The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-01
ROOT OF ALL EVIL
is COM EALMEN Mt
Governor Wilson Declares Pub
Lefty in Politics Is His
"Hobby.'
PRESS CLUB ENTERTAINs
Ambassador Bryce, Secretary
MacVcagh and DR.. Welch
Speak.

Washington, d.. c., January 3I.-pub-
Lefty in the administration Of the pub
lie business. publicity in party man
aSnmcnt, publicity In the processes OF
choosing candidates for public Office.
publicity In the committee rooms Of
Congress-in fact. publicity in all
branches of politics-was the .hobby"
which Governor Woodrow Wilson. Of
New Jersey, tonight told The mem
Der; of the National Press Club OF
Washington that he most cherished.
1t was hobby night" at the club.
and Or. William Howard Wclcli, OF
Johns Hopkins University; Ambassador
Bryce, Of Great Britain; Governor Will
son. Major-Gcncral Wood and Secretary
Of the Treasury MacEcagh were allowed
70 run "tcn-minutc heats in exploit
ing the subjects which most occupied
their daily thoughts. Thomas Nelson
ragc, master OF ceremonies. wax intro
duccd hy Frederick J. iiaskins. vice
president OF the club, as the starter.
In introducing Governor WILSON. Mr..
Page declared that nc we'll knew the
Governors hobby was constitutional
government, but at present the most
important hobby of the people was
the conservation and exploitation OF
presidential timber
Governor Wilson based his speech on
what Ambassador Bryce. had said about
the establishment Of facts before views,
declaring what was most needed in
by the pe6ple of the country of all the
facts. H
The root OF all evil in politics. said
Governor Wilson, s"is private conceal
Incnt. This is the complaint of the
people pf the country. who 10 NOT know
the processes of their welfare. The
common interests can only be cs,ah-
4 a. !, or H j - sy,l -. - !. 4 -Btr 49, 49,. 80 1. 4, :. I-t
the facts. Really what We are after
in the field OF politics is to drive every
thing into the field OF facts. M
Politics has In recent years been
tied to the private arrangement OF a
board Of directors. sitting behind closed
doors and administering ~cverybody's
business as If II were their business.
That is exactly the way in which pol
tues has been conducted In recent
years. with this addition. that mans
Of these gentlemen. sitting behind
closed doors and administering the bus
mess OF corporations, have also been
administering the business of parties.
There has been a very close relation
between politics and busincss-so close
that II has been impossible 10 separate
then. without viviscct!on
Advice 10 Newspaper Mcn.
There Is a very clear reason in my
Wini why 80 few newspaper men have
universally influential views. II is be-
cause our newspaper men are connect
cd with newspapers that are known
not TO be h~isengagcd from private In
Icrests, II YOU can once establish he
reputation that you are speaking, 50
far as your knowledge and capacity
enable YOU TO speak. from the viewpoint
OF the common interest, then your views
Viii be influential and in proportion
rs thcy are disintercs,ed they Will be
influential.
THAT i The reason why my hobby,
IF 4 l,uvc any is the hobby of pub
l!city.
THAT is tie whole present purpose
of what We call the popular movement.
Tne popular movement In our country
Is 70 change the machinery of our
government from privacy to publicity
It is 10 chase It out Of committee
rooms; it Is % get at the nominating