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John Muir-2 were receded, it will aid us in overcoming this sentiment. Most of the Senators I talked with said that if we
could give them some positive assurance on this point, they would favor the Recession instead of opposing it. I had thought
that perhaps a letter from you direct to the President asking for an expression of opinion from him would do a world of good
and might turn the balance so that the measure would carry. Of course such an expression ought to be obtained as soon as possible.
I think the President would undoubtedly do this for you, especially in view of the independent attitude he is assuming upon
all matters. I think that your letter to Harriman will also result in great good, from what I can understand . In your last
letter you wrote me that you wished us to get some of the newspapers to work on the other side of the proposition. Mr. Warren
Gregory, who is a great friend of Mr. De Young's, promised me that he would see Mr. De Young at his earliest opportunity and
try and arrange to have the Chronicle come out strongly in favor of the Recession at the critical moment, that is, immediately
before the bill comes up for discussion in the Legislature. Mr. Gregory agrees with me that the strongest thing we could do
would be to have a letter from you. This could be published together with expressions of opinion from President Jordan, President
Wheeler, Chief Justice Beatty, and many others influential men who are on our side. If you would consent to write such a letter
I would be glad to outline certain facts and arguments which I think it would be well for you to include in your statement
to counteract some of the influences which have been working the other way. 03504