The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-09
WILSON INVITATION
WOULD HAVE Been
GIVEN ACCEPTANCE
BY DAVID EAw8BNCE
Copyright by The 1ntelltSencer

Washington. Dec. S.-Warren Harding
has come and gone and the expected
conference between Woodrow wilson
and the President-elect failed TO ma
terilize. People may justly ask whs.
The truth OF the matter may reveal an
unfortunate hesitancy on the part OF
both Of the gentlemen concerned to take
the initiative and n disposition on the
part Of each to stick TO his own concep-
tion Of the propricties, but The taciS are
these:
White House officials let Z be known
10 newspapermcn several days ago that
the president would "bs glad to see
Senator Harding" The hAle was
promptly taken and published broadcast.
II reached the ears OF the president
elect.
Senator Harding considered whether
he ought TO accept or ignore the in
formal roundabout sort of an invitation.
He finally told friends ne would merely
leave his cards and ny his resnectS un-
less he received a formal invitation or
direct request 10 come 10 the executive
mansion for conference.
would Rave Accepted.
The president-elec would have gladly
accepted an invitation II he had peen
given one He hesitated for this rea-
son: He really didn't know whether the
president wanted TO see him. He re-
mcmbered incidentally that OF all the
messages of congratulation ecelNed
after tie election returns came H. IN
Guiding a message from Governor Cox
himself. not a word came from the
White House. Senator Harding has told
friends he Is at a loss 70 understand 1t.
Indeed, IL may be said that back or
Mr. Harding's declinat!"n Of the battle
Shtp~tendered him by the president for
the cruise 10 Panama was a trace OF
concern over the failure Of Mr.. wilson
N,sts -
course. when the "Mayhowcr" was Of
fercd for the trip 10 Washington from
Hampton Roads. the stop at Bedford.
Va made = rail journey unavoidable ana
the "Mayfower" simply couldn't have
been as convenient The oattieship
for the wonder IN the mind OF Mr.
Harding as 10 the absence OF any con-
yratulatory message from Mr.. Wilson
The public may have lost sight Of the
fact hut Senator Harding didn't.
No Doubt rh1s Time.
II will be recalled that Charles Evans
Hughes did not send conGratulatory
message 10 Mr.. Wilson after election
day In 1915. but that was because there
was some doubt about the result. and
Inally Ar. Hughes did send telegram
However. this time, there was no doubt
about the returns.
In defense Of President Wilson's at
titude in the matter. some Of his friends
venture the suggestion that ha did noe
feel that he could extend congrattia-
tIons with any degree OF sincerity. and
that he didn't want. to seem hypocritical
about H. To say, II congratulate you
on your victory over US" would have
been Inconsistent with an honest mind.
il Ia asserted. but then other friends
wonder why the president didn't simply
conline his message to the expression OF
hope that America would profit by the
Harding administration and that Mr..
Harding would be successful.
The incident Is important IN that II
prevented q frank and full discussion
5y the outgoing president and the In
coming president OF some OF the most
oerplsxing problems in the D1tion's his
:ory. II is true that presidents-elect do
aot always confer with the man who Is
still In the white House after election
lay. but p-ecedents haye been broken in
recent years because OF the extraordi-
nary character OF the problems before
the government. Indeed. there will have
10 be many conference between depart
yrAnt heads OF the incomin" and outgc-
ing administration in the interest OF
good government. and the hone was that
:he two chiefs would set an example FOR
their associates. 1t may yet come TO
PASS. but this much IS true-Scnator
Harding will not seek a conference with
President Wilson. but will attend one X
- Is personally invited.