Mark A. Matthews to Cary T. Grayson
Title
Mark A. Matthews to Cary T. Grayson
Creator
Matthews, Mark A. (Mark Allison), 1867-1940
Identifier
WWP16175
Date
1920 February 4
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
My dear Brother
Your good note received.
I have prayed earnestly for the President ’s recovery, and there isn’t a Sunday morning in this church that we do not pray especially for his recovery. As you know, I love him and have fought his battles daily. I feel in my faith and in my heart that he is well and strong enough for the battle. I hope you will turn him loose and let him make his powerful strokes.
Would you please do me a special favor? Write me a personal and confidential letter and tell me what is the matter with him? I met a group one evening last week and a physician who was among the compnay made the statement that the President had had a stroke, cerebral hemorrhage. It made me so angry that I arose and called him an infamous liar and challenged him to furnish his proof. I told him the President had been suffering with acute neuritis. Please let me know the exact facts. I will never mention your name, but I will be able to speak with authority. No man has been more misrepresented than the President , and the trouble is He has been abused by those who pretend to be his friends. If he has any special faults it is that he has trusted a bunch of crooks, wno now, thinking they can get no more power from him, are willing to join the mob and crucify him. But I have never given up any fight and never expect to. I hope you can let him come forth.
If he will tell you a conversation I had with him, he will repeat to you statement I made, namely, “Strike, Mr. President , and strike hard. Expose the infamous conspirators.” He replied that he was not in a position to do so. It was not dignified for the President to make an attack. I believe I knew what I was talking about then, and I believe I know what I am talking about now. I think he will admit that everything I told him in that conversation has come true, and if he will arise from his bed, clean out his own official family, expose the infamous crooks, deport the enemies and make a declaration of Americanism that will burn every wire over which the message flies, he will come back into world power with greater vigor and force than ever before.
Will you do me one kindness. Hand the inclosed note to the President ? I am very anxious to see him appoint Mr. EF Blaine as Ambassador to China. I wouldn’t ask it if I did not think it was best for both countries.
Thanking you in advance and hoping to hear from you along these lines, I am
Sincerely yours,
MA Matthews
PS Ask the President if he remember what I told him about Marten and Nuorteva. Ask him if he also remembers the evidence presented against Marten and how he said that he would force the Senate and the Government to recognise the Bolsheviki Government of Russia. I see he is boldly making that statement now to the Senators. Tell the President that Marten and Nuorteva and some more people ought to be courtmartialed and shot at the rise of the morning sun, and that the cowards in the English government, and the murderers in the German government, who are backing Marten, and the traitors in the United States Senate, who are sympathetic, ought to be given similar treatment in homeopathic doses. Tell him to forget the Labor Department and order Martin and Nuorteva deported and to do this regardless of the protests of the English government. As soon as he issues this order he will have some revelations made to him from the parties above mentioned that will be very amusing, but they will confirm all I have told him.
Your good note received.
I have prayed earnestly for the President ’s recovery, and there isn’t a Sunday morning in this church that we do not pray especially for his recovery. As you know, I love him and have fought his battles daily. I feel in my faith and in my heart that he is well and strong enough for the battle. I hope you will turn him loose and let him make his powerful strokes.
Would you please do me a special favor? Write me a personal and confidential letter and tell me what is the matter with him? I met a group one evening last week and a physician who was among the compnay made the statement that the President had had a stroke, cerebral hemorrhage. It made me so angry that I arose and called him an infamous liar and challenged him to furnish his proof. I told him the President had been suffering with acute neuritis. Please let me know the exact facts. I will never mention your name, but I will be able to speak with authority. No man has been more misrepresented than the President , and the trouble is He has been abused by those who pretend to be his friends. If he has any special faults it is that he has trusted a bunch of crooks, wno now, thinking they can get no more power from him, are willing to join the mob and crucify him. But I have never given up any fight and never expect to. I hope you can let him come forth.
If he will tell you a conversation I had with him, he will repeat to you statement I made, namely, “Strike, Mr. President , and strike hard. Expose the infamous conspirators.” He replied that he was not in a position to do so. It was not dignified for the President to make an attack. I believe I knew what I was talking about then, and I believe I know what I am talking about now. I think he will admit that everything I told him in that conversation has come true, and if he will arise from his bed, clean out his own official family, expose the infamous crooks, deport the enemies and make a declaration of Americanism that will burn every wire over which the message flies, he will come back into world power with greater vigor and force than ever before.
Will you do me one kindness. Hand the inclosed note to the President ? I am very anxious to see him appoint Mr. EF Blaine as Ambassador to China. I wouldn’t ask it if I did not think it was best for both countries.
Thanking you in advance and hoping to hear from you along these lines, I am
Sincerely yours,
MA Matthews
PS Ask the President if he remember what I told him about Marten and Nuorteva. Ask him if he also remembers the evidence presented against Marten and how he said that he would force the Senate and the Government to recognise the Bolsheviki Government of Russia. I see he is boldly making that statement now to the Senators. Tell the President that Marten and Nuorteva and some more people ought to be courtmartialed and shot at the rise of the morning sun, and that the cowards in the English government, and the murderers in the German government, who are backing Marten, and the traitors in the United States Senate, who are sympathetic, ought to be given similar treatment in homeopathic doses. Tell him to forget the Labor Department and order Martin and Nuorteva deported and to do this regardless of the protests of the English government. As soon as he issues this order he will have some revelations made to him from the parties above mentioned that will be very amusing, but they will confirm all I have told him.
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Matthews, Mark A. (Mark Allison), 1867-1940, “Mark A. Matthews to Cary T. Grayson,” 1920 February 4, WWP16175, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.