William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson

Title

William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Identifier

WWP17997

Date

1913 September 4

Description

William Jennings Bryan writes to Woodrow Wilson about the currency bill.

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Text

My dear Mr. President

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.

With assurances of respect, etc.,
I am, my dear Mr. President,
WJ Bryan


The President;
The White House.

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00497.pdf

Citation

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, “William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson,” 1913 September 4, WWP17997, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.