Woodrow Wilson to George S. Johns

Thank you for your letter of April seventeenth. It certainly warmed my heart, my dear fellow. The approval of old friends is mighty dear to me just now.
From present indications, I think we will win with the fight in the House, and there is no doubt we shall win it in the Senate for the selective draft. Your suggestion about a Congressional commission to go abroad and study the matter is a very interesting one and in ordinary circumstances I should not hesitate to suggest it to the leaders in Congress, but in the actual circumstances it is so imperative that we should get to work at once to raise and drill an army that I am afraid there isn't time for it. We must do the most practicable thing and do it quickly.
In haste, with warmest regards and appreciation,