Herbert Bayard Swope to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Herbert Bayard Swope to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Swope, Herbert Bayard, 1882-1958

Identifier

WWP21724

Date

1917 July 31

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957

Text

HERBERT BAYARD SWOPE
CITY EDITOR

My dear Mr. President

Let me express, through my congratulations, the admiration I feel for your courage and wisdom in standing firmly against the specious reform that sought, under the cloak of war legislation, to place a vicious restriction upon the rights of the public in the form of absolute, nation-wide prohibition. I think it is the highest form of political morality to oppose a measure that is characterized by fanatical clamor, which does not hesitate to impugn the motives of opposition no matter how honest that opposition may be. And fanaticism is never more clamorous than when it centers on a question of public conduct. In such circumstances it was difficult to justify one's attitude, but your attitude was so well based, so fair, so far=seeing that it commanded the respect and support of every intelligent mind.

There is no doubt that your efforts destroyed what would have become a source of perilous discontent had the workers been denied the right of using beer and light wines. In my visits to the war regions I have noticed that in not one of the belligerents in whose lands I travelled (Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany and Austria), has brewing and the vinting of wines been prohibited. It is another matter with distilled liquors; it is my opinion that they should be prohibited here and abroad.

Your bold and just decision had a reaction other than merely giving to those who like beers and wines the right to have their making continue---it created a feeling of confidence among the masses.. that you are vigilant in protecting their interests and faithful to the trust they have placed in you as their friend. Viewed from that standpoint, it produced an effect highly favorable at this moment when fullest public confidence in the Executive is quite essential to winning a war that promises to be as desperately fought and as prolonged as the one we are waging.

You have given me, in common with your other friends, a new cause of pride in their friendship.

With sincere regard,
Faithfully,
HERBERT BAYARD SWOPE


The President,
White House,
Washington, DC

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/WWI0543.pdf

Collection

Citation

Swope, Herbert Bayard, 1882-1958, “Herbert Bayard Swope to Woodrow Wilson,” 1917 July 31, WWP21724, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.