"You have no idea how much support is suddenly appearing on the horizon. People are waking up to the fact that we have drifted terribly close to the brink of war. . .
In the meantime we've really got to do a job. Our program must rapidly expand. . .
Here are some of the things we must do.
1. Publicity.
Every newspaper in the United States should receive at least one news release from this Committee every week. They'll use the material we send them. You cannot convince me that the two releases sent air mail every day to every paper in the country by the White committee has not been responsible for much of the stuff that has permeated our papers and affected the thinking of the people during the last few months. . .
Their idea has been to influence the influencers of opinion. . .
2. Advertising.
Now that we need advertising the most, we have no funds for this work. Every large community in the country ought to be faced with this question through the medium of newspaper broadside - "What are the people of Minneapolis doing to keep this country out of war?" This ad would wake them up to the facts and urge them to get to work by establishing a Minneapolis organization.
We've got to keep ourselves constantly out in front as a rallying point to give confidence to those people who would otherwise be scared to lift their heads.
3. Education. . .
We could cover every farmer in the United States by spending $15,000.00. During the winter months the farmers do a lot of reading and are apt to read most of their mail carefully. I don't think we could do anything much more important than to spend $15,000.00 to cover the entire country with General Wood's speech, or some equally effective expression of our point of view.
4. Research Bureau. . .
A Research Bureau of possibly one or two individuals established in Washington would be a tremendous help to Senators and Congressmen who are fighting our battle in Washington. Each time the President lets go some trial balloon to condition American thinking, e.g. the statements that imply that Hitler would have little difficulty steaming up the Hudson River almost any day now - such statements could be knocked into a cocked hat merely by intelligent analysis of the possibilities. . . The darned trouble is, Senators are so harassed by petty tasks, constituents, etc. that they just don't have time enough to prepare this kind of material.
I am enclosing a statement of our financial position. It doesn't look so good. . . Obviously, we are terribly handicapped by lack of funds. . .
Mr. Henry Ford has not come through with a damned cent. He won't even answer the General's letter. I can't figure the situation out.
In closing, let me once again impress upon you the importance of your help now. If the babies down in Washington get control of everything through a war emergency any gold that you've got buried won't be worth a great deal. $5000.00 now may well turn the scale, but of course, we will be deeply grateful for anything that you can send us."
- R. Douglas Stuart, Jr., to Jay C. Hormel [Minnesota meat packing company owner], December 4, 1940