Dear Miss Addams:
I learned only yesterday of the gathering [tonight] of your friends to express their admiration of you and appreciation of your great work -- becoming world-wide these last years. As soon as I knew of the dinner I tried to get into touch with the committee in charge only to learn that two hundred people had applied for [its] opportunity [page 2] to participate -- two hundred more than there was room for. And I gave it up. My friend, Miss Breckinridge doing what she could to find a place in vain.
So, it is left to me to take this form of expressing my disappointment of saying that now, as at all times since I have lived in Chicago, I have felt deep pull of your presence, your unmatched value as a citizen and a leader -- [page 3] better conscience of this vast, dumb city. It's been a wonderful career you have led, a [marvelous] influence you have exerted. No one has rejoiced more to see how far the rays of that influence have gone -- an influence that goes a long, long way to make another war remote if not unthinkable. Nor have you been less powerful in the most immediate problems of the life around us.
I congratulate you and the city and our generation, if there were a way to do this, upon your life and word. May it long continue.
Yours Sincerely
William E. Dodd
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