Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-08
PERSHLNG RESPONSIBLE
FOR FAILURE OF WOOD
TO SERVE IN FRANCE
"WoodroW Wilson as | Know Him.
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY
:: COLONEL ROOSEVELT AND GENERAL WOOD

T will be recalled that early the war Colonel Roosevelt
called at the White House to confer with the president
gadng his desire to lead division the other side recall
distinctly every fact of that meeting was seated few feet
away in the Red Room of the White House the time these two
comforting Nothing could have been peasane or
agreeable than this meeting They had not met since they
political opponents in 1872 but prior that they had had
two three friendly visits with each other Mr. Wilson had once
ched with Colonel Roosevelt at Sycamore HILL and when the
PRESIDENT he and his party had been luncheon guests
Of President and Mrs Wilson of Princeton University on the o.
of Army and Navy game played on the Princeton grid
They m in the White House in the most friendly fashion,
told other anecdotes and seemed to enjoy together what the
Colonel was accustomed to call a "bully time"
The object of the Colones call discussed without heat
bitterness The President frankly placed before the Colonel his
ideas regarding Mr. RooSevel desire to and the a
tude of the General Staff toward the volunteer SYSTEM system
that would have to be recognized the CooneS ambition was
be realized AS matter of fact instead of being moved by
any iwi toward the Colonel the inclination OF the President
was override the recommendation of the General Staff and
that the Colonel be granted permission overseas The a
aons at the end of the conference were most friendly and the
Colonel his way out stopped in to He slapped me
on the back friendly way and said "By Jove Tuul
y you man after my heart! Six children Ell? Well
now you get me across will put you my staff and YOU
NAV tell Mrs Tumuy that will not allow them to place you
at any point of danger"
Some weeks later received following letter from Colonel
Roosevelt
Oyster Bay, Long Island ~ Y.
/ y" April IL, 1917
| My Dear Mr. TunuIty: ~#
| That a fine speech of Williams. shall write
him and congratulate him.
Now, don't forget that it might be good thing
| have you of my commissioned officers at
Headquarters. could really important worE there,
and tell Mrs. Tunruly the six children, that this
particular serpce Mould probably not be ddngerous.i
! THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Mr.. Joseph P. Tumu1ty, Secretary to the President
Washington, D. C..
After the Colonel departed the President boysh way said:
swell, and how did the Colonel impress youy"
His Opinion of Roosevelt
told the President of the very favorable impression the
Colonel had made upon by his uoyancy, charm of
and his great good nature The President replied by saying:
eyes, he is great big boy was, formerly charmed by
his personality There sweetness about him that is very
compelling You can't resist the easily understand
why his followers so fond of him"
was therefore, with real pain that the President read the
of this interview contained in John LearyS book
entitled Taks with T. r., containing many sighting references
made the Colonel the President 1t appears that Mr. Leay
accompanied the Colonel to the White House and Immediately
upon the conclusion of the conference the recipient of
confidential statement of the Colones impression of the President
The account in Mr.. Leary's book is as follows:
I found that though / had writen plainly enough
there mas confusion in his (Wilsons) mind as to
vanted to do / explained everything to him. He
seemed to take it well, but-remember was talking to
Mr. Wilson,
Tumuzty, by pay of a half joke said he might go to
France rVih md I said: "By, Joye, you come right
along! ri hare a place for you:" would too, but it
voulnt be the place he THINKS 1t is possible he might
be sent along of watchdog to keep Mr. Wilson
informed to What being done. He woudrt be,
though. He'd keep his distance from headquarters
except when he was sent for #
He (WLson) has promised nothing definitely but
have said if any other than he talked to
he did, would feel assured If / talked to another Ri
man as he talked woud that that Es
going get permission to fight. But talking 81
to MI. Wilson, His words may nluch they may
mean little He has, however, left the door open.
of Leonard Wood
OF course what ultimately hap coonels wishes Personally
III beer for