Dec. 23rd, 1912.
Dear Miss Addams:-
It will be a pleasure to me to keep you in touch with the "extreme wing." A handful of us dined with Amos Pinchot at his home last Saturday night to continue the discussion begun about a week before in Room 1109 at the Hotel LaSalle. In a general way we covered much the same ground and the group was much of the same mind.
Besides Mr. and Mrs. Amos Pinchot there were present, -- Homer Folks, Paul Kellogg, Samuel McCune Lindsay, George R. Record and myself. We were striving for a more or less definite formulation of our "creed." Most of the evening was spent listening to Mr. Record expound what he calls his "social philosophy." I think Mr. Pinchot said he sent you the little pamphlet containing Mr. Record's brief statement of his position. Hence I shall not go into the deatils. I will simply say that the group was agreed on three of his five propositions, viz: -- public ownership of public utilities, abolition of indirect taxation and free patents. I think they were substantially agreed also on his taxation proposition, but currency is a subject which will probably require several sessions before much, if any, agreement is reached. I do not mean to say that we have settled upon any of these as the propositions upon which the "extreme wing" will attempt to unite. Indeed I do not [page 2] think we want to definitely settle on anything until we have had a great deal of discussion, but we have decuded to meet more or less regularly for discussion of these and other propositions, with a view to determining what we believe to be the fundamental propositions upon which the Progressive Party should go forward.
We were all very sorry that you could not have been with us and we sincerely hope that you will be able to join us in some of our conferences this winter. We can easily arrange our meetings at a time when you are to be in New York, if you can plan to give us an evening at such time. I hope it will be possible for you to be with us sometime next month.
Of course you have been advised of the action which the Executive Committee took in regard to the Progressive Service. If the Service is to be substantially independent of political control and adequately financed, I am sure it is bound the exert a tremendous influence if more or less actively directed by the heads of Bureau selected by the Executive Committee. I should say it would be difficult, if not impossible, to improve upon these selections. I do hope that you will be able to take charge of the Bureau of Social and Industrial Justice, -- at least until it is well organized. I should think that with the aid of a competent Executive Secretary you could manage this, even with an occasional visit to New York.
As to Mis Kellor, I have nothing to add to what I have already said to you. I have the very highest regard for her, and nothing will please me more than to find that I was wrong in feeling that it would be a mistake to have a woman at the head of the entire Service, but if Miss Kellor does make it a thoroughgoing success, I fear she will do so by defeating the purpose of some of those who [page 3] were most anxious to place her there.
With warmest regards and best wishes for a very Merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely yours,
John A. Kingsbury [signed]
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