Dear Mr. English:
In the past few days I have heard from friends of mine in your city
that you were running for re-election as commissioner.
I was never so amazed in my life! If the citizens of East St. Louis
knew personally what I know of the tremendous things you accomplished for their city, you
would be returned to office by acclamation - there wouldn't be an election necessary.
You will recall that when I arrived at Scott Field a complete stranger
during the war - transferred there with a specific job and that to "clean up"
Venereal Disease and East St. Louis. At that moment Scott Field had one of the worst
records in the country.
After my first visit with you things began to happen. I know you will
long remember the closing of "The Valley," the riddance of Bessie Newman and her
girls, the end of the dump next to (Vic) Doyles - (the Barn) along with many, many other
accomplishments for which you were directly and solely responsible.
Scott Field finished up in the closing months of the war with the best
record in the country. As proof of that last statement, I quote from the report of the
mid-west director of the Social Protective Division of the Federal Security Agency, in
which she states that the "Police program under the direction of Commissioner English
and the accomplishment of results should stand forever as a motto and example for all
other communities in the United States to pattern after."
Mr. English - squarely on your record you should be returned to office.
You have my permission to read this letter from the house tops, and should you like me to
personally come to East St. Louis to shout it from the house tops for you, I am at your
call.
With my every best wish for your personal health and well being and
with confident hopes for your reelection, believe me to be,
