Woodrow Wilson to John A. Wilson

Please let me return Alfred's letter with the telegrams.

I am inclined to agree with you entirely in the general policy which underlies the criticisms of your letter of March sixteenth, but, my dear John, the one thing I am precluded from doing, as I think you will understand, is personally intervening to direct what appointments shall be given to anyone so nearly related to me as Alfred is. The intervention would be most prejudicial to Alfred himself and would never be understood by those who are anxious to find grounds for criticizing the administration, and particularly for criticizing me personally.

I need not say how sorry I am that things should have fallen out as you describe, but I think it would be most unwise for me to make inquiries about it. I hope with all my heart that it will straighten itself out.