Woodrow Wilson to Louis Edelman

I am sincerely sorry to hear of the unsatisfactory condition of your health and hope most earnestly that you will presently find yourself very much better.
Mr. HouseEdward M. House has shown me your letter of December eighth to him and it has, of course, excited my sincere sympathy. It is so extremely difficult to find a satisfactory place in the public service without suspending the rules of appointment by examination, and it is so dangerous to suspend those rules, for reasons which I think will be obvious to you, that at present I must candidly say to you I despair of finding anything suitable. I would not be frank if I did not say this to you.
I regret very much that the public business claimed my attention so constantly while you were here that it was impossible for me to do more than shake hands with you.