The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-05

Il tUTElbiNt HE. therefore, entered with
| great Fustn into the debating teurna-
| thents nj Princeton, and IT was not
| inhs before he was recognized as one
of The Hhleat extempore dehaters In
| college.
| He also sought honors along the
| line ef composition He wrats In
| cessanuy. He studied shorthand IN
order that he might take down lee
\ Tires In toto and copy speeches and
articles of moment without taking
too tnucsl of his time.
L About this time there occurred a
| bitter flash between his ambition and
his stern scotch Presbyterian ren-
science tt was In connection with
| the Lvnde debating prize, This prise
| was and is the most coveted honor at
| Princeton, AZ least Ivy these students,
| sBch az young Wilson, who are ainbis
tIoua along literary and oratorical
| lines.
/ The 1ynde prize Ia awarded an.
| nually to the winner of the Joint de-
hnte between princeton's two rival
| debating societies, whiE Hall and Clio
| Hall. This debate liz an extempore
affair and the participants are the
winners Of preliminary debates or
| elimination contests. conducted by
| the respective societies.
| Conscience Triumphs.
| Wilson easily qualified to repre-
1 sF3Ak HiS EOIlVtGs buI pIl lIlN Htknt III
| the final debate for the prize, when
| the subject for debate, Protection
| versus Free Trade was handed to
| him he saw that he was placed on
the side OF protection. He tore up
the slip Of paper and left the plat
| form with the explanation that moth
Ing under heaven could induce him
| 10 argue for IA cause in which he did
| not believe. This was no little sacri-
! Ace for him, for the Lynde prize was
the honor he coveted most.
s Later young Wilson began a search
r ing investigation into the nature and
+ character OF the senate and the house.
. The result Of his invest gatons was n
| very able article published in the
8 International Review. In which the
/. | young Princetonian threw a flood OF
? light on the national lawmaking meth
- DDS. He was the first one clearly to
| point out to the American people
: that practically all Of the national
Ct law-naking was accomplished by
small committees behind locked
3 doors.
+ Turn On the light.
?. This method of secret legislation
i was highly deprecated by the young
|. author, He argued that 1t was All
d ideal method for fostering, or. at
: least. encouraging corruption and he
{ held tf1at the only remedy was to
throw open the doors and turn on
s the light. Even at that early date he
If was the staunCh advocate OF pub
Is Hcitv, fun and thorough. as the most
Ia effective means of securing proper
IL legislation.
N Mr. Wilson graduated In the fla
= NOUS Princeton class of 10, on whose
S roster were many names destined to
HI become more or Less famous, Among
g. these WAS Mahlon G. Pitney. who
later sat on the bench Of the United
States Supreme court.
L. At University OF Virginia.
- When Mr. Wilson left Princeton he
had come to the conclusion that the
o, most direct avenue into public life
- was through the law. His habit now
" was 10 do whatever was necessary TO
= add to his efficiency or equipment
Accordingly during the following year
he entered the University of Wiz
10 einla, becoming versed in the rudi-
n ments of the law under the teach
a ings of Or, John b. Minor.
Almost at once he became a signifi-
n cant figure at the Virginia university
m IL won both the ''oratorcal' and
~ writing prizes. and under the intiu-
- ence of his ardent classmates of the
"A South he took more active interest
III college athletics than he had taken
ut Princeton. although he was never
g. what might he called an enthusiast
n ! in those matters.
~ Al that time he possessed a fine
n tenor voice which was impressed into
In service by the University Gtee club
6 He sang well and was popular with
his fellow members of the club.
ID Opens Law ONCE,
at After two years study at the Uni
~ versitY Of Virginia Wilson selected At
~ lanta as the field of initial practice at
~ the bar. He joined a young man
a. named Renick and the two went to
~ the Georgia eapital and opened law
le Offices under the firm name of Rem
- lex 81 wilson Young Wilson soon
discovered that he was sitting in at
waiting game and during the fol-
- lowing yeal, 1883, he entered Johns
~ Hopkins university, studying history
~ and political economy under Herbert
D. e. Adams and Richard T. ELY.
While at Baltimore, Wilson elab-
Grated Princeton essay into book and
called IL Congressional Government 3"
This book is now recognized as one
which has taken u high place in lit
era4ure,
4 For this work Mr.. Wilson received
II the degree of Ph. ID. at Johns Hop
- kins. from which he stepped forth
~ with the eyes of the college world
=, upon him
Al Bryn Mawr.
r. His next field of activity was at
at Byrn Mawr, the famous woman's col
Is lege which had just been opened. But
y
Id Ma~r professcrship he iourneyed to
If Savannah, here he married Miss FL
= len Louise Arson, one of Savannah's
h fairest daughters.
a, Mr.. Wilson remained at Bryn Mawr
three years teaching history and
N economy His work had won him an
~ enViable reputation as a college in
~ structor. and his services were next
secured by Wesleyan university, at
Middleton. Conn. During his two
&c years at Middleton ne also delivered
lectures at Johns Hopkins, and be-
e. came recognized as one of the most
TX engaging speakers In the college
's ranks OF America. His presence was
ne sought everywhere.
M While AT Wesleyan university DR.
Wilson published another hook. THE
State. which served TO greatly ad-
ne vance his reputation as q clear and
or profound student and thinker on gov
IN eminent.
n Back Mt Princeton.
He again joined his fortunes with
IN Princeton, when in the fail of 1890
b. he took the chair Of Jurisprudence and
O. politics at that institution. He held
I'd this chair at Princeton for twelve