To James Harlan
[August, 1916]
MY DEAR JIM,—I am writing you from my bed where I have been laid up for a few days with a hard dose of tonsillitis. Don’t know what happened but the wicked bug got me and I have suffered more than was good for my slender soul.
I am so glad to hear of your Mother’s improvement. Bless her noble heart! I hope she lives a long time to give you the inspiration of that beautiful smile.
The Mexican business does not hasten as I had hoped. Brandeis’ withdrawal was a great surprise to us and I can’t quite understand it. Meantime the railroad situation engrosses our attention fully, and Mexico can wait …
Hughes’ speeches have been a surprise and disappointment to me … One might fancy a candidate for Congress doing no better but not a man of such record and position. I think your dear old party relies upon holding the regular party men out of loyalty and protection, and buying enough Democrats and crooks to get the majority. But I don’t believe it can be done. The Republican organization is perfect, but the people are not as gullible as once they were.
Tell me some more about the Latin-American. How much form should I put on? Can you warm up to them? How do you get the truth out of them? And how do you get them to stay by their word? What are they suspicious of, silence or volubility? Do they expect you to ask for more than you expect to get? Do they appreciate candor and fair dealing, or must you be crafty and indirect? If they expect the latter I am not the man for the job, but I can be patient and listen. My love to the Lady Maud.