Newton D. Baker to Woodrow Wilson

From time to time I have been hearing from persons who were disturbed at the state of mind of the Jewish drafted men at Camp Upton, the reports being to the effect that they were sullen, resentful and perhaps in some sort of secret pact with one another which would be fruitful of trouble. I have had the matter so thoroughly investigated that I have now assured myself that there is no basis whatever for these reports except, perhaps, that a number of these young Jews, being Socialists, did assume a resentful attitude toward various groups of New York politicians who sought their votes for Hylan, Mitchell and Bennet. I have just had a letter from a Mr. Rosenbaum, of the National Cloak and Suit Company of New York, from which I quote the following:
"We have between 50 and 60 men from our place with the colors, most of them men who have recently gone to Camp Upton on Long Island. The spirit of these men is splendid and the reports they give us are most flattering. Their letters to us show the intense earnestness of these young men and the wonderful spirit that they have brought to the work. They have no complaints to make and speak highly of the food and the treatment. I have also heard from men from other camps who talk in the same way; in fact, I have yet to hear a complaint from any of the drafted men."

I send you this item of information because it seems to me not unlikely that you may have heard some of the disquieting things which have come to me about Camp Upton.