I enclose a copy of my speech made at Brown University.  Perhaps it will interest that old farmer potato bug.  He does not deserve to have it said, but I miss him very much.  Please obey him an you love me.  Cut out all social activities, giving yourself up to the acquisition of a few more of the right kind of corpuscles in your too-blue blood.  As always, yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To Mrs. Franklin K. Lane

Essex-on-Champlain

Washington, July 4, 1916

...  There is no news that I can give you.  The weather is very warm.  Politics is growing warmer.  I think Heney will run for Senator in California, probably against Hiram Johnson.  Will Crocker is also said to be a candidate for the Republican nomination.  I could get the nomination by saying that I would accept.  Phelan told me yesterday that he would see that all the necessary money was raised,—­that I could win in a walk.  Dockweiler says the same thing.  The latter is here and we have seen much of each other.  What do you say if I run for Senator?  I really feel very much tempted to do it at times because things have been made so uncomfortable by some of my fool colleagues who have butted in on my affairs; and then I feel I would like the excitement of the stump and to make the personal appeal once more.  You could go round with me over the State in an automobile.  While I would not insist upon your making speeches for me, I know that your presence would add greatly to my success.

There is no telling what way this campaign may go.  It may be a landslide for Wilson, it may be a landslide the other way.  We have the hazards because we have the decision of questions.  There is bound to be a lot of objection to whatever course we take with regard to Mexico.  I fear from what Benjamin Ide Wheeler told me the other day that Germany any day may decide to put her submarines into active service again on the old lines, especially if things on land go as they have been going lately against the Teutons.

...  I shall not decide in favor of accepting the nomination until I hear from you.  In the meantime don’t lose any sleep over it.  And so my Nancy has a beau?  Well, the little rascal must be given some good advice now.  So I shall turn my attention to her ...

F.K.L.

Washington, July 24, 1916

...  To-day I have spent most quietly,—­had Bill Wheeler up for breakfast and then went to the Cosmos Club for lunch with Dockweiler.  He is very anxious to get a Catholic on the Mexican Commission and so am I. I want Chief Justice White, but I fear the President won’t ask him ...

Dear old Dockweiler is an awfully good man ...  From youth he has gauged every act by his conception of the will of God, and in doubt has asked God’s representative, the priest.  What a comforting thing to have a church like that; it makes for happiness, if it does not make for progress.  Why is it that progress must come from discontent?  The latter is the divine spark in man, no doubt,