Ruth Bryan Owen 4th District Florida Member Committee on Foreign Affairs Mrs. Jessie R. Hill Secretary Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. February 2, 1933. Judge Halsted Ritter, Miami, Florida. My dear Judge Ritter: Many thanks for your kind letter of January 30, enclosing your recent communication to Chairman Evans. I sent my telegram asking you to write Chairman Evans and also sent a similar telegram to Governor Sholtz, because I felt that the active cooperation and support of that Committee was vitally necessary in securing favorable action on the Everglades Park Bill before March 4. John McDuffie, Democratic Whip shared this opinion. Any measure which carries either an appropriation or potential appropriation has very hard sledding in this Congress. The The [sic] public has so consistently belabored the Members about expenditure that there is what amounts to an Economy hysteria, and this is a very difficult psychology to meet. There is no doubt we can best secure the active cooperation that Committee by placing before them Secretary Wilbur's recent helpful statement and the Wharton Olmstead Report and by bringing to a hearing of the Committee representatives of the Parks Service and the leading groups, who can make three points clear to them: First, that there is no immediate expenditure involved; Second, that there is wide national interest in this Park Project; and Third, that it is vitally necessary that favorable action should be taken at once, in order that the state may take steps to acquire the land. Chairman Evans has consented to a Committee hearing on this project, Tuesday February 14. I will be so glad to see that representatives of all the leading scientific and conservation groups are presented and a strong representation from the Department of the Interior. I will also invite Mr. Coe to be present. You may be sure that nothing is being left undone which would contribute to the securing of favorable action on our bill. Cordially yours, [signature] Ruth Bryan Owen M.C.