Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-10-05

EDW AKD MANDELL HOUSE
1t is doubtful if any man who ever
held office of any sort ever had so
much to do with the national affairs
of the United States as Edward Man
dell House.
Though known as Colonel"
House, he was not of the army, but
gained his title by reason of a
temporary connection with the mill
tary staff of one of the Texas gov
errors, purely honorary position,
and the nearest the colonel" ever
came to any official public position
of national or local characte-
throughout his entire career was
when designated by President Wilson
to act as extraordinary representa-
tive of the administration in connec-
ton with the peace negotiations
toward or following the end of the
World Wa.
! Edward M. House was born at
Houston, Tex, on July 26, 1858. He
was educated in the east, and fol-
lowing his graduation from Cornell
University, engaged in banking in
his home state, where, in 1881, he
married Miss Loulie~~, Hunter of
! Austin.
| Well Known in Texas.
Without seeking any official re-
ward, elective or otherwise, for his
services, he took prominent part
in Lone Star Democratic politics
and was, of course, we'll known to
Texans, but was practically without
national prominence until after
Woodrow Wilson's election to the
presidency.
Even then he did not bulk promi-
nently in the public eye until after
the beginning of the world conflict
Then, as perhaps the closest I'M
official confidant of the president,
the country began to recognize him
as a power, though still not an
official one, in governmental coun-
ellis.
In 1914, 1915 and 1916 he acted as
the presidents personal representa-
tive in connection with investiga-
tions of war conditions in Europe.
There can be no question that
President Wilson was guided to
extent in the shaping
of his policies by his reports.
In all this work, the colonel"
maintained really marvellous dis
erection. That he was engaged in
work of momentous importance
was evident, but it is safe to say
that nobody concerning whose do
ings public interest was so keen was
so little quoted.
At Peace Conference
In September, 1917, the colonel
was chosen by the president to
gather statistics with reference to
the part the United States was called
on to take at the inter-allied confer
ence of premiers and foreign minis
tiers in Paris, in November of that
year. Later he was designated by the
Washington chief executive to repre-
Isent this country in the armistlce ne
gotiations and in the Supreme War
Council at Versailles, where he served
with President Wilson himself, Secre-
tary of State Lansing, and those who
accompanied them.
/ Whatever may have been the
truth of the matter, the report
gained currency that Colonel
House, as we'll as Secretary Lam
sing, was not in accord with Mr..
Wilson concerning the latter's pol
Eicies at Versailles. 1t is certain
that the colonel" did not after
ward appear to be as closely IN
touch with Mr.. Wilson as previously,
though this was possibly simply be-
cause the war emergency having
passed the chief executive did not
find it necessary to consult him so
often, in addition to which the lat
ter's failing health kept him from
seeing much of his previous advisers
for some time prior to the expira-
ton of his term.
No Need to Retire
With the termination of the peace
negotiations, Colonel" House did
mot exactly retire, for there was
nothing for him to retire from, but
isimply ceased to figure further in
national affairs. He continued to
be recognized as remarkable man
who had played notable part IN
one of The greatest crises in the
worlds history, but nobody ever
bore SO well-deserved a reputation
more inconspicuously.
He was the author, jointly with
Prof. Charles Seymour, also proml-
fnent among Americas peace nego-
|tiators, of "What Really Happened
at Paris"
I r,Dr<,xy vpTuyc