The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-24
a public man to devote his life to me

a public man: to devote his life TO the /
service OF his country.
This determination came with a
thrill upon reading in an English mag
aZine a series OF articles on the British
parliament. presenting in graphic Ian
guage the dramatic scenes enacted in
the British legislature He never for
got the picture. He hunted up every
thing in the library he could find hear
ing upon this subject and devoured it.
and from that day to this has never
wavered in his determination to play
an active part in the stirring scenes
on his country's political stage
Mr. Wilson began his preparation at
once. He subOrdinated his regular col
lege work TO the task Of fitting him
self for public life.
He devoted all his energy and every
faculty he possessed to the furnishing
Of his mind TO the end that he might
be an authority on government and the
history Of government and be leader
in the affairs Of his country
No man ever subjected himself 20
| steTner discipline or worked more
steadfastly toward a fixed goal He
| first taught himself TO write shorthand
in order that he might make rapid di-
gests OF what he read and heard He
! also practfced composition asSiduOusly,
and extempOraneous speaking that ne
might be skilled and ready in Offhand
debate.
Graduated With Famous Class
He graduated in the famous Prince
Trr7 Of
many names destined to become more
or less famous Among these was
Mahlon C. Pitney, who later sat on the
| bench Of the United States Supreme
court.
When Mr.. Wilson left Princeton he
| had come to the conclusion that the
most direct avenue into public life was
| through the law. Accordingly, during
/ the following year he entered the Uni
versity OF Virginia, becoming verSed in
| the rudiments OF the law under the
teachings Of DR.. John D. Minor.
Almost at once he became a signifi-
/ cant figure at the Virginia university
| He won both the "OratoricaI' and
Writing prizes. and under the inf1u-
| ence of his ardent classmates OF the
South he took a more active interest
in college athletics than he had taken
at Princeton. although he was never
what might be called an enthusiast in
| these matters.
After two years study at the Uni
versity of Virginia. Mr.. Wilson select
ed Atlanta as the field of initial prac-
| tice at the bar He Joined a young
man named Renick, and the two went
to the Georgia capital and opened law
offices under the firm name of 'Renick
& Wilson" Young Wilson soon dis
covered that he was sitting in at Il
waiting game. and during the follow
ing year, 1888. he entered Johns Hop
kins university. studying history and
political economy under Herbert B
Adams and Richard T. Ely
Professor at Bryn Mz~r.
His next field OF activity was at
Bryn Mawr. the famous college. which
had Just been opened But as n sort
OF preparation for his Bryn Mawr pro-
fessOrship ne jOurneyed to Savannah.
where he married Miss Ellen Louise
Arson. one Of Savannah's fairest
daughters She died at the White
House August 6. 1914. December s.
1915. Mr.. Wilson married at Washing
ton Mrs Edith Boiling Gait OF that
city.
The president has three daughters.
Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson
Mrs. Frances Bowes Sayre and Mrs
William Gibbs McAdOO..
Mr.. Wilson remained at BryH Mawr
three years teaching history and econ
omy. His work had won him an en-
= |
tor, and his services were next Sc
cured ny Wesleyan university. at Mid
dletown. Conn. While at Wesleyan
university Doctor Wilson published
another book. THE State"
He again Joined his fortunes with
Princeton when in the fall Of 1890 he
took the chair Of Jurisprudence and
politics at that institution. He held
this chair at Princeton for twelve
years, writing during this period hi:
famous work, "a History of the Amer
lean People"
Made President OF Princeton.
In 1902 he was called to the presi
dency of Princeton.
/ He was holding this office when the
I Democrats of New Jersey chose hin
| as their candidate for the governor
ship. He accepted, and was elected
! after a sharp campaign.
Within six months after ASSUMING
, the goveFnOrship he had Induced the
!, legislature TO pass q series Of laws OF
, the most advanced type. such as the
primary election law. the corrup
= practices act, the employers liability
! act, a public utilities act. municipal
commission government law anC
= sterilization or anti-procreatiOn act
The Wilson's in America date abou
5 a century back. when James Wilson
: grandfather Of the president. cam'
over from Scotland and settled II
Philadelphia. From there he went Il
? SteubenviIle. o. which was then OF
r the frontier. he published n newSpa
4 per and practiced a little common
law and was known as Judge" The
presidents father. Joseph r. Wilson
? was born in SteubenvilIe and grew VI
amid the hardy and Misunderstanding