Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-15
BY JosEPHUS DANIELS,
Former Secretary Of the Navy

Copyright 1921, by John F. Ollie.
Copyright by National Newspaper Serv-
ice. Copyright in Great Britain, Canada
and throughout Europe. All rights re-
served, including translation into foreign
languages. including the Scandinavian.
Unauthorized reprinting for any purpose
forbidden.
ARTICLE 2.
'T want to do right, whether 1t IS
popular or not"
The words fell soIemnly and DELHI
erately from the lips of President
Wilson as his eyes searched the
souls of the grave-faced men gath
cred about the Cabinet table.
Already the clamor and counter
cIamOr was rising from the country.
The sympathies and prejudices Of
men were finding voice; passions
were being stirred to utterance. The
echo of the tumult could not be ex-
cluded wholly from the Cabinet room.
Each of US felt the vibration of popu-
lar sentiment and demand; each Of
US needed the steadying words Of
our great leader.
7 give them the place OF prominence
in this article, which is to tell the story
OF two momentous pre-war cabinet meet
ings, because I believe they express,
better than anything could say. the
rit-aasa--aatitaAe OF woodrow Wilson
from the first days of Americas crisis
TO the hour when he resigned the cares
Of office.
Tt is my conviction, as a result OF
close association with him IN times or
supreme stress. that in every great ques-
ton the principle embodied in his simple
but profound utterance controlled the
course he ultimately decided to take.
WILSON WAS MAN
TOR THE JOB
His critics say that he made mistakes.
He may have made some; yet I doubt II
any other man Of our generation IN his
position would have made as few. When
he stepped from the White House a few
weeks ago one OF his bitterest news
paper critics. referring TO his leader
ship during the war years, said OF him,
Even his bitterest enemies can not ques-
ton his motives or his purity Of purpose
I can say without reservation that dur
ing the entire eight years OF his admin
fstration, I have never known OF a single
instance I'm which he did not act in ac-
cordance with his convictions. 1t has
always been his custom not to ask, lis
this pOpular:" but is It rightr'
As 1 intlmated in my first article, the
navy was ready for mobilization within
twenty four hours after Bernstorff had
delivered his U-boat ultimatum-in effect
It was thlt-tO the state department..
The word had gone to every ship and
station on Thursday, Feb. 1.
A Cabinet meeting was called for the
afternoon Of Friday, Feb. 3
As we assembled not one OF Us
failed to realize the significance OF the
occasion.
The sOlemnity OF the moment had in
tensified the austeritEe which those who
do not know him vel mistakenly sup
pose to be his prevailing hUmor. As 1
shall show later. Woodrow Wilson is a
man of Geniality and humOr
But this was n day when only serious
thought could hold place in any mind
The destiny Of 1O0.O00O00 people lay in
the bands Of the President Of the United
States-perhaps the destiny of the world.
No man there had failed to read the
text Of the German note, but the Presi-
dent, in measured tones, read it to US
again.
CABINET AGREED
ON SEVERANCE
1 have no doubt his mind was already
made up as to the right course to take.
but, before expressing an opinion, he
called upon his colleagues to declare their
views Each man spoke freely and
frankly what he thought. Expressions
!. frankly. Expressions varied in tone, but
ssell agreed the time had come when diplO-
severed.
This was the Presidents belief Nor
do I think It was any surprise to him
that his colleagues were unanimous in
support Of it. The Cabinet stood as a
unit for the dismissal of Ambassador
Bernstorff and the ending of all further
traffic with the empire of the HohenzoI-
lerns.
Although the session lasted for sew
eral hours, this decision was reached
comparatively early. 1t had required no
debate. The unanswerable argument was
before US in the German note-defant,
perfidious, barbaric.
The remaining time was devoted to
discussing what should be the next step
in the various departments OF the Gov
eminent. more particularly IN those of
State, War and Navy. The severance Of