Joseph P. Tumulty to Woodrow Wilson

Since our little talk a few days ago with reference to Bernard Baruch, I have thought of the effect upon the country of the selection of the man you have in mind. I refer to Mr. S. I am surprised to find already a disaffection among a great many of our friends who are wondering about the consequences of such an appointment. For instance, this point of view has been brought to me by persons who, I know, are friendly to us: As you well know, the German propagandists in this country are very anxious not only to provoke our laboring men but also the masses generally, by making them believe that this is a captalists' war. Your Administration has been singularly free from any possible suggestion of this sort. Will we not play into the hands of the bolsheviki not only in this country but abroad? Will we not also weaken the hand of Mr. Gompers who will be accused of working hand in glove with a Morgan partner?Then too there is another side of it that appeals to me. It is a well known fact that our industries benefitted considerably in the two years prior to the entrance of the United States into the War. We have been accused of "bleeding" our Allies. It is also a well known fact just how the purchases were made and a great many people have not hesitated to say that the fiscal agents of the Allies were so closely linked up with the other corporations in this country as to make many people apprehensive as to whether the same inter-corporation arrangements will not be in vogue once more when the same man does the purchasing for us. As I have often told you, I would not have suggested Baruch six months ago if I had not heard praise of him on every side. Just the other day a friend of mine was talking with Chandler Anderson who is, as you know, a Republican. Anderson has been inside of Baruch's organization for the last several months, and he told this friend of mine that Baruch had a very splendid system and was doing great work. One thing is certain,-- that we know where Baruch stands because he has been with us from the start. We are sure of Baruch's vision, loyalty and generous sympathies. Are we sure of the other man? Can we take a chance?