Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-06-06
A STUDY OF The PRESIDENT BY AN
UNFRlENDLY CRITIC.

Kansas journalist, mas never Deen q
friendly critic of President Wilson.
Yet few days ago. writing from
Paris, he gave the most mastery
analysis of the personality and the
performances of our President that
has yet appeared ir print. Listen 10
what he says:
He acted. He was audacious to the
point of impudence; but he did act,
and things began to move after he
arrived. This aspect of the confer
ence changed; the great internation-
al horse trade became again some
thing like a forum of justice. Re-
rortets who saw the change could
not understand what forces were
working; but they knew something
was acting. And that something was
the personality called Wilson-one
man.
A curious human specimen is this
man Wilson: He sees no one, reads
few Newspapers, has no strong ad-
risers: is not the center of a group,
but lives alone, thinks alone, acts
alone. 1t is certain he has few FORM
ulas; nc one can guess in advance
his reaction to a given event. Often
he seems hesitant and weak. Yet it is
as if he were coiling; then when
iie strikes it is with force ard pre-
cision. He is deadly. He has also
the wisdom of the serpent. In his
isolation, he is intuitive. Details
seem to escape him, but he senses
great currents, understands great
Eovements-rides them and seems
to lead them.
Woodrow Wilson is iron when mis-
conviction is set. He is also ruth
less. The timidity which has kept
opposition from him in the White
House, which surrounds him with
men and women of what may be
called the soft approach, is not a
sign Of weakness; at base it is a
sign of his habit Of domination, of
his unbrookable desire to rule So
III the council of three, on all mat
tiers which vitality touch his heart,
he has mis- way. Now this does not
mean that he is masterful clustering,
unconprollising, memorable. The
League Of Nations has a dozen
clauses in it which were written
over Wilson's protest, and vigorous
protest. But while he disliked them,
he did not regard them as funda-
mental in their weakness or male
Violence, otherwise these clauses
would not be there. For in matters
which he regards as vital he has his
way.
Only one sure basis for prediction
about this man Wilson will work. 1t
is his faith in the folks, in the fun
tlamental righteousness of the Amer
lean people. That is the only rule
that will guide one but poorly in
guessing Wilson ahead of his deeds;
for opinions differ as to what the
American people really think. But
he knowns. How he knows is a
mystery. Excepting Colonel House,
the"men around the President would
not know public sentiment from a
psychological hypothesis, and Colonel
House Dothers little about it. Yet
out Of the very air he breathes, COM
muning like a mystic with the spirit
OF the times, he strains the truth
and with tremendous quiet force he
fights for it.
Just now he IL having the fight OF
lns life; here in the conference, and
there in America. The old world of
nationalism, of individualism. of lais-
sez faire at home and abroad. the
Cid world that was not it's brothers
keeper, is battling for it's life. 1t will
be long fight; that is merely the
first round. This decade will not
settle it. The new idea the idea Of
social democracy, OF international re-
sponsibility, of the genuine brother
hood Of man will not spring fullpan-
Lpliei into power 1t is ar epoch's
fight. And today America. through
the nn1u faith