The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-08-16
Mr.. SHAW'S LETTER
Fort Gaines, Ga.
August IL, 1918,

"Hon. Woodrow Wilson, President of
the United States, The White House,
Washington, d. C.
"Dear Mr.. President:
GAS an American Citizen, as a
fourth generation Georgian, and as a
Democrat, / ask your consideration
of this letter.
GAS a candidate for the United
States senate l have qualified under
the law eff my state, and under the
law of my party in Georgia. ! have
read your letter addressed to Hon.
| Clark Howell, of Atlanta, in answer
| to letter from Mr.. Howell.
"Mr. President is there no stand
ard of life or of civilization, social or
| political, upon which boy born in a
humble mann home can depend? Is
there no light of truth to show the
way up the road of justice and right?
Will you pardon me for asking you if
you think Georgia is incapable of
self government?
"Mr. President was reared in only
moderate, country home. My mo-
/ ther loved me as your mother lOyed
you. Ny ambition was implanted by
my mother as possibly your ambition
was implanted by your mother l
4 dreamed dreams when boy as pos
sibly you dreamed, while our mothers
possibly prayed for the day to come
when their boys could be men worth
while and serve their day and gene
ration. I have done my best. l have
tried to offer my all to mankind and
civilization, and, sir, could you wish
fpr me to be measured by less tShan
my own record as private citizen
and a public official in nay own state,
by my own people?
! ''Mr. President l have read your
.hooks, and with you as president of
the United States never dreamed of
| presidential interference in state no
4 limitations or elections. / quote from
your own book entitled 'Constftuti-
Dnal Government in the United
/ States issue of 1907, page 1911 :
'TThe president is at liberty both in law
and conscience to be as big man as
he can, his capacity will set the linlit,
ana if congress be overborne by him
i it will be no lack of constitutional
4 power on it's part, but because the
president has the nation behind hmm
and congress has not. He has no
means of compelling congress, except
through public opinion. That / szg
| he has no means of compelling con-
gress will show whatyl mean, and that
my meaning has no touch of radical
4 ism or iconoclasm in it. There are
4 Legitimate means by which a presi-
dent may influence the action of con-
lgress. Re may bargain with members
not only regarding appointments,
4 Esut also with regard to legislative
| matters. He may use his local pat
! ronage to assist members to get or
retain their seats. He may use his
pSwerful influence in one covert way
or another, in contest for places IN
the senate. He may also overbear
congress by arbitrary acts which lg-
more the laws or virtually override
| them. He may even substitute his
own orders for acts of congress which
he wants but cannot get. Such
things are not only immoral, but they
are destructive of the Fundamental
Understandings Of constitutional gov
ernment, and therefore of :constltu-
tionaI government itself. Tfey are
sure, moreover, in 81 country of free
rublic opinion TO bring their own pun
ishment, and to destroy both the
fame and the power Of the man who
dares to practice them.
"Tbe above was your opinion some
wears ago, Mr.. President, and l was
not advised of your change IN m1rls!.
Therefore, | have spent literally OF
my limited amount OF sweat money,
believing that upon my record and
my ability 1 would be able to serve
nv party, my state, and my country
in the United States Senate, after a
verdict Of the whole people of Geor-
gia had been rendered.
81 have backed your administrator
with all my heart. l offered to raise
company of soldiers before con-
scription was the policy of the ad-
ministration, and to be one OF those
soldiers and to go with them any
where that my flag went. Mr.. Harris
has no record in Georgia, yet he IS
twelve years my senior. Instead OF
him supporting the administrator,