANK E. DOREMUS.
I'ltESIDEiNT WILSON'S REPLY
September 4, 1914.
My dear Mr. Doromus:
I have read your letter of September 1st with
n keen appreciation of its importance. It ap
peals to me as tho leader of the party now in
power with peculiar force and persuasiveness.
The close of a very extraordinary session of con
gress is at hand which has, I venture to say
been more fruitful in important legislation of
pormanent usefulness to the country than any
session of congress within the memory of the
active public men of our generation. A great
constructive program has been carried through
for which the country has long waitod, and has
been carried through with the approval and sup
port of judicious men of all parties; and we have
abundant reason to congratulate ourselves upon
the record that has been made during the busy
seventeen months we have devoted to our great
legislative task. Certainly in ordinary circum
stances, if we were free to disengage ourselves
for the purpose, we would be warranted in now
directing our energies to a great campaign in
support of an appeal to the country to give us
tho encouragement of its endorsement at the
autumn elections.
Wo could go to the country with a very sin
cere appeal to which there need be no pretence
or boast of any kind but a plain statement of
things actually accomplished which ought to be
and I think would bo entirely convincing It is
a record which shows us at peace with all the
world; the questions which plagued business
with doubt and uncertainty and irresponsible
criticism out of the way, thoughtfully settled
and disposed of; the apparent antagonism be
tween government and business cleared away
and brought to an end with the plain reckoning
accomplished; the path for sure-footed adjust
ment clear ahead of us, prosperity certain to
come by means which all can approve and an
plaud. Moreover, there is a program of another kind
ahead of us to which it is inspiriting to look for
ward, a program free from debate except as
to tho best means by which to accomplish what
all desire. Tho great questions immediately
ahead of us are the building up of our merchant
marine with all that means in the development
and diversification of our foreign commerce and
the systematic conservation and economic use
of our national resources, subjects much talked
about but little acted upon. Here are other
great pieces of constructive legislation waiting
to be done to which we could turn without any
controversy except, as I have paid, as to the best
ways of doing them.
I believe that ways can be found to do these
things readily enough if the country will give us
ts generous support and trust us to do them; and
It would have been a genuine pleasure to me to
ysk to bo given again colleagues such as I have
nad In tho two houses of congress during tho
present memorable session. I trust that there
will be many occasions upon which I may have
the privilege of calling the attention of my fellow-countrymen
to the fine and unselfish service
which has been rendered them by their present
representatives, ready at all times to respond to
any appeal which spoke convincingly of the pub
lic welfare.
But in view of the unlooked-for international
situation our duty has taken on an unexpected
aspect. Every patriotic man ought now to "stay
on his job" until the crisis is passed and ought
to stay where his job can best De done. We must
do whatever is necessary and forego whatever is
necessary to keep us in close and active concert
in order to relieve in every possible way the
stress and strain put upon our peoplo during the
continuance of the present extraordinary condi
tions. My job, I now know, can be done best
only if I devote my whole thought and atten
tion to it and think of nothing but the duties of
tho hour. I am not at liberty and shall not be,
so far as I can now see, to turn away from these
duties to undertake any kind of political can
vass. In the present emergency I am keenly aware
of the two-fold responsibility I am called upon
to discharge; the responsibility which devolves
upon me as president of the United States and
tho responsibility under which I am laid as lead
er of a great political party. Of course, the
whole country will expect of me and my own con
science willexact of me that I think first of my
duties as president, responsible for exercising so
far as I have the ability, a constant guidance in
fi'L ',f1tLle country, bth domestic and
foreign. The labors of congress have a natural
and customary limit; the work of the houses
can be and will be finished; congress can adjourn.
But the president cannot, especially in times like
these, turn away from his official work even for
?l S Ti much dePends upon his keep
ing all the threads of what is occurring in his
t ohave. therefore, reached the conclusion that
L??IY10tin any ordinary sense take an active
part in the approaching campaign; that I must
remain here to attend to the serious work upo
to fill the months immediately before uV
months that will carry with them oMIgationT
no doubt, of the most tremendous sort I know
that you will feel similarly about your own ob
ligations; that members of congress too wi?h
out distinction as to party affiliations, will eel
that they must remain to do theh work- of neces
sary and pressing service and bring U to suc
cessful conclusion. suc
frI8h?11'n? d0Ubt' take occasion as opportunitv
offers to state and perhans restate to the countrJ
in the clearest and most convincing terms I on J
command the things which the demoeraUc party
has attempted to do in tho ohw1 p ty
questions which have 'for manyong
pressed for solution, and I earnestly hole that
they will generously open their minds to what I
EX t V,t0 nay-; but X sha11 not allow Eager
ness to win their approval or my earnest d2f
to be granted by their suffrages the sunnnrtn?
another congress to interfere with the dailvLr
formance of my official duties or district P
mind from them. The record mn Il my
for itself The countryman not Te dSved'con8
corning it and will assess it justly What tt
chiefly expects and demands and what it tin
certainly be most surelv won hvi. , - wil1
ance of duty without fear or vor anVwi ft:
regard to personal consequences Wlthout
And certainly this is a time whpn Ami.t
pects every man to do his duty wlthmS li ?l
of profit fr advantage to wSseK iUrtSf h
greater than any party Amp L,, a is
properly be served by any man who V not
ment measures his interest m?w 0p f mo"
age. The time has mXvt
are days big with destiny for n7 Un fe?88
as for the other nations of the , world 1 imi t
wisdom, a little courage, a little self-fowi il
devotion may under God turn that desUnS n
way or that Great hearts, great nature win
respond. Even little men will rejSSe to i
stimulated and guided and set an heroio Jt6
ample. Parties will fare well enough withnnf
nursing if the men who make them up i ?i
men who lead them forget themselves to servS
a cause and set a great people forward nnli
path of liberty and neace. Iorward on the
Cordially and sincerely yours
WOODROW WILSON.
