Woodrow Wilson to Grant Squires
Title
Woodrow Wilson to Grant Squires
Creator
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Identifier
WWP25513
Date
1918 November 19
Description
Because of the peace, President Wilson will not be able to advance the issue of the Squires' commission.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
World War, 1914-1918--Peace
United States. Army--Officers
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
My dear Mr. Squires:
I took up the matter of your commission with the Secretary of War, and he and I are both in a quandary about it.
As soon as the armistice was signed, the policy was adopted of making no further appointments or promotions in the army, as it was believed that there would be no further military need for them, and public announcement of this policy appeared in the press on the morning of the twelfth. It has since appeared that there are a great many cases of persons who had been justifiably expecting commissions, had closed up their business, purchased uniforms and equipment, and in some instances submitted to voluntary induction as privates upon the assurance of commissions. Unless we now commission all of these, it seems to the Secretary and to me that we should not commission any.
You are always so fair and just in your judgments that I am submitting this to you, in order to learn whether you would feel that we were doing you an exceptional injustice if we asked you to submit to the general disappointment.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
[Woodrow Wilson]
Mr. Grant Squires,
299 Madison Avenue, New York.
I took up the matter of your commission with the Secretary of War, and he and I are both in a quandary about it.
As soon as the armistice was signed, the policy was adopted of making no further appointments or promotions in the army, as it was believed that there would be no further military need for them, and public announcement of this policy appeared in the press on the morning of the twelfth. It has since appeared that there are a great many cases of persons who had been justifiably expecting commissions, had closed up their business, purchased uniforms and equipment, and in some instances submitted to voluntary induction as privates upon the assurance of commissions. Unless we now commission all of these, it seems to the Secretary and to me that we should not commission any.
You are always so fair and just in your judgments that I am submitting this to you, in order to learn whether you would feel that we were doing you an exceptional injustice if we asked you to submit to the general disappointment.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
[Woodrow Wilson]
Mr. Grant Squires,
299 Madison Avenue, New York.
Original Format
Letter
To
Squires, Grant
Files
Collection
Citation
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, “Woodrow Wilson to Grant Squires,” 1918 November 19, WWP25513, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.