The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-29

Sincere regret is expressed -py
the majority OF the editors OF the
country because former President
Woodrow Wilson felt it necessary
openly to rebuke his ex-secretary,
Joseph P. Tumulty, because the
latter has assumed" to speak for
him in the now famous message to
the Democratic club dinner in New
York. Naturally there is some sar-
casm displayed while the purely
political comment is framed more
from the viewpoint of the editor
'creed of political faith than from
analysis of the merit of the subject.
The fact that the message was
interpreted as a boost" for former
generally is held to have been the
motive behind the letter of repudia-
ton. And then, being an author
has its advantages, as the New
York Tribune (Rep) points out,
but it makes a practical politician
soft Literary methods will not
work in politics-especiall in DEM
ocratic politics. Mr.. Tumulty' is
learning this to his cost" And.
because of the Importance attached
to the message, it is the opinion OF
the Roanoke Times, (Dem.), Mr..
Wilson was left no recourse but
to correct the impressions made,
although doubtless he would have
preferred to let the incident go by
without correction" But the fact
that Tumulty quoted his former
chief without authorization hardly
warranted the open reputation, in
the viewpoint of the Tacoma. Wash,
Ledger, (Ind), which contends that
Joe has been doing that very
thing for decade or more without
drawing a fire of resentment.
The Knoxville Sentinel, Qnd.
Dem.), declines to agree that it was
desire to frown on Mr.. Cox's can
didacy that impelled the latter.
His rebuke of Tumulty had no
reference to, or prejudice of the
Cox candidacy for president" 1t
suggests. 1T merely means that
Mr.. Wilson is not to be put in the
position of a partisan for any par
tlcular Democratic aspirant." Yet
anyhow, that is beside the ques-
ton" in the opinion of the Biz
mingham News, (Dem.), which
points out that "the most inter
esting angle of the affair is that
MIR. Wilson finally has broken with
Tumulty the Faithful" while to the
eye of the Portland Oregonian. the
letter confirms the opinion form
ed from his withdrawal into abso-
lutte silence on public affairs that
Mr.. Wilson considers his public life
definitely ended and is determined
not to write or speak a word to
influence government or politics."
1T was a brutal turndown even
coming from the icy-veined former
president, in the opinion of the St.
Paul Dispatch, QndD, but politics
is a personal juggernaut" This
latter suggestion finds no response
from the Wichita Beacon Ind. },
which believes that his sharpness
is due to his broken health and
suggests that regardless of the
bitter partisan spirit and antagon-
isms which he cheerfully courted
when he was in full rigor of his
career, may the days deal more
gently with him as they pass"
Because Mr.. Wilson never was a
politician is the very reason why
he should not have been quoted as
he was, the Jacksonville Metropo-
lis, Und. DEM contends and adds,
the sooner Woodrow Wilson is
treated as an institution-an insti-
tuition that personifies all the dear
er ideals Of the American people
and dismissed from political con-
sideration, the better off both
parties will be-