The Washington herald., 1920-11-25
AWAITING LIFE
OF CLEVELAND
Commodore Benedict His
Closest Friend-Norman
Angel Returns.
ny GEORGE PERRY MORRIS.

Commodore L. c. Benedict. well
known In the business world and
among yachtsmen- derived most Of
his national publicity from the
close Friendship that existed be-
tween him and President Cleveland.
His nautical record was long and
full Of adventure. and he had seen
much of the world His capacity
for friendship was unusual, and on
his list were men OF very distinct
types. The closeness OF his tie with
the New York lawyer who figured
SO prominently in the Democratic
party during its first taste OF power
following the civil war was best
tested when Mr.. Cleveland had to
undergo a surgical operation Sc
rious in its nature Fnd not Of q
kind to be disclosed TO the public
at the time. IL was on Mr.. Bene-
diets yacht that the surgeons did
their work. IL was Mr.. Benedict
who consorted with the right sort
of personal influences TO keep the
event a secret for many years. No
other man on the rather small list
OF ''intimates" OF the President
could have served with the same
measure of efficiency. II is with
considerable eagerness that the
American publH waits for the
''definitive" life of the President
that is now being prepared by a
well-known Princeton professor who
has had access to the Cleveland
papers in the Congressional Library
by the authority Of the widow Of
the statesman. now remarked.
Norman Angel Returns-
"InteIlectuals," whether radicals
or conservatives. always. IL they are
wise, hear Norman Angel speak.
After two years absence from the
country. he has returned to lee
ture and to study at close range
the altered mood Of the country.
You may or may not agree with
his point of view or with his con-
clusions. but you have to admire the
clarity of his thought and speech,
and the precision with which he
argues. In a time OF sloppiness OF
thought and speech. he stands out
as a shining example Of a man who
cares for logic and also for style
in expression. and that style not
/ one Of a Corinthian. but rather
of a Doric type. Accept his prem
ises and he grips you so that you
find i, dificult TO escape from his
conclusions Moreover. he is
trained student Of economic and
financial facts. He lacks the in
tuitive. imaginative qualities in
statecraft that make II. G. Welles
such an extraordinary figure in
comment on world politics. Angel
is not without emotion and deep
ethical passion. but they are sub
ordinsted. when he comes 10 argue
his case. 10 the facts" Of life as
he sees them. about which he lets
play very objective sort Of rea-
soning power welded TO verbal sc-
curacy.
The Peril Of saying Never
In the bitter strife that followed
aggressive action by the Actors
Equity League against theater man.
ayers. one OF the interesting by
products was tn" turmoil in the
Friars' Club that led George NJ.
Cohan to resign and to say that ne
never would rejoin the organization.
But George is back. and has been
elected abbot by the board Of gov
ernors. He did not reckon with the
ameliorating influence Of time on all
quarrels. or with the pressure Of old
friends or with his mothers desires.
Personal retreats are comparatively
easy when love enters in. More
difficult are similar admissions of
error when large masses of mon
commit themselves. Never again
I was one Of the slogans with which
statesmen rallied the masses to
/ fight the late war. but many a
leader who during 19l4-lsls. said
Never again" has now forgotten
the fact that he said il. and is plot
ting. IL not saying. Again
Calling on Massachusetts Expert.
Robert Kelso. Of Massachusetts.
and w. +. King. Of Indiana, experts
In administration Of laws governing
the charitable and reformatory in
4 stitutions OF States and cities. have
agreed to aid a local committee in
drafting a code cf such legislation
Z for the District Of Columbia. with
Z which Congress can be approached.
I II these men take advantage. as
they undoubtedly will. of the eNpe-
rience Of the states they represent.
they will present. a draft that will he
abreast Of the best thought n the
country. and the test of ConCress's
real attitude toward social better
meat legislation may come on its
attitude toward the plan that they
will help work out. Kelso's record
since ne came to Boston a few years
ago has been one creditable 10 his
constructive ability and TO his
capacity to mass back of him vsri-
ETY. Of elements in State that has
come to be very heterogeneous when
! racially and religiously appraised.