WESTERN UNION
SPOKANE WASH AUG 18 1927
YOUR TELEGRAM ASKING ME AS CHAIRMAN TO POINT OUT TO THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS THE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE EXECUTION OF SACCO VANZETTI RECEIVED. DEAR MISS [ADDAMS] THE FIGHT FOR SACCO VANZETTI CAN PROPERLY BE BASED ON INNOCENCE OR UNFAIR TRIAL AND THAT ALONE. IN THE TESTING OF THAT QUESTION I WOULD GLADLY HELP INSOFAR AS I COULD. BUT IT WOULD BE A NATIONAL HUMILIATION A SHAMELESS COWARDLY COMPROMISE OF NATIONAL COURAGE TO PAY THE SLIGHTEST ATTENTION TO FOREIGN PROTESTS OR MOB PROTESTS AT HOME. WE ALL KNOW YOUR FINE DEVOTION TO HUMANITY BUT NEITHER HUMANITY OR PEACE CAN BE SERVED BY DEFERRING TO FOREIGN CRITICISM OF MOB VIOLENCE IN THE EXECUTION OF OUR CRIMINAL LAWS. THIS FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IS AN IMPUDENT AND [WILLFUL] CHALLENGE TO OUR SENSE OF DECENCY ALL DIGNITY AND OUGHT TO BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY
WM E BORAH
747 A
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