Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-18
ARTICLE 80.

When you speak of the Govern
ment" in any modern nation which
retains a king, you never have the
king in mind at all. 1t means the
same thing as when in this country
we speak of ''the Washington admin
istration." The king has his palace
and his functions, but no king, except
in a few remaining dynasties, has
any power comparable with that Of
the President of the United States.
It is inconceivable that a king in any
European country, having responsible
ministries, should undertake to direct
large public policies. He may talk in
language Of ancient days, now gone for
ever, about my army and my navy"
and my subjects but these are mean
ingless words as to real power.
KING GEORGE
PUTS QUESTION.
Speaking of their status, am sure
violate no proprieties by repeating
- 1estion which the king of England
sked me when I was in London. 1
Z bound later that it was a question which
had rercolated through official circles
and was the cause OF no little merriment-
1t indicates, too, the British sense Of
humor, which is better than it has been
painted.
May I ask you a question" said King
George, about a telegram which rumor
says you sent to President Wilson
short time after he reached Paris during
the peace conferenceT"
Certainly was nv reply.
And then King George, with a twinkle
IN his eye, for he loves a story and is
not wanting in humor, asked this ques-
ton:
us it true that you sent the following
message;
Washington, D. c.
January, 1919.
~To Hon. woodrow Wilson,
President,
paris, France,
"aCome home at once. Unless you do
so the United States will become a re-
public "'JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
Secretary of the Navy 8"
INNER CIRCLE
STORY POPULAR.
That evening at dinner, at the home
Of a distinguished member Of the gov
&nment, the same question was again
asked me. And again in Scotland by an
London It was one Of those stories
which go the rounds. never being ac-
credited to any particular person. but
remaining current in official circles as
stock anecdOte at dinners where the talk
goes largely TO questions relating to
public men or public policies.
These inner circle stories are generally
told you in the utmost confidence, and
when you are new in Washington you
think they must be held sacred. though
you know they are OF little Importance.
Generally, If you have observed the eau
ton mot to mention this story" you
find that everybody in officialdom al
ready knows It or it is in process Of
going the rounds. That fact became so
apparent that. a short time after Mr..
Wilson became President, a gentleman
told him he wished to tell him a secret
70 be held in confidence.
"No," said President Wilson, Il can
not take it When 1 first came here
let some friends tell me stories which
was assured were most confidential.
carried these stories concealed on my
person, thinking I was the sole recipient
Of a confidence. After a while learned
that everybody I came IN contact with
had been told the same extra confidential
story.
Never again. IF you tell me the story
and 1 accept 1t IN confidence and keep
it, lose my interest.
IF I tell the story, received in con-
edence, 1 lose my principle"
KING GEORGE
DEMOCRATIC.
I found King George most affable and
chatty. He loves a good story. and can
tell one most effectively. He impressed
me as exceedingly well informed, and in
diligently alert on all matters of world
concern.
He was quite uneeremonious and demo-
cratic, and I gathered from things he
said and from his general attitude that
he had reached the conclusion that the
time had come in history when a wise
king would make himself as unob-
trusively useful to his people as possible
If he wanted to retain his crown anu
throne.
He seemed much attached to his horses
and cows and to take a genuine pride and
interest in his garden and Conservatives.
The British talk about their king as a
mice, good natured little man" Some
body said that as a king George is a
most successful stamp collector. AS a
matter Of fact, the British have a great
deal Of respect and affectionate regard
for him. lie did two things during the
war which pleased them-he worked very
hard at whatever the government asked
him TO do and he kept his hands off the
politics and management of the war
1 said moment ago that when the
king OF England says my navy" my
army" etc. 1t is q term that really
means nothing. But that is not exactly
correct as it applies to the British navy.
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