Years ago, I did research for a journalism class on how letters to the REGISTER were edited before being published.  I was given access to both the original letters and the published versions.

My major finding was that supportive facts and evidence were likely to get edited out of letters, especially longer letters, leaving only the writer's own assertions.  (Not surprising.)

Making letters fairly short, as Laurie suggested, can remove the temptation to edit.   It might also help to combine any supportive evidence with the major assertion, if you want both to get printed.  

Cindy Hildebrand
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Ames, IA  50010

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