April 18, 1914.
My dear Miss Addams: --
I have been intending to write to you since my return from New York where I attended the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Progressive Party as your proxy.
There was an all day session of the Committee, at which were present: Mr. Perkins, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Brown, Mr. Davis, Senator Beveridge as proxy for Judge Lindsey, Mr. Ware, of Massachusetts, as proxy for Mr. Thompson of Vermont, Senator Davenport of New York, Mr. Childs of Brooklyn and myself as your proxy.
There was a discussion of the situation in a number of States, particular attention being paid to West Virginia, Iowa and South Dakota. On recommendation of the State Central Committee of West Virginia, strongly supported by Mr. O. K. Davis, it was decided to recommend to the National Committee that former Governor Dawson, member of the National Committee from West Virginia, be removed as such National Committeeman on the ground of disloyalty to the party. This motion was unanimously adopted and a mail vote accompanied by a statement of facts in the case, to be prepared by Mr. Davis, was ordered to be taken. Mr. Davis was instructed to go to Chicago on the day following the meeting of the Executive Committee to confer with Iowa leaders on the situation with respect to a candidate for United States Senator on the Progressive ticket in that State this Fall. [page 2]
A financial report was made by the Treasurer and it was decided to leave the financial situation in the hands of a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Perkins, Brown and Davis.
There was considerable discussion as to the advisability of Colonel Roosevelt running <on> the Progressive ticket for Governor of New York next Fall. Senator Davenport was strongly in favor of this being done and he was supported by Senator Beveridge, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Childs. Mr. Perkins seemed also to favor the idea. Mr. Flynn, of [Pittsburgh], and Mr. Hooker, National Treasurer, especially the latter, were opposed to Colonel Roosevelt running for Governor. I was inclined at first to oppose it, but after listening to the arguments and carefully considering the matter was disposed to believe that it might be the best thing for the party if the Colonel should run for Governor, although I am still open-minded on the subject.
It was decided to hold the next meeting of the National Executive Committee in Chicago early in May, the date agreed upon not now occurring to me. At this meeting it was also decided to call into conference with the Executive Committee Chairmen of the State Central Committees in States contiguous to Illinois. This meeting was agreed upon at this time in lieu of the meeting of the National Committee that Medill [McCormick] has been advocating.
The foregoing will give you an idea of the business transacted by the Committee and I will be glad to furnish any further details that you may wish to have.
I want to thank you for honoring me by asking me to serve as your proxy at the meeting referred to. I don't think I added much to the meeting, but I was glad to be there.
Mr. Perkins said something about your wanting to resign as a [page 3] member of this Committee. I hope you will not do this because, personally, you ought to be on the Committee and besides if you should resign there would be no representative of the women on the Committee.
With kindest personal regards, I am,
Sincerely yours
Harold L. Ickes [signed]
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