RECEIVED AT CORNER JACKSON BOULEVARD AND LA SALLE STREET, CHICAGO
MIAMI FLO FEB 17-17
I AM IN HEARTY SYMPATHY WITH YOU IN YOUR EFFORT TO GIVE TO THE ALMOST UNIVERSAL SENTIMENT AGAINST WAR AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS ITSELF. WE SHALL SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT IN THE EVENT OF WAR BUT AS FRIENDS OF PEACE WE ARE IN DUTY BOUND TO DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY FROM ITS HORRORS. THE PRESIDENT, SENATORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES DESIRE TO CARRY OUT THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE BUT THEY CANNOT KNOW WHAT THE MASSES WANT UNLESS CITIZENS EVERY WHERE EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN TELEGRAMS AND LETTERS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH TO OVERCOME THE MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE JINGO PORTION OF THE METROPOLITAN PRESS WHICH WHILE DENOUNCING ALL [page 2] PACIFISTS AS UNPATRIOTIC DAILY DISTORT THE NEWS AND DEMAND WAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES WHICH ARE [PREFERABLE] TO WAR AND THESE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY CONGRESS BEFORE DECLARING WAR. THE SUBMISSION OF THE QUESTION OF WAR TO POPULAR VOTE BY MEANS OF THE REFERENDUM EXCEPT IN CASE OF ACTUAL INVASION IS THE BEST WAY TO DEFEAT THE WAR TRAFFICKERS AND THE "WORSHIPPERS OF THE SCIMITAR". THE PEOPLE WHO MUST SHARE THE SUFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES IF WAR COMES SHOULD BE CONSULTED AS TO WHETHER WAR IS NECESSARY. THE MILITARISTS ARE FOR UNIVERSAL TRAINING AND SERVICE AND YET THEY VIGOROUSLY OPPOSE A REFERENDUM WHICH WOULD ALLOW THESE VERY PEOPLE A VOICE IN DECIDING WHEN THE NATION SHOULD RESORT TO THE SWORD. URGE ALL TO COMMUNICATE WITH OFFICIALS DIRECTLY AND AT ONCE.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN 1040 PM
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