The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-15

tell the story of two momentou cause believe they express, b, the spirit and attitude of Wooe of Americas crisis to the hour office.
 It IS my conviction, as a result of close association with him in times of su- preme stress that in every great ques- ton the principle embodied in his simple but profound utterance controlled the course he ultimately decided to take. When he made up his mind that thing was right, that it should be done, he did It. regardless of it's effect on his party or his personal fortune.
 MAN FOR THE JOB"
 His critics say that he made mistakes He may have made some; yet I doubt if 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 if his bitterest newspaper critics. referring to his leadership dur ing the war years. said of him: aHe was the man for the war
 Even his btterest enemies cannot oues- tion his motives or his purity of purpose. Sl can say without reservation that. dur ing the entire eight years of his ad- ministration. I have never known of a single instance in which he did not act in accordance with his convictions It has always been his custom not to ask: "Is this popular?'' but "Is it right?"
 As l intimated in my first article. the navy was ready tor mobilization within 24 hours after Bernstorff had delivered his U-boat utimatum-in eject it was that-to the state department. The word had gone to every ship and station on Thursday, February 1.
 A cabinet meeting was called for the afternoon of Friday. February 3.
 As we assembled not one of us failed to realize the significance of the oc- casion. The hour had come for a tre- mendous decision. The time for nego- tiation and barley was at an end This conviction. I believe, was in the soul of every man who rose to greet the Pres ident when he entered the room
 Tn solemnity of the moment had in tensified the austerity which those who do not kndw him wei. mistakenly sup pose to be his prevailing humor. As shall show later. Woodrow Wilson is a man of geniality and humor.
 But this was day when only serious thought could hold place in any mind. The destiny of 1Oo,oOo.ooO people lay in the hands 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 which was the occasion of our meeting, but the Presi- dent, in measured, tones, giving weigh, to every significant syllable. read it to us again.
 CABINET IS UNANIMOUS
 have no diubt 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 varied in tone and in approach to the main priblem. but all agreed upon one thing-the time had cime when diplo- matic relations with Germany must be severed. This was the Presidents belief Nol do think it was any surprise to hin that his colleagues were unanimous 1T support of it. The cabinet stood as 2 unit for the dismissal of Ambassador Bernstorff and the ending of all further traffic with the empire of the Hohen xcllerno.
 A xxA q 1ou Al frr hours, this decision was reached com paratively early. It had required no dc bate The unanswerable argument wal before us in the German note-defiaLt peridious, barbaric.
 The remaining time was devoted t discussing what shiuld be the next stel in the various departments of the gov ernment. more particularly in those o state. war end The severance Q relations. Y was realized. would creat an exceec agIy critical situation, and nt one tried sos deevlvp himself with th' suppositipn that 1t WIS not likelyq to leat in | few weeks at most to open war Hence tho inportanrs of mapping a pro gramms for immediate action.
 ASSURED CONGRESS- SUPPORT
 From me cabinet meeting the Presi dent went to the capitol, and dis cussed inc situation with members o the Senate committee on foreign rela tions and other senators He vas as sured of their support in any steps h considered necssss-ry
 II retnFnad 10 the navy departmen \ s thorpush sonSssced hostilitie
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