Mabhuk, returning last
night. Nu, Aberley talked
very fairly. I think you
misjudge Prest. Cleveland.
We learn on all sides that
he means business. Do
not excite the enmity of
his friends just now if
you can conveniently
avoid it, for the sake of the work.

With the warmest
appreciation of the good
work you are doing, and
with high esteem, I am,

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR REPRODUCED
WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF
THE YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
NEW HAVEN, CT 06520

AMHERST COLLEGE.
AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS.
---
ROOMS OF THE PRESIDENT.

October 19th, 1893

My dear Captain Pratt:

A letter just received by me from Doctor Hubbell, of
Buffalo, tells me that someone has written him as to your report
at the Mohonk conference that he said, "I will see that Draper
does not go back into office", and your added and emphatic remark,
"He did not go back". Doctor Hubbell says that this is a "remark-
able fiction", that he "never made such a foolish and uncalled
for statement either to him, (you), or to anyone else". He adds
that he "could not have said anything similar to it, or looking
in that direction", "since inpolitics I was on the same side with
Judge Draper, and voted for the Assemblymen who supported him as
their candidate for reelection". "Furthermore I was strongly
opposed to Mr. Crooker, who supplanted Judge Draper, and exerted
myself in every possible way for Crooker's defeat as Sup't of the
Buffalo schools". He adds that he should be "mortified and indig-
nant to have such an unmerited reproach perpetuated in the report
of the proceedings", and asks that we "suppress the blunder ere
it goes to press".

Under these circumstances, may I not express the hope that
you will agree with me in requesting the secretaries to omit that
remark from the report of what you said at Mohonk? It seems
evident that you misunderstood Doctor Hubbell.

Mrs. Gates joins me in the kindest regards to Mrs. Pratt and yourself. May you have strength given you for the great work which is entrusted to you. I have to leave tomorrow for the annual meeting of the American Missionary Ass'n, at Elgin, Ill. I shall hope to find your answer at Amherst when I return.

October 31st, 1893.

My dear Captain Pratt:

Your frank and friendly letter with reference to Doctor
Hubbell, of Buffalo, gives me the assurance which I felt confident
you would be disposed to make. Of course I do not wonder that
your own recollection is as conclusive to you as this to him.

September 24, 1894.

My dear Capt. Pratt:

I have your letter of the 22d inst., asking me to visit your school and investigate the "quality" of Civil Service. I wish that I could command the time to visit Carlisle before the Mohonk Conference, but I fear that it is out of the question. I have no doubt, however, that Mr. Garrett of our Board, and either Mr. Painter or Gen. Whittlesey from Washington, might come to Carlisle for the purpose indicated in your letter.

I need not assure you that above all things else I want to get at the facts in this matter. While I well know that no system will invariably give good men, and that it is generally true that a man of as wide experience and of as pure and high ideals as yourself, could upon the whole do better for himself and for his work by choosing his associates, than could men on the outside by a set of regulations; yet looking at the service as a whole, and knowing, as you and I both do, how terribly the appointing power is and has been abused, even if you have some very poor appointees I should not be wholly discouraged as to the Civil Service system!

I would take it as a personal favor if you would write to me

as fully as possible of the matters which you have in your mind,
and I will hold just as much of your letter confidential as you
wish me to.

Please remember me to Mrs. Pratt, and believe me,

P. S. May I not hear from you before the Mohonk Conference. I
hope that we shall see you there.