Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-16
COLONEL HOUSE,
MYSTERY MAN
President Wilson'S Personal Repre-
sentative" Back From Europe.
His Unique Place in American
Political History.
By RAYMOND G. FULLER.

he is supposed to have discharged an "un
ofIicial mission for President Wilson, In th
four months which he spent abroad he talked
with all the high Government officials O
England France and Germany, except Kint
George and the Kaiser. But the nature o.
his mission, or even the fact that he had
one, is not likely to be told by Colonel House
himself
He was interviewed, Of course, at the
earliest opportunity. IT'S a trip I take
every year" he said In reply to a question
II did not talk peace" he answered Asked
If the United states has lost its standing
as an influence for peace, he replied. II do
not that It has ever undertaken the task"
You have information for the Presidents
ear have you not?" he was challenged.
ooh yes It would be the duty of any
American citizen to give the President any
information which might be of value to
him
You are on your way to Washington"
~ may go there in day or two, maybe
three or four days"
But Colonel House is not a sphinx A
sphinx has an undenlably obtruslve quality.
"Who Is He?"
This man, who was dubbed early in 1918
the Presidents silent partner" and more re-
| Gently Envoy Tnterrogatory and Minister
Mediationary," was first heard of by the
country at the time of the Baltimore CON
vention. II has been more or less credibly
reported that the Texas delegation. when
it reached Baltimore was so enthusiastically
for Wilson that Champ Clark's delegation
from Missouri was afraid to sit in the next
section. And why? Colonel House. that's
all. Inquiries were then made, who is this
Colonel House?" It was discovered that he
had made the careers Of most of the Texas
Governors for twenty years back and of sew
eral United States Senator's Yet he had
never been present al a political gathering
of any kind had never made a political
speech and had never held office He had had
great deal to do with the shaping of laws
in the Texas Legislature during those twenty
years, Yet he had never been seen about
the Capitol when the Legislature was In
session
influential in the Baltimore convention in
this same sclf-effacing way, he was likewise
influential in the campaign. Not much light
has been thrown on the secret of his power,
but perhaps the following account of his ap-
pearances at national headquarters is as IL
Eliminating anything that has yet been
written of Colonel House: a." "The
slender gray-haired, gray-mustached man
appeared at the offices and somehow or other
all the doors were open to him. He never
remained long at one time and never raised
his voice, but generally what he said counted
"A man who was connected with the COM
mittee tried to explain what Colonel House
did, and he said as nearly as he could work
1t out the Colonel had gone around keeping
things quiet by suggestion. He would come
into an office said this man, and say few
words quietly, and after he had gone you
would suddenly become seized with a good
idea. You would put that idea forth and
receive congratulations for it; it would work
out first rate Long after, If you thought
the thing over, you would realize that the
idea had been oozed into your brain by Colo
mel House during a few minutes quiet con-
versation You did not know it, and the
Colonel did not want you to know it. AS a
matter of fact, before the campaign was over
in his quiet way Colonel House came near
being the biggest man about the works, al
though he did not hold any position and
would not take one"
So, perhaps. the description of Colonel
House a of mystery is Inaccurate
1t is the quality that is rare, the quietness
which distinguishes him. His energy, his
ability, his power. even his character, seem
held in reserve. He is not given in the
slightest degree to self-advertisment fact
which represents positive, not a negative,
trait. And further. this is what President
Wilson has said OF him: 'Ie is one of the
best poised men I ever met. He can hold a
thing at arms length and discuss 1t without
ever getting mixed up in it," That's not
so mysterious as 1t is difficult
GGrTba C;Iap4 p,.4,,a,u
The Colonel, who received his title by
grace of a Texas Governor. might have been |
a member of the Cabinet If he had given his
assent. He brought about Bryan's accent |
ance of place, and suggested to Mr.. Wilson
the names of Burleson and Houston. At
least such was the political gossip when the
Cabinet was in process of formation. When
the Farmers Union OF Texas wished to pro-
test against the new tariff bill they sent
their objections not to Wilson or Underwood
or any Of the Texas Senators and Repre-
sentatives. but to Colonel Edward MendelI |
House And Colonel House, with all his po- |
litical influence and, incidentally his wealth,
estimated at a million and a half. bears no
resemblance whatever to a political boss in |
the ordinary acceptance of that term. Men
of his stamp should be welcome in American
politics.
His acquaintance with Mr.. Wilson began |
when the latter was Governor of New Jer-
sey They are regarded as intimates. and
they have had a number Of good talks"
yet It may be added that they meet infre-
quently.
Colonel House was born in Houston 81 |
years ago. and was graduated from Colum-
bia University in 1881. He is married and |
has two married daughters He has home
in Austin a summer home at Magnolia
Mass and an apartment In New York city
He IS strictly temperate In his habits, gives |