Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1916 — WILSON WRITES TO WINAMAC MOTHER [ARTICLE]

WILSON WRITES TO WINAMAC MOTHER

Tells Her the Indiana Soldiers Are Being Kept In the South to Protect the Border.] In reply to a complaint from Mrs. Henry Smith, of Winamac, who has a son in the national guard, President Wilson wrote .that the guard was being kept on the Mexican border to protect the country, not for drill, azri the service the men were performing Was an honor to them and a necessity to the United States. The president’s letter follows: “My Dear Madam—Your letter of July 23 distresses me a good deal because it shows that you have not been correctly informed as to the purpose of having the national guard at the border. It is not for the purpose of drill, but for the purpose of protecting the country. The service the men are performing there is an honor to them and a necessity to the United States. I can not believe that the men in the national guard would wish to be excused from it or would lose heart because of the discomfort: and inconvenience of the service. The war department has the camps on the border under the moist careful instructors and is using every means known to make them sanitary and safe against disease. The health of the men on the bonder, both the regulars and the national guard, is exceptionally good. I would not have you (think that I do not sympathize with you in the absence of your adn, but I beg thiat you will take these larger matters into consideration. Sincerely yours, Woodrow Wilson.”