The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-12-06
PRESERVES STOICAL SILENCE
IN FACE OF SLANDER AND
FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE
AND SERVES AS SECRETARY
Contstahtly With the President and
Decides What Work He
Can Do.

Washington, Dec. Behind the
scenes at the white house where peer
ing eyes cannot see, but where come
newspaper editorials and senatorial
comment demanding to know wheth-
er President Wilson wrote his own
message, whether he is functioning
as head of the government, whether
he should not be legally declared in
competent to hold office, there is
picture of heroic determination on
the part of worried woman to save
her husbands life, and fight to the
bitter end the political calumny that
is being avalanched upon the man
who gave seven years to public ser
vice, and now lies a victim Of ner-
vous exhaustion.
The attack, for it has been renew
ed with vigor in the last few days,
is not directed at the cabinet, nor at
the secretary of the president, but
against an unidentified power in the
white house. Why doesn't someone
say what really ails the president?
Why doesn't some one announce that
he wrote his own message? Why
do not the physicians deny that the
president is paralyzed or mentally
unbalanced? Why didn't the pres
ident see Senator Hitchcock last Sat
urday? Why the secrecy and the
mystery? Questions like these have
bombarded the white house of late
and the best way to answer them is
to tell what is happening in the exc
cutive mansion.
Mrs. Wilson Is Secretary.
Between the president and the out
side world stands Mrs. Woodrow Will
son as devoted and faithful a COM
panion as ever nursed sick man.
Day and night she is at his bedside,
not only ministering to his wants,
but reading the mass of memoran-
da that is transmitted to her and de-
termining what quantity he shall see
each day.
Mrs. Wilson has become the presi-
dents. own secretary for the time be-
ing. All notes that come from gov
! ernment officials go to her first. Mem
bers of the cabinet communicate with
Secretary Tumulty who in turn
brings to Mrs. Wilson's attention the
matters which ought to have the
presidents time and thought. He
helps determine the priority and the
Importance of the matters but Mrs.
Wilson finally decides how much
work the president shall do each
day.
1t is big task, and an immense
responsibility, and it is doubtful if
ever woman in American history
had such burden. She is constantly
relying however, on the advice of
the physicians who are attending the
president. They have told her he
will recover, his life will be saved, if
he has rest and care. As between a
chance to save life, and answer the
numerous questions, and attacks
that are being made upon the presi-
dent, Mrs. Wilson has chosen the
course of stoical silence.
Why doesn't someone say what is
the matter with the President? Some
of the most noted physicians in the I
country have issued statements. In
innate details have from time to .
time been revealed even to the ex-
tent of describing trouble with the
prostate gland and digestive weak
nesses. DR.. Dercum, the noted
neurologist, has issued statement
saying the president was so much
that he didn't believe he
would have to come back for regular
visits any more. Other statements
of reinsurance have been given. Yet
the Outcry for more details-for
more information continues.
HENDERSON MAKES RECORD.
II rrT