Woodrow Wilson to Henry Pomeroy Davison

When the Secretary of War and I were agreeing upon the proposals for new draft ages, I was keenly aware that it would affect a great many organizations, and notably the Red Cross and the Young Men's Christian Association, which were acting as direct auxiliaries of the Government in these war times, and I realized very fully the difficulty of the problem which you state. I must admit that only a very small part of the solution is clear to me. I have not yet discussed with the Secretary of War how such matters are to be handled, but I think he would agree with me that it would be very bad policy to take essential men from such organizations and that we must make a very candid and fair effort to determine which men are indispensable and which are not.

It is easy to say that the vacancies should be filled with men not liable to draft, but that will be immeasurably more difficult if the new law passes then it is now. At the same time, I think that distinct effort should be made to get mature men over the draft age in as large numbers as possible, and I hope that the manifest need will prompt a great many men to make the necessary sacrifices of time and business opportunity.

This is as far as my thinking has got, and I shall hope that you will help me as much as possible.