The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-30
M EN-, WO M EN-
A N D T Fl IN c. S

IL is quite re1reSnlng IN these days When pup
lie men are toppled off their pedestals of fame
with such ease, to find man who stands by his
hero, Woodrow Wilson, in spite of the fact
that for many he is a fallen idol.
Birmingham had as its guest Sunday and
Monday a distinguished southern historian,
born and reared in the atmosphere of
Dixeland, man who glories in its past and
believes in its future; yet a man who is not I'M
appreciative of the genius of the American
people as a whole.
Such is Dr. William E. Dodd, professor
Of American history at the University of Chi
cago, who came to Birmingham through the in
strumentality of Fred M. Jackson. 1t seems
that when his son, Phillip, was attending the
university, he heard and was so struck with the
lectures of DR.. Dodd as to speak in glowing
terms of them on his return home to his father.
The fact that historian had made such
profound impression on his son, student, ex-
cited the curiosity of Mr.. jackson, and so he
remembered it and helped to bring it about
so that DR.. Dodd delivered series of lectures
during the past summer at Junaluska, the great
encampment of southern Methodists in North
Carolina. After hearing him himself he ex-
pressed the wish that if opportunity offered
he wanted to give Birmingham the pleasure
also of hearing him.
Learning that DIR. Dodd was to lecture at one
of the Mississippi colleges, he got in touch with
him and arranged to have him speak before
the Walker Memorial church, the Civic Asso-
citation and at the Birmingham Southern and
Howard colleges. The four addresses were
heard with great interest by many of the think
ing men and women of Birmingham, who felt
that in hearing them they were listening not to
a mere psnegyric on Woodrow Wilson, but to
a thoughtful study of the man and his policies.
Dr. Dodd published some while back a volume
which came from the press at time when the
American voter was changing his politics to the
extent of unseating ex-President Wilson and
putting in President Harding. Papers which had
hailed Wilson as the greatest statesman of the
modern world were turning their editorials
against him; preachers who had heralded him as
almost twentieth century savior, grew
suddenly quiet. "There were none so poor to do
him reverence"
But in spite of the change of the administra-
ton, in face of press pulpit and politics, the
book, Woodrow Wilson and His Work." which
met unresponsive public, is just beginning
to come into its own, and there is already set
a drift towards it as work representing a
true portrait of the great southerner and a
worth while appreciation of his idealistic and
humanitarian policies. g.sa.e
l am not SO much interested at present in
the other biographical and historical works of
DR.. Dodd as noteworthy as they have proved
to be among the scholars of the world. AS [
am limiting myself in this little sketch to calling
attention to the fact that there are still men
of research and thought in our great universe
ties who are not swayed by every passing polit-
ical breeze, but who ready to face the
tickle winds of popular favor and stand by the
men who have the courage to hold to IDEALS
though for the time being it means personal de-
feat and the backset of party. 1t was pleas
ure to be guest in the hospitable home of Mr..
and Mrs. Jackson and have the privilege, along
with others, of hearing DR.. Dodd speak in such
just and glowing terms of Woodrow Wilson.