Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-24
WILSON YIELDS
Continued from Page One)

sion of the truth" but expressed the
opinion that as a result of the contest,
even if the nomination were confirmed
by the Senate his usefulness as a
member of the board would be serious
| ~ impaired
In his reply President Wilson ac-
cepted Mr.. Jones suggestion with re-
luctance and scored those who, he
said, had treated his nominee with
gross and manifest injustice" He
disclaimed any embarrassment in his
standing by a man whom he believed
in, but declared he was unwilling TO
allow Mr. Jones to be a football in
the contest that had sprung up.
II was said that the Presidents ac-
ton today did not indicate that there
had been any change in his determina-
ton to insist upon the confirmation of
Paul NJ Warburg, whose nomination
to the Reserve Board also is being op-
posed.
Correspondence Published
The following correspondence be-
tween the President and Mr.. Jones was
made public at the White House to-
night:
Chicago, July 90, 1914.
MY Dear Mr.. President:
Il have reached a definite convic-
ton that it is my duty to ask you to
withdraw my nomination as a mem
Der of the Federal Reserve Board. You
are aware that | was in no way what
ever an applicant for the Office. 1t was
with the greatest reluctance that
agreed to accept the honorable but
heavy burdens of that office in case my
name were sent to the Senate and con-
firmed by it. I did not then antici-
pate a protraeted and bitter contest.
AT the invitation of the committee on
banking and currency I willingly ap-
peared before it to answer any ques-
tons which they might desire to ask
of me, and I endeavored to answer with
entire frankness all the questions that
were asked and that my testimony was
made public at my request.
1T is not for me to surmise motives
or to complain of results. That my
nomination and the controversy that
has arisen over it in the committee on
banking and currency is seriously en-
barrassing your administration and is
causing injury to the party of which
! You are the leader. is too clear to adj
| NIT of any doubt. And in view of the
character of the report made by the
majority of the committee on banking
and currency, majority composed of
six Republicans and two Democrats
much of it based on distortion of facts
and perversion of TRUTH feel convinc-
ed that such opposition has developed
to the confirmation of my appointment
and such criticism has been made of
my nomination, that even If the nomi-
nation were confirmed by the Senate,
my usefulness as a member of the
Federal Reserve Board would be Sc
riously impaired.
I am not willing longer to remain
the cause of embarrassment to you
and to your administration and in view
of the consideration above stated l
now ask that you withdraw my name
from consideration.
Faithfully yours,
THOMAS D. JONES"
/ Personal Letter
In a personal letter to the President
accompanying the formal request, Mr.
Jones said:
Il cannot let the matter go without a
personal word, which / deemed inappro-
pirate to be inserted in. that letter. l
confess that the opportunity to be asso-
ciated with you even in a minor way, in
the actual creative work of government
took strong hold upon my imagination
1t served to oyerbear all doubts of the
wisdom of my undertaking the step pre-
scented, growing mainly out of consdera-
tons of health. l doubt whether l could
have stood the work long, but I was pre-
pared to devote the last ounce of
strength there was in me to the work,
which your proposal seemed to bring to
me. Now that the vision is past, my
preponderant feeling is that of profound
relief had come TO feel that 1 was in
some way the occasion of getting you
into inextricable difficulties. l am sure
that my withdrawal is wise
Il hardly dare trust myself to say
how deeply prize the confidence you
have shown III me and your endeavors
to carry the matter through. 1t will
always be a matter of real pride to
me.
With light apparently ahead in Mex
leo and with achievements already ac-
| complished which even the most san
guine could not have anticipated q
year and half ago, you can afford to
race minor irritations with entire
equanimity. If from now on you are
to be beset with controversy and diff
culties you can in my opinion, rely
with entire confidence upon the fact
that your past achievements will rank
among the highest achievements of
the holders of your great Office"
Presidents Reply
President Wilson'S reply:
MY Dear Friend: Your letter Of the
goth of July brings to me. 1 think,
more kinds of regret than any other
letter l ever received. Regret, first of
all, that the country should lose the
invaluable services of such a man as
l and all fair minded who know you
at all know you to be; regret that l
should have brought upon you so un-
pleasant an experience in which you
were treated with gross and manifest
injustice; regret that such circum-
stances should seem even for the mo-
ment to be associated with anDoint =