Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-01-21
A TRIBUTE TO
A GREAT AMERICAN

"Do you covet Distinction You win
never get it by serving yourself. Do
you covet honor? You will get 1t
only as a servant Of mankind
Woodrow Wilson's Address ct
Swarthmore College, October 5,
1918.
Within q few Gays the American
public will be given an opportunity to
express tangibly It's faith In liberal
ideals. and in the world democracy for
which Woodrow Wilson has Deen the
chief spokesman. This opportunity
will be the national free-wiH offering
for the endowment OF the Woodrow
Wilson Foundation, the purpose OF
which is to make periodic awards, In
Mr.. Wilson's name for distinguished
public service. The collection, under
the auspices of a nationally represent
alive committee, which begins this
week. will have as its goal the raising
of a fund of $1,000 600 or more.
Woodrow Wilson saw beyond the
momentous conflict Of his day and
made clear to men certain ideals OF
world relationship that helped them
TO prosecute the ugly business OF war
antil victory rested with the peoples
of democracy. Plain men, the men IN
the ranks, had begun to believe that
the world had come to pass where
living was beyond endurance; yet they
felt, vaguely maybe, that they were
fighting and dying to establish some
principle of human freedom which
would in effect constitute rebirth OF
civilization. 1t remained for the
American to become their highly artic-
ulate spokesman. BY word and deed
he clarified the issue so that all the
world could see it as struggle be-
tween democracy and autocracy.
Any student of Mr.. Wilson'S life, any
undertaking related to him, must come
o consider this question: What is
tHe motive that actuated him in his
aAlic life? His ideals have been
published to the world; but what is
the source from which they come?
The answer seems to be found in those
prophetic words uttered early in his
first term as President of the United
States, DO you covet distinction? You
will never get it by serving yourself.
DO YOU covet honor? You will get 1t
only as a servant of mankind"
The Foundation created in his name
canSfnd no better watchwords.
On Christmas Eve 1920, group OF
women met to consider what was then
a nebulous wish TO pay some sort OF
tribute to the man who was shortly to
leave the White House. There was
% doubt in their minds as to the YER
'ct of history; rather the thought
was to establish a precedent, if pos
sible and honor a great American
while he lived. Great men had seldom
neen so honore2.
The thought of a tribute was dis
,ussed among the women and then
res pntcd to a group of men, friends
Of M Wilson and former members OF
mis- official family, and finally the
nebulous desire to honor him while he
wed became the Woodrow Wilson
Foundation
The materialized idea has been de-
yeloped far beyond the thought of a
tribute to the former President. II
: TO be that. of course but chiefly 1t
is 10 pe"Ye;uate his ideals of democ-
racy AMI human freedom, and in such
form as to be both an inspiration and
reward to other men whose ambition
It is to ENABLE the world to live more
q ly with greater vision, with a
finer spirit of hope and achievement !"
The Foundation, created in recog-
milton of the national and international
services of Woodrow Wilson" will
provide awards for "meritorious serv-
ice to der oc:acy, public welfare, lib
eral thought or peace through justice"
The founding of an institution which
Is to be a significant demonstration
of Americas belief in idealism is an
historical occasion, and to be COM
memorated as such. An emblem has
been adopted which will permanently
represent the spirit Of the Foundation.
TIE central feature Of the emblem is
a portrait of Woodrow Wilson.
A number of reproductions of this
emblem have been struck off in the
form of certificates to be presented to
sub cribers to the endowment. They
will mark the recipient as one of the
founders.
1t is the present purpose Of the
Woodrow Wilson Foundation to raise
the endowment When that has been
done a board of trustees composed OF
eminent Americans will be appointed
and entrusted with the administration
of the fund and the granting Of the
awards.
Macmillan Harden has said OF the
war and its aftermath: only one