William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Creator
Identifier
Date
Description
Source
Subject
Text
I have just talked with Mr. Henry, of Texas. There have been two resolutions introduced reflecting upon the Department of Justice. Henry asked me to say that no rule would be given in regard to these resolutions until he had conferred with you and learned your wishes in the matter. He also told me to say that his Committee would report any rule that you wanted in regard to the currency bill. The report that he had voted against the bill in caucus is not true. He is very well satisfied with the bill since the amendment has been added in regard to farm loans and wants you to know that he is ready to give any assistance he can.
In regard to the resolutions affecting the Attorney General’s office, I told him that I thought he ought to say to any Democrat who wanted to investigate a department that he must first take the matter to the department and to the President and find out the Administration’s side of tho question, and that any Democrat who introduced a resolution looking to an investigation without first having conferred with the President and the department, ought to be treated as a Republican rather than as a Democrat, because a Democrat who takes the public into his confidence before he confers with the Administration cannot have the good of the party at heart. Henry agreed with me that that is the position to take.
I think I may be able to reach Fowler, of Illinois, who introduced one of the resolutions, and I may be able to reach Kindel, although I am not so sure about his attitude. I shall try to show them the difference between the attitude of a friend and the attitude of an opponent. No friend will criticise until he has first exhausted every opportunity to ascertain the facts by private investigation, and the first place to go for investigation in such matters is to the department itself and to you. I shall be glad to have any suggestions that you may have to make on this subject.
I am, my dear Mr. President,
WJ Bryan
The President;
The White House.