The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-04-08
PRESIDENTS REAL
PRIVATESECRETARY
MRS. WILSON THE FIRST LADY
OF LAND.
Always on The Job.
Wife of President Constantly Alert
to Tighten Burdens and Assist
in Handling Weighty Affairs.

Washington, March 29.-One of
the foremost statesmen in Washing
ton is a woman-Mrs. Woodrow Will
son, wife of the President of the
United States.
When history comes to be writ
ten, and the true\ facts OF the Will
son. administration are set in their
proper shades, people here who are in
a position to know declare that the
first lady of the land' will be seen
to have been in deed, as we'll as IN
name, all the exhalted title implies.
During the Presidents illness, and
what is not generally known, for long
before the President took his oed'
Mrs. Wilson had been to her eminent
husband what soft pedal is to pl-
ano. She has been the buffer, II
YOU like the simile better, between
the President and a very exlgent
world, pitiless in it's demands and
limitless in it's expectations.
Today it is something to brag
about to get past the door OF the
Presidents private study. The Presl-
dent generally begins his days work
at the desk around $50, and Mrs.
Wilson unobtrusively stands guard
to see that he is not interrupted save
upon most pressing need.
When Mrs. Wilson says NO." those
about the White House do not in
sist., She is one person of feminine
gender whose negative does not
mean eyes" Mrs. Wilson is looking
cut for the health of her husband
first and for the political advantages
of the President afterward.
Many stories are told of the de-
yotion of the Presidents wife.
On more than one occasion, it is
said, she has refused to allow distln-
guished statesmen to carry worry
some communications into the sick
room. With strict orders from Ad-
miral Grayson, the White House phy-
sician. not to allow anyone to dis
turb the Presidents rest, she held
her ground ond carried out her
point. Instead of the callers seeing
the chief executive in person, it was
Mrs. Wilson who took the messages
delivered them to the President, got
his replies and transmitted them in
person to those interested.
It is said that when John Barton
Payne, now secretary of the interior,
called at the White House in connec-
ton with his appointment to that
position he did not see Mr.. Wilson in
person. He saw Mrs. Wilson, and it
was at her table he accepted the
portfolio.
Rear Admiral Benson, in a sim
liar way, accepted the job Payne left
vacant when he became secretary OF
the interior. The Craftsmanship OF
the shipping board was offered to
the admiral and accepted, it is said,
through Mrs. Wilson, who is the
real private secretary to the Presi-
dent. The we'll known "Joe" Tu-
multy is in fact, the public secretary.
Every day Mrs. Wilson helps the
President over the physical jolts OF
his office. She writes at his dlcta-
ton sometimes, and otherwise helps
out. The now famous Jackson Day
Dinner message from the White
House was first entirely penned in
longhand by Mrs Wilson before it
went to the usual stenographer to be
typewriter.
This does not mean, of course that
Mrs. Wilson is doing the work of the
President. Far from it. He has new
er relinquished for minute the task
of formulating and putting over his
own ideas in all important matters.
But it does mean that at all times
ssThe First Lady of the Land has
always been present to take every
possible particle of burden OF his
shoulders.
Fate seems to have had a hand IN
all this. To begin with Mrs. Wilson
was known to have positive dis
taste for, rather than a penchant to-
ward. affairs of state. She never in
quired nor interfered in such mat
ters. Circumstances, however, forced
her to do what she had never
thought of doing before. Her wifely
interest in her husband was her guide
and she followed it without wavering
night and day.
When the President went abroad
,o5 1otor IN took the swing around