The Washington herald., 1916-11-11
Acts of Woodrow Wilson
Again Approved by People

Woodrow Wilson, twenty-seventh Pres
tdent Of the United States and eighth
Chief Executive from Virginia, was 50
years old December IS last year. The
little town OF Staunton, in the State
which has been the mother OF more Pres
idents than any other, has the honor Of
having been his birthplace.
Whether history will hold Mr.. Wilson
to have been one Of our greatest Presi-
dents only posterity may know. Ameri-
cans today are too close to the events
of his administration to give an impartial
opinion. II Is safe to say, however, that
among his important works as a states
man so far have been, first, his conquest
of the New Jersey bosses when governor
OF that State; second, the present tariff
law; third, the Federal Reserve Bank
Act; and fourth, the diplomatic negotia-
tions growing out of the European war
Although Mr.. Wilson is a Southerncr
born and bred. he has spent most Of his
active career in the North. His grand
father was James Wilson. a Scotchman.
who settled in Philadelphia. Mr.. Wilson'S
ancestry Is almost entirely Scotch and
Scotch-Irish. James Wilson left Phila-
delphia for Steubenville. Ohio, where he
established a newspaper and practiced
law.
Saw Civil War Scenes.
Here the Presidents father. Joseph R
Wilson, was born. Later he moved TO
Staunton. He married Jessie woodrow.
The future Presidents parents moved to
Georgia when the boy was about years
, old. and there his youthful eyes saw
something of the troubled events of the
civil war.
After the war the family moved to
South Carolina. where Woodrow spent
year in Davidson College. He remained
at home the next year, and IN 1879 entered
Princeton University. Here he proved
splendid student. His specialties were po-
liticaI economy. history and debating.
He sprang into notice on one occasion
when chosen In the preliminary contest to
represent his college in debate against
rival Young Wilson was Jubilant until
he saw the subject was Protection
Versus Free Trade" The Princetonians
were to uphold protection As Wilson
was an ardent free trader, he refused to
compete, a brave act both because he
gave up the chance OF winning a coveted
prize and because his attitude made him
unpopular with some Of the students.
He also drew notice while a student in
Princeton by an article in the Interna-
tional Review. in which he condemned the
secret committee practices Of Congress.
Had Famous Classmates.
Among his classmates when he was
l
later associate justice of the United
States Supreme Court, and William F.
McCombs. who managed Wilson's first
contest for the Presidency.
In 1880, Wilson entered the University
of Virginia to study law. He also debated
and sang at the Glee Club.
After two years. Wilson was admitted
to the bar and with another young man
started the law firm of Renick & Wilson
in Atlanta, Ga. Business does not seem
to have been brisk, for in the next year.
1888, Wilson entered Johns Hopkins Uni
versity at Baltimore to study history and
political economy and obtain the degree
Of doctor OF philosophy. At Johns Hop
kins he also published his first book.
Congressional Government" an elabors-
tion of his Princeton essay mentioned
above On June "a. 1885, married Miss
Ellen Louise Axson, of Savannah, Ga
Now came three years as instructor at
Bryn Mawr and then two years at Wes-
leyan University in Middleton, Conn
While at Wesleyan he published his sec
ond book. The State" and also delivered
occasional lectures at Johns Hopkins.
Entered Princeton I'm 1890.
In the fall of 1870 he began his long
association with Princeton University. He
entered the faculty to take a chair of
Jurisprudence and politics, and in 1892
was elected president. IN MS early years
at Princeton he completed his greatest
work. History OF the American People"
As President of Princeton he was
national figure and constantly in the
public prints He fought the aristocratic
traditions of the university with much
energy. He totally changed the social
life Of the students, introducing many
Ideas taken from the great British rni-
versities.
Certain New Jersey political bosses
thought he would be a useful man as
governor. Mr. Wilson did not seek the
nomination, but when the Democratic
Convention chose him, he declared 1t lis
duty to accept.
He proved a remarkable campaigrer.
The bosses who had picked him as their
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