MISREPRESENTATION AS ARGUMENT
Mr. Watterson, who is nothing if not interest
ing, has turned his mental artillery against
woman suffrage. Here is one of his comments.
"Feminism, among the more advanced, avows
itself the enemy of a man made world and ,
man written Bible and all existing institutions
including marriage and the home; it pronZ?.!
the abolition of sex and the re-oreation of worn
in the barbaric iniage of man, each worn to
choose the father of her child, and as many
fathers as she cares to have, polygamy and thp
polygamous instinct to be shifted from mascii!
line to feminine initiation." "'ascu-
. Such arguments as those presented by the
Kentuckian do much more to advance woman
suffrage than anything that the women can say
in heir own behalf. The style of disputation
that misrepresents the opponent's position and
then feigns righteous indignation at that which
no one advocates, betrays a consciousness of
weakness. People are in the habit of putting
forth the best argument they have, and when a
debater launches such a slander as tho above
If l cofeff ion thf his cartridge box is empty.'
If Mr. Watterson is .ever, fortunate enough to
become acquainted with the rank and file of the
women who favor equal suffrage, he will find
them quite normal, entirely respectable and in
tent upon the performance of that which they
regard a duty. They have seen the ballot used
(without protest from Mr. Watterson) by those
who conspired against the home and the women
are not far fcom right when they conclude that
e,, e? "!w 5aises a Doy has as m"ch right
to use the ballot to protect him as the man-killer
youth0 of"1! yi U ,t0 aM in the struction of the
youth of the land. W. J. BRYAN.
THE VERDICT OF CIVILIZATION
War is the foulest fiend that ever vomited
forth from the mouth of hell.-Jean Jacoues
-BSZrS&i. S00d " r a tad 1)eaC.G'
My country is the world; my. countrymen are
all mankind. William Lloyd Garrison
The more I study the world, the more am I
fhmiiurnhV1111," 0f force t0 cSe any
thing durable. Napoleon Bonaparte.
mon?Jl,ith-,ma?ie 0f one bIood a11 nations of
Pn? WelL,n a11 the faCe of th earth.
Paul on Mars Hill
ronlfrif Gn abliSh.ed SlaVery from Civilized
S? Vhfe ??ins of man by nin. The
next great step that the world can take is to
SrSaJSSle?6 " f "
pJJn nn8!1 t 86e tllQ Whle WOrtd at
bStftnS V?e lnhabitants of it as one band of
tn ti ?i?' st,rivin which should most contribute
ton naPPlness of mankind. George Washing-
wiJh "flrm alice ,towaTd non with charity for all,
? thJrt8? iVhe risht as God Sives us to
whiJ? n,Sfh!et US strlve to do all
?l?y achieve and cherish a just and last-
iKmmLin?o?r elVGS WUh aH nati0nS
TiGthd b7 which states Prosecute their
SnM 0t ?nder Present conditions be a pro
d?oHnrf Aa,W' flnCQ nS court exists having juris-
wnr G ?Gm' bUt nly War' But thr0USh
riSt II Snf BU,tt in vIctory tlie Question of
right is not decided. Emanuel Kant.
min itv doactrine that, violence, oppression, inhu
JevStiiJ twe2n?al element of society, is so
society nericfb' w X belieVe ' J would let
awiv niS If ' letmn and hls worbs he swept
Bottp'r A ih?fceMth be ahandoned to the brutes.
brutM thnat hht gl0b,G 8hould be tenanted by
Clmnning 7 brutalized men. William Ellery
desBtroyVfmCrUel1tlllng is war' to separate and
lov nnyi ? U es and friends, and mar the purest
world" tnSiPln088t.God has panted us in this
Co fm. U .ur, hearts with, hatred' instead of
fill n? n? nG1?bbrs and to devastate the fair
Thlthe heautiful world. Robert E. Lee.
bpnvon i be the ful1 complement of backs
men inl? f arms twisted wholly off, of
smisJd Sal1?, ?on their hayonets, of legs
onPn il2 UP "?e bits of firewood, of heads sliced
soft Mm? iai)ps' of other heads crunched into
t?iii by. tliQ iron h00fs of horses, of faces
Th X 2 a11 likeness to anything human.
ThS L Smhsl$ulk8 behlnd "a splendid charge."
our fniiW at fo!lows, as a matter of course, when
un f?rim7S rod.at them In Btylo and cut them
up famously. Charles Dickens.
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