AS Burleson to Woodrow Wilson
Title
AS Burleson to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Burleson, Albert Sidney, 1863-1937
Identifier
WWP25569
Date
1918 November 30
Description
Letter to President Wilson criticizing the usefulness of censoring the mail.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Sherley, Joseph Swagar, 1871-1941
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Contributor
Bryan Le Beau
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Mr. Dear Mr. President:
I am at this moment in receipt of your letter of date November 27th in which you express the opinion that the mail censorship is no longer performing a necessary function. I thoroughly concur in the view expressed and shall accept your letter as a direction to me to bring same to an end.
On the same day you wrote me I received a letter from Mr. Swagar Sherley, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, advising me that “it is the purpose of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives to begin hearings next Monday with the view of returning to the Treasury such appropriations and the cancellation of such authorizations, or parts thereof, granted in connection with the prosecution of the war, as no longer may be required under present conditions” and requesting me to take immediate steps to furnish him “the available information” upon which the Committee could base action looking to the accomplishment of its purpose. I will make known to the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations the action which has been taken in connection with mail censorship and also advise him that I have reduced the clerical force used in connection with the enforcement of Espionage and Trading With the Enemy Acts in so far as they relate to the Postal Establishment to the lowest possible basis. These are the only activities carrying appropriations which have been imposed on the Post Office Department during the progress of the war.
Faithfully yours,
A. S. Burleson
Honorable Woodrow Wilson,
The White House
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Burleson, Albert Sidney, 1863-1937, “AS Burleson to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 November 30, WWP25569, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.