William Kent to Woodrow Wilson

william kentcommissionerI sincerely hope and trust that in some bill granting you authority to act in this war emergency, that there may be embodied in general terms, and for obvious reasons the terms had better be general, a power vested in you to use and apply the public domain as you may see fit.
Such power would enable you to at once re-assure the live stock people of the arid states that they would not be forced to part with their breeding stock and that they could continue to run their business lawfully and with due regard to increasing their herds.
You would in no way be committed to help the big man as against the small man, but on the other hand, under proper agencies could assist toward a saner and less wasteful production of live stock than has heretofore existed.
I am waiting in Washington in the hope that I may be of assistance in this vital question of meat supplies, and there is no factor more important than this. For without assurance of grazing and with a threat of illicit and foolish homesteading, a large portion of the future meat supplies are being and will further be depleted.
If I can be of any service to you in this or any other connection, I hope you will call on me to the limit.The President,The White House.The bill is being redrafted in the Senate and action is urgently necessary. (over) I am afraid that some of the States Righters might make a big row, but if Senator Chamberlain is for it he could get it in without excitement.