Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-03
DREAM REALIZED;
MADE SACRIFICE
CONGRESSMAN TAVENNER TELLS
OF LIFE HOPE OF PRESIDENTS
BROTHER JOE.
[BY CLYDE H. TAvENNER. I

[BY CLYDE H. TAVENNER.l
Washington, d. c., May 2.-In these
days Of shifting politics we hear much
of the great personal sacrifices" men
are making in behalf of their party
and the country by accepting federal
positions. 1t Is much rarer to hear OF
men declining positions at great per.
sonal sacrifice in the same behalf.
This observation Is excited by the
case of Joseph r. Wilson of Nashville.
Tenn, only brother of President Wood
row Wilson.
Years ago, before Woodrow Wilson
was ever thought of for President, Joe
Wilson worked as general reporter for
the local paper In Clarksville, Tenn,
where his father was president of the
Southwestern Presbyterian university.
Joe, in his humble occupation of col
lecting items for the local and per-
sonal columns of the paper, had a
great journalistic ambition. It was to
be sent to Washington as political
correspondent for some city news
paper, and to sway national affairs by
his writings.
Worked Very Hard.
He worked hard. With Scotch thrift
characteristic Of his family, he saved
his money until he bought the Clarks-
Vile paper. His father died. And then,
as a step toward realizing his ultimate
ambition, he sold his newspaper plant
and took position on the Nashville
Banner.
There was drudgery in his new
work, but he toiled faithfully until he
10
spirits bounded. This would be the
apprenticeship that would earn him
the position OF Washington cor
respondent of the Banner Painstak.
ingly, he compiled card index Of Ten
nessee politicians, and covered" 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 between the
Banner office and the press gallery in
Washington He was made city editor
of the Banner. Still he did not COM
plain, since the new job brought an
Increase in salary to $25 per week. He
resolved to work faithfully so as to be
the most available man in case there
should be a vacancy in the Banners
Washington office.
Then, in two or three years, things
happened. Woodrow Wilson became
president, AID Joe Wilson's salary had
grown to s35 per week. Nashville sud-
denly realized that she had the presi-
dents only brother. The rest Of the
country realized 1t, too. Joe Wilson's
mail grew heavy.
%,,V "a NJ
fer from New York insurance COM
pany at salary of $4,000 per year.
This offer was cast into deep shade
little later by letter from New
York trust company offering $4,000
for his service. Realizing that to ac-
cept either would simply amount to
selling his distinguished brothers
name, Joe Wilson resolutely put both
aside
Is Made Big Offers.
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 toward which he had
struggled all his life. It was within his
grasp He could accept all the news
paper offers. syndicate his writings,
and thus with bound attain affluence
and power.
But second thought. If he accepted,
it would mean that every word of his
writings would be taken by the public
as inspired and as coming from the
president 1t might, nay, 1t would, be-
come continual embarrassment to
the sincere older brother, who Is try
ing with such devout singleness of
purpose to be a great president of
the United States.
One recent day Joe Wilson INDUCED
himself in the luxury of adding up the
composite salary of his newspaper
offers They totaled $4,000 a year.
For few moments he sat in abstrac-
ton, dreaming for the last time his
life dream. Then he dictated few
letters Of refusal, and with a sigh
turned back to his desk and his $35
per.
10. By X s. +, .