Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-29
misunderstood
Continued from Page One)

Among incidents on which he GREW
to relate his subject Mr.. Tumulty
recalled the reaction of the president
to the applause which greeted deliv-
cry of his war message to Congress
on April 6. 1917.
ION that fateful day" Secretary
Tumulty said. q rode with his back
from the Capitol to the White House.
the echo Of the applause still ringing
in my ears. For while he sat silent
and pale in the cabinet room. AT
last he said:
".Think what it was they were
appIauding. 1t means death for our
young men. How strange it seems
to applaud that
"That simple remark" Secretary
Tumulty continued, lis one key to
an understanding of woodrow Will
son." who hated and dreaded war
with "all of the fibres of his human
soul" -.
AS further evidence of the presi--
dents sense of responsibility in the
blood shed by American soldiers. Mr..
Tumulty told of the day, when news
came of American casualties at Vera
Cruz in 1914. --.s.
when the news. came, he said.
'the president was quiet all day. He
went about his business methodi-
caIly with his usual clear judgment
and prompt decisions. but that night
he sat silent for long time. At
last he said: I can not get it off my
heart. 1t had to be done. 1t was
right. Nothing else was possible.
but / can not forget that it was I
who had to,order those young men TO
their deaths. +..T ...
Earlier that year. when word came
that a German vessel. laden with rnu-
nitfons. was on it's way to Mexico"
President Wilson talked ever the tele-
phone wire with Secretaries Bryan and
Daniels and Mr.. Tumulty said he also
was ON the telephone during the con-
versat ton. - When the situation had
been stated to the President. he said,
the voice came back clear and firm:
Order Admiral Mayo to take Vera
Cruz at once"
Just before I cut off the connec-
ton" Secretary Tumulty continued,
II said a word to the President about
the tragedy of it all. his voice re-
sponded, no longer clear. but muffied.
as when one chokes back a sob: What
do you think Of it. Tumulty? 1t means
death. 1t breaks my heart, but it must
be done"
: Secretary Tumulty recalled also Mr..
Wilson's determination. to ride in the
funeral procession of the Marines and
Sailors killed at Vera Cruz when the
bodies were brought to New York
Disauieting rumors that an attack was
planned on his life had reached Sc
cret Service men, Mr.. Tumulty said,
and "one undertook to argue with him.
saying: You will show all proper
respect by appearing in the reviewing
stand. The country cannot afford to
lose it's President
His reply was The country cam
not afford to have a coward for Pres
identv se
This was his brief and final answer.
He rode in the procession
The sternness Of Woodrow Wilson,
his secretary declared. was "just the
reverse side Of his human nature"
and made nothing more natural
than that he should have become the
champion of small nations. The
insistence on Article X.
of the league covenant was ex-
planned as wish to forestall the
necessity of the United States 60
ing to war by making 1t partici-
pant in. a plan to prevent the be-
ginning Of such war"
He wished to stop the next war