Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-09
"Dr." Fall Sees the President.

DT. ran OGeS /GHE L eSIU6Ht'
" HERE was grim truth as we'll as heroic
humor in. President Wilson's jest at
- his recent conference with deputa-
ton from the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee. Lightly abiding to a statement made
in letter by Senator Moses, of New Hamp-
shire to the effect that the Executive was re-
ported to have a brain lesion, Mr.. wilson re-
marked, that che hoped as a result OF the
conference the Senator would be treasured,
although he might be disappointed"
From the day the Presidents physician
ordered him to bed some nine weeks ago his
political opponents, particularly those IN the
Senate have been exhibiting every sort OF
feeling except that which naturally might be
expected when the nations Chief Magistrate,
after seven years of stressful service, is
taken i'll. They have shown expectation, GU
riosity surprise, beWilderment and no little
choer; but not once have they shown human
sympathy. Mere civility, if nothing more,
might have prompted the controlling and re-
sponsib1e party group in Congress to have
adopted resolutions regretting the Presidents
illness and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Instead, however, the dominant Senate Re-
publicans decide that a committee shall be
sent "to confer with President Wilson on
the Mexican crisis and to report whether, in
their opinion, he is unable to exercise his
functions" Well, the committee came, saw
Z and-shal1 we say?-was disappointed. Mr..
hands heard with patience a long disserta-
ton on the depravity of Mexican bandits,
made a few trenchant remarks Of his own
that cut to the vitals of the matter, cheered
up his rather doleful Republican inquisitor
with happy jest or two promised that his
mature opinion on the Mexican crisis would
shortly be delivered to Congress, and sent the
deputation away, not rejoicing, we fancy, but
at least, as Shakespeare has it, with mouth
full of news"
At the height of his political war with
Gladstone the Earl of Beaconsfeld was once
asked to explain the difference between mis-
fortune and calamity. why he answered,
''if Mr. Gladstone should fall into the Thames,
that would be misfortune; but if he should
be rescued that would be calamity" Presl-
dent Wilson's political enemies have not ex-
pressed themselves so neatly as this, but they
have left no doubt to their sentiment.
They reason that for the President to become
himself again would be sorely discomtlting
to their present obstructive tactics and calam-
itous to their schemes for 1920. Moreover,
they are so partisan, SO jealous and in truth
so fearful that they forget even the common
amenities OF political life, let alone it's chiv-
alries Far from sharing the countrys So
licitude for the Presidents health, they have
treated his illness as though it were high
crime and misdemeanor. Other public men
can be taken sick and go to bed without
arousing a swarm of insinuatiOns and host1l1-
ties; but when Woodrow Wilson, broken
down by heroic 1abors for America and for
mankind, is put to bed to recover his strength
and save his life, the Lodge faction in Con-
gress sets up an incessant gable and kissing
Plain statements from the attendant physi-
clans do not satisfy them; word straight from
the White House that Mr. Wilson is handling
matters which demand his attention and is
deciding questions of policy leave them OBJ
stinately skeptical. They proclaim their sus
picion that what purports to be his signature
to a public document is a forgery by some
subordinate; they wag their heads over his
latest message to Congress as ii to say, He
did not write it," they do everything thai
Lilliputian malice can contrive to cast dis
credit upon the nations leader and upon
those standing loyalty by him.
The climax of it all is "the deputation.'
The Honorable Henry Cabot Lodge and his
colleagues on the Senate committee whose
most notable performance has been it's effor
to wreck the treaty of peace made up theil
minds that willy-nilly, come what might, some
of their clan must behold the President
must penetrate the quiet and restful seclusio1
of his convalescence and gaze upon him will
the naked eye. The Consular Agent Jenkins
episode served them as a pretext lndiffer
ent though they apparently are to America
obligations in the larger sphere of world af
fairs, these Senators are so many Sir Luciu
O'Triggers when it comes to the squabbles o
EFoxico. They care not a dodkin, it seems
whether Germany carries out the peact
terms or, embo1dened by the Senates attitude
toward the treaty. fiouts them as anOthe1
scrap of paper. But let Mexico's chronic rasl
grow a shade redder than usual, and thi
doughty school of diplomats will boom like
Big Bertha with orations on national honor
So they decided that President Wilson mus
be seen about Mexico Senator Fall was sc
lected as Republican emissary; and as sor
OF after-thought Senator Hitchcock, Democra
and loyal friend of the Administration, wa
delegated to accompany him. Senator Hitch
cock, however, had no question to ask,
curiosity to appease. His companions inter
rogatory and argument probably would hav
been longer, but for the fact that in tn
midst of them came a message from the Stat
Department announcing that the Consula
Agent whose Imprisonment in Mexico wa
the crux of the discussion had been released
Wei, that helps some," the President bland
1y commented; and Mr.. Fall shortly
afterWard went back to his waiting colleague
to report that the President was mental,
keen.
So ends Cat least let us hope it has end
ed the teapot tempest over which our mos
potent grave and reverend signiors" hav
BEEN putting. 1t is nothing new in American
history for "a little group of Wilful men