Henry L. Myers to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Henry L. Myers to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Myers, Henry L. (Henry Lee), 1862-1943
Identifier
WWP25505
Date
1918 November 18
Description
Senator Myers recommends William Jennings Bryan to negotiate peace terms in Europe after the end of the war.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
The President,
The White House,
City.
Dear Mr. President:
I rejoice that peace has come and that the terrible world war has ended. I sincerely hope there may never be another war and certainly never again such as that which has just closed. I take this occasion to congratulate you and the administration on the very admirable and successful manner in which the war was waged and won. The thanks of the American people are due to you for your great part in the successful prosecution of the war.
Now that peace commissioners are to be named on behalf of the United States, I take the liberty of suggesting as one of our commissioners to the peace conference Hon. William J. Bryan and respectfully request careful consideration of him in that connection. I would be highly pleased to see Mr. Bryan made one of the commissioners.
I believe Mr. Bryan well qualified for the work. An ardent lover of peace, since we entered the war he has been an ardent supporter of the administration and advocate of prosecuting the war to a successful finish. I have known Mr. Bryan well for a number of years but doubtless you know him even better than I and I doubt not you are quite as well or even better acquainted with the generous traits of his heart, accompanied by a stern and unyielding sense of justice.
I believe in making Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria make adequate reparation and compensation for all of the horrible atrocities and the tremendous damage they have inflicted, contrary to the rules of civilized warfare, upon the peoples of the entente allies and their associates. I think nothing else should be contemplated and, while I know Mr. Bryan has most generous impulses and a forgiving heart, I know he has a fine and uncompromising sense of justice and I would be willing to trust him to be just and fair in the settlement of peace problems.
I know that thousands of Mr. Bryan’s friends, of whom I am one, would rejoice to see him receive this distinction and I trust their desires may be carefully weighed in connection with all else.
With great respect and assurance of my esteem,
Yours sincerely,
HL Myers
The White House,
City.
Dear Mr. President:
I rejoice that peace has come and that the terrible world war has ended. I sincerely hope there may never be another war and certainly never again such as that which has just closed. I take this occasion to congratulate you and the administration on the very admirable and successful manner in which the war was waged and won. The thanks of the American people are due to you for your great part in the successful prosecution of the war.
Now that peace commissioners are to be named on behalf of the United States, I take the liberty of suggesting as one of our commissioners to the peace conference Hon. William J. Bryan and respectfully request careful consideration of him in that connection. I would be highly pleased to see Mr. Bryan made one of the commissioners.
I believe Mr. Bryan well qualified for the work. An ardent lover of peace, since we entered the war he has been an ardent supporter of the administration and advocate of prosecuting the war to a successful finish. I have known Mr. Bryan well for a number of years but doubtless you know him even better than I and I doubt not you are quite as well or even better acquainted with the generous traits of his heart, accompanied by a stern and unyielding sense of justice.
I believe in making Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria make adequate reparation and compensation for all of the horrible atrocities and the tremendous damage they have inflicted, contrary to the rules of civilized warfare, upon the peoples of the entente allies and their associates. I think nothing else should be contemplated and, while I know Mr. Bryan has most generous impulses and a forgiving heart, I know he has a fine and uncompromising sense of justice and I would be willing to trust him to be just and fair in the settlement of peace problems.
I know that thousands of Mr. Bryan’s friends, of whom I am one, would rejoice to see him receive this distinction and I trust their desires may be carefully weighed in connection with all else.
With great respect and assurance of my esteem,
Yours sincerely,
HL Myers
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Myers, Henry L. (Henry Lee), 1862-1943, “Henry L. Myers to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 November 18, WWP25505, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.