Chicago, May 30, 1905
I have yours of 28th inst. I am very glad indeed to know that you stand ready to furnish a practical flying machine for use in war at once, and I congratulate you heartily upon your success.
As an American I greatly regret that our government has apparently decided to allow foreign governments to take the lead in utilizing your invention. Please advise me: 1. Whether you have approached our war office? &c. 2. Whether you would object to my putting a flea in its ear?
I have just been asked to prepare an article of 1,000 words for the New Standard Encyclopedia. Please tell me how you would prefer that I should allude to your perfected machine?
[P.S.] I mail separately a copy of a pamphlet, "The Aeroplane," of which Montgomery sent me a duplicate. I have just received them and have not read them.