Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-16
N AINE man WRITES
HON. JOHN A. PETERS
Urges Congressman to Work for
Warning Americans Off
Armed Merchantmen.
His Grandfather Fought at VAL
ley Forge, His Father in 1872,
Himself and Three Brothers
Three Years in Civil War.

Washington, D. c., March 15.-(Spec-
iaD-Hon. John A. Peters, representa-
tive in Congress from the Third Maine
district, has received rather remark
able letter from a citizen in North
New Portland. who writes deprecating
the course Of Mr.. Wilson in public az
fairs, and especially with Germany
and earnestly urges Congressman Pet
ers to do everything he can to pre-
serve peace and oppose war. and ex-
presses the hope that he will vote in
favor Of resolutions warning Ameri-
cans to travel on the high seas at their
own risk.
The writer states that he is over 70
years old and that his grandfather
served seven years in the Revolution
airy war and with Washington at VAL
ley Forge, his father was in the war Of
1912 and with Scott at Lundy's Lane,
and that the writer and three of his
brothers all served three years each in
the war Of the Rebellion.
1t is an interesting thing that so
that he writes a 13-page letter about
est language to oppose the Presidents
course with Germany. Congressman
Peters wrote as follows in reply:
House Of Representatives.
Washington, D. c.. March II, 1916.
D4p nd
My dear Sir:
have your letter concerning
the international situation and
am very glad to hear from you and
to know your sentiments. 1 have
a great respect for you and do not
| know Of anybody in Maine with
more patriotic record. A man
whose grandfather fought in the
| Revolution and whose father In the
War Of 1912 and who. with three
brothers, fought in the War Of the
Rebellion. is entitled to have his
opinion receive consideration and
weight.
It may be that see the matter
in a little different light than you
do because I am on the spot and
the situation Is sometimes distorted
in the newspapers. The President
does not hold his Office with my
vote nor yours, but he is the Presi-
dent Of the whole country just the
same, and when he wrote US a note
and said that in his negotiations
with Germany he was very much
embarrassed by the report that
Congress was against him. was
$Avs
ing American to do but to throw
|. partisanship aside and to vote to
sustain the President as against
Germany? The Resolution that
was the subject Of discussion was
not a proper one to have passed.
It is said in substance that this
Government would withdraw it's
protection from its citizens who
travelled on the high seas in a man
ner that they have been travelling
for one-hundred and fifty years
and had a right to travel. II we
had yielded in that respect they
would then have asked US to yield
in some other point and England,
would have asked us to yield in our
controversy with her and the nrst
thing we knew we would have no
rights left at all. am obliged to
vote to sustain the ancient rights
Of American citizens and believe
that is also the safest thing to do.
am very strongly opposed to war.
shall do all I can to prevent 1t:
but in times Of crisis with foreign
Government I think it is my duty
to stand by this Government and
when American rights are Ques-
toned must vote to uphold them.
Please believe that I have the
same interest and desire in regard
to peace that you have and am do
ing all can to promote 1t, and that
will try to use the best judgment
the Lord gave me to that end; and
please believe that I am doing the
best can for my country and for
my constituents.
Yours very truly. --~
JOHN A. PETERS.