The Detroit times., 1917-03-16
A Letter to the President

The following letter has been sent
TO President Wilson by an Ameri-
can citizen who prefers that his
name shall not be published
Presfden, woodrow Wilson.
Washington. p, G.
Dear Mr.. President
A lot OF people have asked us 20
sign letters which they have written
10 you. but the letters had 40 many
words in them that we didn't under
stand that we thought we better not
sign them. az the words might mean
something that would hurt the Unit
I'd states. and we don't want 10 do
anything or say anything that would
hurt the United states. We don't
know just what the folks who wrote
the letters mean when they say ~dic-
tAtea OF humanity or American
rights or the principles OF justice
tion." SO w couldn't sign their let
tera. But Just the same we want
you 20 know that ~ there 10 war
between as and Germany we would
be for the United states That is
what we think the folks who have
been writing you letters have meant
TO tell you. and We want you 20 know
that tho We didn't sign their letters
we feel that way, too.
We have lived In the United States
have got used 20 things here and
like them better than things In any
other place We don't know other
countries very much. and 80 don't
know Just how good or bad they are.
but we like here 30 well we would
rather help this country than any
other country.
We don't feet ashamed OF this coun-
try like some people in Boston do.
and W. don't think Il 10 just IKE
didn't think before election that all
the things the country was doing
were just no good at all. the way we
heard a lot ~ folks say they thought
We like the United States and We
want 70 help the United states. We
want 90 help her ali the time and
not Just before election or Just when
there is WaF. We think folks can
do things for their country even
when there isn't any election or any
war We don't know why folks who
write you about civilization and hu-
thing about those things when you
have more time 60 think about them
and don't Say II those things Oan be
helped any other way except by hav-
ing war. but now we guess you are
too busy 70 read letters about help
ing the United states when there
isn't an election or a war
> - We Just want 20 say that IL there
is war We viii help the United
States win the war We will do Just
what you think will help most II
you think II will help most TO hang
Tags out OF our windows or 20 wear
mpttOes In our buttonholes or 10 make
speeches or write letters 20 the pa
pers or call folks traitors or towards
or Hly-iivsred or any other names.
then we viii help in that way II
there ie any one you want IA 20 Kill
and we are strong enough 30 the doc
tors I'm the army think we would
make good killers, then we will be-
ain praetieing how TO Kill folks and
when you say the word and tell us
kill we will go and try % kill them.
Just doing our regular work and pay
pay Just as high taxes an we can
stand. If you want us 70 sell things
90 the government at good prices or
lend money TO the government at
good interest We will be glad To do
that with all the things and money
we have. II you want US 20 get Aw-
fully mad and talk n lot about how
mad we are we will promise 10 DO
that. n you don't want us 90 tell
any one else what We are doing 20
help the country but want uH just
20 DO ~ quietly 80 other folks won't
know about g. we will keep still
and 80 on helping Just the same as
ne would n we could tell folks about
80 You Just tell Us what you want
us 10 do and we will do ~
Respectfully yours. - -
New York March IL