Henry M. Byllesby to William G. McAdoo

224
CH BJ225345p
CH Chicago Ill 
Treasury Dept Washn DC.
I have never presumed upon our past acquaintanceship to solicit from you any favor and have likewise through the crisis of the past few years abstained from in any sense endeavoring to annoy or to offer my advice but now thinking that you will not misunderstand it, and knowing of my wide intimate connections throughout the middle west and the pacific coast from the business matters which I have in charge, I say to you in deep sincerity that the overwhelming mass of the responsible people men and women of this country are earnestly desiring an immediate declaration of war against Germany for the purpose of asserting the dignity of our country and protecting us against the inevitable punishment which will follow any delay in this matter. The administration has exhausted every effort to maintain peace. They have been flouted against disrespectfully. The Country now expects to find in the administration strong vigorous leadership and believe me, Irrespective of party when the administration does take the step herein so earnestly pleaded for you will be amazed to find what a magnificent country we have and how splendidly it will rally to the support of the Administration and the defense of our country, and how absolutely insignificant and how truly worthless will prove in the aggregate the sum total of pacifists and further desires of Procrastination.

H M Byllesby.350P