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


The following letter has been sent
TO President Wilson by an Ameri-
can citizen who prefers that his
name shall not be published
President Woodrow Wilson.
Washington. d c.
Dear Mr.. President;
lot OF people have ASKED as 20
sign letters which they have written
10 you but the letters had 80 many
words IN them that we didn't under
stand that Ne thought we better not
sign them. as the words might mean
something that would hurt the Unit
I'd States. and we don't want 90 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 die
tates OF humanity" or American
rights" or the principles OF justice
and liberty ~ menace 10 ctyillEa-
ton" SO We couldn't sign their let
ters But Just the same We want
you 70 know that n there 10 n war
between as and Germany we would
be for the United Statee That is
what we think the folks who have
been writing you letters have meant
20 tell you, and ne want you 10 know
that tho we didn't sign their letters
Ne feel that way. too.
We have lived In the United state :
more than anywhere else. and We
have got used t. things here and
like them better than things In any
other place We don't know other
countries very much. and 80 dout
know just how good or bad they are,
but Ne like here 80 well We would
rather help this country than any
other country.
we don't feel ashamed OF this eoun-
try like some people in Boston do,
and We don't think u In just like
China. like Mr. Roosevelt does. We
didn't think before election that all
the things the country was doing
were just no good at all the way we
heard lot q folks say they thought
We like the United states and we
want 20 help the United states We
want 10 help her all the time and
not iust before election or just when
there D. war. 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-
manity and justice don't say some
thing dbout those things when you
have more time % think about them
and don't say N those things can be
helped any other way except by hav-
ing a war but now we guess you are
TOO busy 10 read letters about help
ing the United states when there
Isn't an election or n war.
So We Just want 20 say that " there
10 a war We will help the United
states win the war. We will do just
what you think will help most II
you think " will help most to hang
haRs out Of our windows or 20 wear
notices IN our buttnhoies or 10 make
/ apeechee or write letters 90 the pa
pers or call folks traitors or towards
| or Hiy-iivered OF any other namee
then we will help IN that way. II
/ there is any one you want us 20 Kill
and We are strong enough so the doc
| tore in the army think we would
make good killers. then we will be-
1 gin practicing how 10 Kill folks. and
/ when you say the word and tell us
where the folks are you want vs. "a
Kill we will 90 and try 20 Kill them.
~ you think We could be more help
| just doing our regular work and pay
pay just as high taxes az we can
stand. n you want Va 20 sell things
, 90 the government at good prices or
lend money 90 the government at
good interest We will be glad 90 10
that with all The things and mon ~
We have. N you want us 10 Get aw-
fully mad and talk q lot about how
mad We are We will promise TO 40
that ~ you don't want N 20 tell
any one Else what we are doing TO
help the country but want Ne Just
70 90 II quietly 80 other folks Wont
know about a. ws will keep SILL
and 20 on helping lust the same az
We would N we could tell folks about
a. You just tell ne what yoa want
us 20 DO and We VII 80 ".
Respectfully yoers. - -"
New York. March "a