South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-10

Southern Born, Wilson Has
Spent Most of His Life
in the North.

Woodrow Wilson. 9th president
OF the United States and eighth
chief executive from Virginia. was
"a wears old Dec. IS of last year.
The little town OF Staunton. In the
state which has been the mother OF
more presidents than any other. has
the honor Of having been his birth
place.
Whether history will hold Mr..
wilson TO nave been one of our
greatest presidents only posterity
NAV know. A .nericans today are
too close TO the GENTS of his ad-
ministration &c give an impartial
opinion. II is safe To say, however,
that among his important works as
a statesman so far have been; first,
his conquest Of the New Jersey boss
es when governor OF that state; sec
ond. the present tariff law; third,
the federal reserve act; and fourth.
the diplomatic negotiations grow
Ing out Of the European war.
Although Mr. Wilson is "A south
erner born and bred, ne has spent
most OF his active career in the
north. His grandfather was James
Wilson. a Scotchman who settled in
Philadelphia. Mr.. wilson's ancestry
is almost entirely Scotch and Scotch
Irish. James Wilson left Philadel-
phia for Steubenville. O.. where he
established a newspaper and prac-
ticed law.
Moved TO StauntOn.
Here the presidents father, Jo-
seph r. Wilson. was born. Later he
moved to Staunton He married
Jessie Woodrow. The future presi-
dents parents moved 10 Georgia
when the boy was about two years
cid. and there his youthful eyes saw
something Of the troubled events of
the Civil war.
After the war the family moved
10 South Carolina, where Woodrow
spent a year in Davidson college. He
remained at home the next year and
in 1875 entered Princeton university.
Here he proved a splendid student.
His specialties were political eco
nOmy. history and debating.
He sprang lutc notice on one oc-
casion when CHOSEN in the prelim-
mary contest to represent his college
in debate against a rival Young
wilson was jubilant until he saw
the subject was Protection Verses
Free Trade" The Princetonians
were to uphold protection. AS VIII
son was an ardent free trader. he
refrsed 10 compete a brave act both
because ne gave UP the chance OF
he
cause his attitude made him unpop-
uIar with some of the students.
Article Attracts Notice.
He also drew notice while a stu
dent in Princeton by an article in
tho international Review in which
he condemned the secret committee
practices Of congress.
Among his classmates when he
was graduated in 1879 were MahlOn
G.. Pitney. later associate justice OF
the United States supreme court.
and William F. McCOmbs. who man
aged wilson's first contest for the
presidency.
In 1880 Wilson entered the uni
versity OF Virginia to study law. He
also debated and sang at the Glee
club.
After two years here. Wilson was
admitted to the bar and with an
other man started the law firm of
RenIck and Wilson in Atlanta. Ca.
Business does not seem 20 have
been brisk. for in the next year.
1888. Wilson entered John Hopkins
university at Baltimore 10 study
history and political economy and
obtain the degree OF doctor of phil
osophy. At John Hopkins ne also
published his first book, Congress
sional Government" an elaboration
OF his Princeton essay mentioned
above. On June "a. 1855. married
Miss Ellen Louise Arson of Savan-
nah. Ca
Publishes Second Book.
Now came three years as instruc-
tor at Bryn Mawr and then two
years At Wesleyan university in
MiddletOwn, Conn. While at Wes-
Ieyan he published his second book.
The State" and also delivered oc-
casional lectures at John Hopkins
In the fall OF 1890 he began his
long association with Princeton uni
versity. He entered the faculty to
take a chair OF Jurisprudence and
politics. and in 1902 was elected
president. In his early years at
Princeton ne completed his greatest
work. History of the American
People"
As president of Princeton ne was
a national figure and constantly i'm
the public prints. lie fought the
aristOcratic traditions OF the uni
versity with much energy He to-
tally changed the social life OF the
students. introducing many ideas
taken from the great British univer-
sites
Certain New Jersey political boss
es thought he would be a useful
man as governor Mr. Wilson did
not seek the nomination brt when
the democratic convention chose
him. he declared it his duty 20 ac-
cept
He proved a remarkable cam
paigner. The bosses who had pick
cd him as their candidate smiled
when he told the people that If
elected ne would consider himself
the leader OF the states democracy.