Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-09
COLONEL HOUSES JOB.

Even now, when for several years
Col. e. NJ. House has served in most
important capacity in America 9
scheme of government, his name ap-
pears so seldom in print that when he
is forced into prominence for few
days 1t ia no uncommon thing to see
well.informed men look up from their
newspapers and demand: who Is
this man, House?"
In the early days of the war Colonel
House was pushed into the limelight
for little while by President Wilson's
announcement that he was to go to
Europe as the executives personal
representative. In newspaper offices
throughout the country there was a
scurrying among files of biographies
and volumes of who's Who" and
many rush messages went singing in
to the Offices of Washington CORE
spondents, who is this man, House?"
Back came the answer, IAN old per
sonal friend Of the presidents" and
aside from the bare facts that Colonel
House is a wealthy investor, retired
from business life, this is about all
the average American knows of him.
Lincoln Colcord's character sketch
on this page is of particular interest
for the light it throws on this quiet
individual, whom President Wilson
has appointed now to carry on work
even more important than either OF
his missions to Europe.
Much Of the strength Of Colonel
House lies in his unofficial status.
There can be no doubt that II he
wished he could have cabinet posi-
ton or a diplomatic post Of impor-
lance. The presidents faith in him
is said to be unbounded. 1t is said.
also, that Mr.. Wilson, who has made
himself somewhat unpopular with nu-
merous purely political supporters OF
his candidates. by his refusal to be
guided in his official acts by their
counsel, not only accepts advice from
Colonel House but seeks it frequently.
He is distinctly an unique figure in
American political and diplomatic
history. Other presidents have had
advisers, to be sure. but they were
politicians and they were not free
from self interest. The late Mark
Hanna was power in President Nc
Kinley's time. Roosevelt's shirt
sleeve diplomacy was tempered often
by the Judgment of men like Allison
and Root, but these men were politi-
clans, too. The memory of the time
when the inimitable T. r. ceased to
serve as President Taft's adviser is
fresh in most minds
These powers behind the throne
were all part and parcel of the polit-
ical machinery Of the particular period
in which they thrived. But Colonel
House is different. And notwith-
standing the natural resentment
Americans would feel against an en-
tirely unofficial adviser with down
hill pull on the one man in the coun-
try who is not bound to recognize any
Individual dictation, there Is nothing
definite to indicate that Colonel House
ever has tried to take advantage OF
his great power.
{ 1t is as well, perhaps, that he remain
somewhat shadowy. 1t is far better
that way, to be sure, than that he
should spring suddenly into promin-
ence in a major official position. While
he is serving as an unofficial adviser
and assistant to the president in the
present period OF national stress. his
inconspicuousness Is one of his most
admirable qualities. The nation is
trusting the president implicitly and
believing in him whole-heartedly. II
he sees At to trust Colonel House with
work OF great Importance in the shap-
ing Of history. the country is disposed
to share his feeling Of confidence.