Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-15
Woodrou, Wilson,
AS | KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY.

ton, told me Of the wisdom which
he thought lay behind the sugges-
ton of himself for the chairman.
ship; that we, at Sea Girt, rightly
sensed the situation and that the
suggestion of his name had done
more than anything else to con-
vince the men in the convention
of the genuine character Of the
New Jersey governor progressive
ness. We felt that, strategic moves
of this kind appealed to the pro
gressive thought in the convention
and went far to remove the strange
impression many of the delegates
had that Wilson was a rank con-
conservative. 1t was plainly percep
tible that these acts were quickly
turning the progressives in the con-
vention toward our candidate.
In following these suggestions we
were, in fact, acting independently
of the New Jersey governors ad-
visers at Baltimore. 1t was plain
to be seen that the battle at Bal
timore would finally simmer down
to a contest between the reaction
aries and the progressives, and we
decided at Sea Girt that in every
move that was to be made our pur-
pose should be to win the progress
sive support in the convention. Nc
Combs was at no time found in
harmony with this action, his prin-
cipal activities at Baltimore being
given over to an attempt to win for
the New Jersey governor the sup
port Of the conservatives OF the
east, and particularly New York,
whose seventy-six votes he thought
the great prize Of the convention.
Copyright, 1921, by Doubleday,
Page & Coz
(All Rights Reserved)
: BY JOSEPH p. TUMULTY
CHAPTER XVI
The Baltimore Convention
A T Sea Girt we kept in close
~ touch with our friends at Bal
timore, SO that after each bal
lot the New Jersey candidate was
apprised of the result. During the
trying days and nights of the con-
vention the only eager and anxious
ones in the family group, besides
myself, were Mrs. Wilson and the
Wilson girls. The candidate himself,
indeed, seemed to make only per-
functory interest in what was hap
pening at Baltimore. He never al
lowed single ballot or the changes
those ballots reflected to ruffle or
disturb him. Never before was the
equable disposition of the man bet
ter manifested than during these
trying days. Only once did he show
evidences of irritation. 1t was upon
the receipt of word from Baltimore,
carried through the daily press, that
his manager, Mr.. McCombs, was in
dulging in patronage deals to Sc
cure blocks of delegates.
Upon considering this news he i'm
mediately issued public statement
saying that no one was authorized
to make any offer of cabinet post
for him and that those who had done
so were acting without authority
from him. This caused furry in
the ranks of our friends in Balti-
more, and the statement was the
subject of heated discussion be-
tween the governor and Mr.. Nc
Combs over the telephone. OF
course, did not hear what was said
at the other end of the wire, but I
remember that the governor said,
81 am sorry, Mr.. McCombs, but my
+ statement must stand as I have is
sued it. There must be no condi-
tons whatever attached to the nomi-
nation" And there the converse
ton ended.
While this colloquy took place
was seated just outside Of the tele-
phone booth. When the governor
came out he told me of the talk he
had had with McCombs, and that
their principal discussion was the
attempt by McCombs and his friends
at Baltimore to exact from him a
promise that in case Of his nomina-
ton William Jennings Bryan should
not be named for the post of secre-
tary of state;l that great deal in
the way of delegates votes from
the eastern states depended upon his
giving this promise. The governor
then said to me:
"I will not bargain for this .ffice
It would be foolish for me at this
time to decide upon a cabinet Off
Ger, and it would be outrageous to
eliminate anybody from considera-
ton now, particularly Mr.. Bryan,
who has rendered such fine service
to the party in all seasons
(To Be continuea.)