The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-06-18
THE PRESS AND BANNER, Abbeville, s. G.
lso after the return of peace.

NS ~ SSo1S, 90 Sho, oHo ehS
important part that you have been
able to play in securing wise action
on vital measures already enacted
into law, clearly point to the desir-
ability of your continuing in the
house for the time being if possible.
l hope, therefore, you will not feel
that I am taking an unwarranted
liberty in suggesting that, if posi-
BILE, you reconsider your decision
and hat you do not press your can
didacy for senator further.
assuring you Of my appreciation
of your cooperation in matters Of
legislation, I am, $3.50.
every sincerely yours,
"Woodrow Wilson.
"Hon. A. F. Lever, House OF Repre-
sentatives."
Mr.. Levers Reply.
"Washington, D. G., June 8, 1918
"President Woodrow Wilson,
The White House. .
my Dear Mr.. President:
81 am in receipt of your letter Of
the 7th inst. in which you convey
the impression that you desire me
to continue as a member of the
house of representatives.
81 entered the senatorial ace in
South Carolina only because of my
belief that thereby I could best serve
my State and country.
"You will pardon me for saying
that this communication is a great
and complete surprise to me, as I
have been under the belief that I
was performing the highest duty of
a citizen in entering the race for
the senate and also performing a
sacriicial duty to the administration
At no time did I believe that I was
serving my own ambition solely. The
one thought actuating me in retiring
from the. house of representatives
was that I believed that I was per-
forming the highest duty to the peo-
pie of my State, to the nation, to
the administration and yourself. I
had every and reason to be-
lieve this. You have conveyed to
me now the belief that there is still
a higher. and greater duty to per-
form to the nation and to yourself.
"You have implicitly commanded
me to remain in the house of rep
resentatives, and not to take the
stump in South Carolina during the
coming months. We are at war;
you are the commander in chief of
the army and navy; we have a selec-
tive service act, and it is the duty
Of every man to be placed where he
can best serve his nation. If it is
your belief, as / construe your let
ter to me, that my services a best
be used in the house of representa-
tives, and you will say SO to me in
unmistakable terms so that he who
runs may read,' no matter what my
own judgment may be, or the de-
sires of my friends, I wish to say to
you that I am willing, and likewise
my friends, most cheerfully to &C.
cede OF your command.
Respectfully yours,
"A. F. Lever"
Mr.. Wilson's Second Letter.
"The White House,
"Washington, June 10, 1918.
"My Dear Mr.. Lever:
81 am in receipt of your letter of
June 8. In reply, permit me to say
that I wrote to you only after the
most thoughtful consideration of
what I deemed to be my duty in the
case. I did not wonder that you
thought yourself entitled by your
long and distinguished service in the
house to consideration as a candi-
date for the senate, but, as you
yourself suggest in the last para
graph of your letter, we are at war
and the selective service act is ap-
-..l1. =. -s-o:711 - Ill of ,,o II