The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-06-18

Washington, d. c.. June 8. 1913.
To President Woodrow Wilson.
The White House. Washington, D.
c.
My Dear Mr.. President: | am III
receipt of your letter of the Ith inst.
in which you convey the impression
that you desire me to continue as d
member of the House of Representa-
tives
'I entered the senatorial race in
South Carolina only because of mg
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 | have
been under the belief that I was per-
forming the highest duty Of a citizen
in entering the race for the Senate.
ard also performing a sacrifcial duty
to the administration At no time did
l believe that I was serving my own
ambition solely. The one thought ac
treting me in retiring from the house
Of representatives was that I believed
that | vas performing the highest
duty to the people of my State, to the
nation. to the administration. and
yourself.
Il had every cause and reason to
believe this. You have conveyed to
me now the belief that there is still
a higher and greater duty to perform
to the naticn, and to- yourself You
have implicitly commanded me to re-
main in the House of Representatives
and not to take the stump in South
Carolina during the coming months.
We are at war. you are the Command
er in Chief OF the Army and Navy.
we have a selective service act. and
II is the duty of ever man to be placed
where he can best serve his nation
If it is your belief, as I construe your
letter to me. that my services can
best be used in the House of Repre-
sentatives and you will say so, to me
in unmistakable terms so that che
who runs may read" no matter what
nv own judgment may be or the de-
sires of my friends. wish to say to
you that I am willing and likewise
my friends, most cheerfulIy to ac-
cede to your command.
Respectfully yours:
ga. F. Lever"
Mr.. Wilson to Mr.. Lever.
The president then wrote Mr.. Lever
IS follows:
The White House.
Washington, D. c.. June 10, 1918 !
"Mv Dear Mr. Lever: 7 am in re-
:eipt of your letter Of June Sth. In !:
eply permit me to say that I wrote I
o vou only after the most thoughtful !
of what I deemed to be |
ny duty in the case. did not wonda.
hat you thought yourself entitled,
" your long and distinguished serv-
.e in the House to consideration as |
candidate for the Senate. but, as |!
on yourself suggest in the last par |
graph of your letter. we are at war,
nd the seIective service act is ap /
'licabIe in principle to al of u.s. II
vas this consideration that made me !,
'old as the present head OF the nation
o ask you to remain in the House OF i
representatives. 1t seems to ME ab-
olutely necessary that you should re
main in Washington through the !
present consideration of the Ieglsla-
ion to- which 7 alluded in my letter
o you of the 7th instant, Legislation
which we had hoped to he finished By
his tinle) !
'You see. hope. the clear basis of
ny judgment in this important mat /
,er, which so nearly touches your !
own political career that l would not !
in ordinary circumstances have been
at liberty to express a Judgment
about it at all I am convinced THAI |
the interests of the nation make Ii
in the highest degree desirable that
YOU sho-ld remain as long as posi- !
BILE in direction of agricultural le"1s
iat;op in the House. I hope and be
l;A7a' that you will regard tnis conv1c-
ton as a sufficient justification for
the liberty I have taken.
.4Nordially and sincerely yours,
woodrow Wilson.
Mr.. Lever Accedes.
", ouar than rnnIie3 to Mr Viii