Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-17
An Utterly Trivial circumstance

C1NCERE friends of former President Will
~ son and Joseph P. Tumulty, for ton
years his faithful, almost worshipful sec
rotary, cannot fail to regard the incident of
the message delivered to the Cox Demo-
cratic dinner in New York as trifling in
its importance. At It's very worst 1t merely
involves an unfortunate misunderstanding
between the two men, misunderstanding
that need raise no serious issue between
them, certainly no issue OF veracty
The facts in tho case seem to be very clear.
Mr.: Tumulty called upon his former chief
before leaving Washington to attend the
dinner in honor of former Governor Cox,
late Democratic standard bearer. The New
Workers had asked as was natural, for
some message from Mr.. Wilson. Later an
unsigned message was read Mt the dinner
Mr.. Tumulty had delivered 1t personally to
the chairman of the gathering and it was
received unquestlonlpgly by those who were
present.
This message said very lttle after ALL
1t committed Mr.. Wilson to nothing. 1t
seemed to be merely friendly greeting and
pledge to support any man who supported
the things the former President stands for
IL is unbelievable that Mr.. Tumulty would
deliberately fabricate such q message. Mr.
Wilson, be 1t remembered. makes no such
charge In regulating It. He simply states
that 1t was unauthorized.
In other words, Mr. Tumulty appears to
have received a message, but probably did
not realize that he was not authorized to
deliver 1t formally or publicly. His fault,
IL there be any, lies in his failure to assure
himself positively that Mr.. Wilson desired
to say something to his fellow Democrats
and desired to say 1t in open meeting
II there Is any serious significance at
- 1I.t,
politics, It probably lies in the maneuvering
revealed on the part OF presidential posi-
bilities in 1924. Many newspapers seem to
have interpreted the Wilson message as an
Endorsement Of Governor Cox. How the pur-
ported message could be made to apply to
the case OF the Ohioan any more than to
any other Democratic leader who had kept
the faith, is difficult to see. However, II
was read at Cox banquet and the Jealous
friends OF Mr.. McAdoo undoubtedly felt that
1t somehow or other Injured to tho advent
age OF the honor guest OF that occasion.
Whether the McAdoo followers brought
the circumstance to the attention of Mr..
Wilson or protested that he was lending
himself TO move to renominate the Ohioan.
does not appear in the record but the sus-
picion VIII not down that in some fashion
they showed displeasure over the possible
capitalization of the supposed message from
the late leader Of the party.
II this be true 1t explains why Mr. Will
son, seeking in his retirement to remain
neutral as between those Of his friends who
would inherit his mantle, should find il de-
slrable TO disavow message which purport
ed to come from him, even II In doing 4.
he should deeply wound loyal and devoted
friend.
IT should be said to Mr. Tumultys credit
that in assuming rcSDonsibility for tba mic
take that was made. lie has acted in a dien;
fed and wholly becoming manner He has
concealed any hurt that he may have sus-
tanned and has declined TO venture upon any
controversy with his former chief as to the
authenticity OF the message