The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
(By Clyde H. Tavenner. special
Washington correspondent to The


WASHINGTON correspondent to The
Reporter) ...0..
Washington, May 26.-1n these
DAYS of shifting politics we hear
much of the great personal sacri-
fees" men are making in behalf OF
their party and the country by &C
ceptiug federal positions. It. Is
much rarer to hear of men declining
positions at great personal sacrlnce
in the same behalf.
This observation is excited by the
case of Joseph R. Wilson, of Nash
Vile, Tenn, only brother OF Presl-
dent Woodrow Wilson.
Years ago, before Woodrow Will
son was ever thought of for pres1-
dent. Joe Wilson worked as general
reporter for the local paper in
Clarksville, Tenn, where MS 1ather
was president of the southwestern
Presbyterian University. Joe, in his
humble occupation of collecting
items for the local and personal
columns of the paper, had great
Journalistic ambition. 1t was to be
sent to Washington as political cor
respondent for some city newspaper,
and so sway national affairs by his
writings.
He worked hard. With Scottish
thrift characteristic of his family,
he saved his money until he bought
the GAINESVILLE paper. His father
died. And then, as step toward the
realization of his ultimate ambition,
he sold his newspaper plant and took
a position on the Nashville Banner.
There was drudgery in his new
work, but he toiled faithfully until
he was made state political reporter.
His spirits bounded. This would be
the apprenticeship that would earn
him the position of Washington cor
respondent of the Banner. Pains
takingly, he compiled a card index
of Tennessee politicians. and COVER
cred" that states politics as they
had never been covered before.
This work won him advancement,
but advancement which seemed to
him off the beaten trail the Banner
office and the Press Gallery in Wash
ington. He was made city editor
of the Banner. Still he dlu not COM
plain, since the new Job brought an
increase in salary, to S25 per week.
He resolved to work faithfully so as
to be the most available man in case
there should be vacancy in the
Banners Washington office.
Then, in two or three years, things
happened. Woodrow Wilson became
president, and Joe Wilson's salary
had grown to s35 per week. Nash
Vile suddenly realized that she had
the presidents only brother. The
rest of the country realized it, too.
Joe Wilson's mail grew heavy.
Out of an envelope tumbled an Of
fer from a New York insurance COM
pany at salary of $4,000 per year.
This offer was cast into deep shade
a little later by a letter from a New
York trust company offering $24,-
900 for his service. Realizing that
to accept either would simply amount
to selling his distinguished brothers
name, Joe Wilson resolutely put
both aside.
Then followed an amazing success
sion Of offers from great newspapers,
holding forth dazzling salaries to the
Banners city editor to. represent
them at Washington. At last he
could realize the ambition towards
which he had struggled all his life.
1t was within his grasp. He could
accept all the newspaper offers, syn
dictate his writings, and thus with
bound attain affluence and power.
But a second thought. If he &C
cepted, it would mean that every
word from his writings would be
taken by the public as inspired and
as coming from the president. 1t
might, nay, it would, become a con-
tinual embarrassment to the sincere
older brother, who is trying with
such devout singleness of purpose to.
be a great president of the United
States.
One recent day Joe Wilson in
dulged himself in the luxury of add
mig up the composite salary of his
newspaper offers. They totaled 81 s..
900 a year. For few moments he
sat in abstraction, dreaming for the
last time his life dream. Then he
dictated a few letters of refusal,
and with sigh turned back to his