Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-24
Democrats to Turn
Again to Leadership
Of Woodrow Wilson
From Lewistown Democrat-News

Keen observers of things political
have not failed to take note of the
growing interest being taken by former
President Woodrow Wilson in current
affairs and some Of them go SO far as
to say that the once great leader of
the hosts of democracy may again as
sumo the position Of director of the
policies of that party. According to
all reports, Mr.. Wilson'S health is
showing steady Improvement. While
still badly crippled as a result of the
paralysis which struck him down, he
is vet able to go about and 10 less an
authority than Georges Clemenceau,
who knew the former American presi-
dent when the latter was at his best
intellectually, states that the mental
processes of the stricken statesmen are
apparently just as keen as ever and
that he exhibits his old powers Of an
alysis, concentration and pungent ex-
preston as strikingly as he did be-
fore being taken i'll.
There is every reason why the dem
ocrats of the nation should turn to
Wilson for counsel if he indicates a
willingness and a physical ability to
give it. Not, perhaps, since the days
Of Jackson did the historic party OF
jefferson function so brilliantly and
make for itself such a record as it did
under the matchless leadership OF
Woodrow Wilson. The period begin
ming the fourth of March, 1918, and
ending with our entrance into the
| world war constituted the golden era
| of a political organization which was
| born almost with the republic. AL
| branches of the government were un-
der its control and great things were
done for the advancement of our coun-
try. Congressional leadership, under
| the inspiration of the man in the White
| House, was as fine as any of the past
two or three decades.
Considering the top-heavy majorities
| whereby the house and senate were
controlled, the unity that was main
tanned was truly remarkable. There
| were occasional murmurs of insur-
gency, but they We're stifled by the
| unparalleled confidence which the great
majority Of the members of congress
had in the president. A program as
ambitious in its scope and Importance
| as any ever undertaken by any ad-
| ministration was laid out and put
through almost to the last bill.
All sections of u citizenship prof
| tied from the legislation put into eff
| feet. The toilers were given an eight
hour day and a federal compensation
measure. The financial interests were
given a modern banking and currency
law. The farmers were provided with
a rural credits act.
The breaking out of the war, OF
course. diverted all thoughts of the
| administration from purely domestic
affairs. And whatever his critics
may think, it would be useless to try
to convince any admirer Of Woodrow
! Wilson that he did not play his par
of that great world tragedy superbly
| With his speeches and papers he
aroused his people to a white heat Of
patriotic fervor. He also rendered
priceless assistance to the entire al
lied cause by setting forth, for the
first time, the real purposes of the
great conflict.
The admirers of Woodrow Wilson
will ever recall with something akiI
to bitterness the events following his
| return from the peace conference al
Paris. They will eve believe that hi
was made the victim of one OF tn
cruelest and most relentless as wei
as least excusable political conspira
cies ever conducted in the history o.
the nation. The workings Of tina
conspiracy left the idol of millions
physical and mental wreck, the tragic
| shadow of the greatness which wa:
his but a few months before.
It is not surprising, therefore, that
the great numbers who followed
Woodrow Wilson when he was at thu
height of his glory and sorrowed witt
him in his greyious misfortune. shoult
turn again TO him for inspiration at {
| time when it appears that the party
may once more be invested with tht
heavy responsibilities of government
control.
Other leaders must. %perforce, car
nv the banners and hold the offices
but Woodrow Wilson is still the Nc
| Gregor of democracy and where Nc
| Gregor sits there is the head OF tht
table.
With the failures Of those wht
| pulled him down from his high place
with infinite anxieties still affecting
our people; with leadership so bank
| rupt that it is utterly unable to give
any certain direction to the conduc
| of public affairs, it is not to be won
dered at that millions are turning
| their eyes once more to the lnyailt
sitting in his wheel chair in his
home there in Washington for word:
of hopefulness and wisdom.
From the shadowy recesses of hi!
retirement, unruffled by the popular
i clamor which beat ceaslessly upor
the ears of those who are in and o
the seething crowds. Woodrow Wilson
| may be able to say those things which
will calm unhappy and turbulent mil
lions. 1t would appear that the OPP
portunity is to be his and no n wht
| understands the man and his passion
ate devotion to the walfare of hi
country can doubt that he will Civ
to the limit of his strength towart
the restoration of America to tina
proud eminence to which she is en-
titled, the political and moral leader
| ship of the world.
PRESENT AND FUTURE
The wise youth prepares for thu
future,
But during the holiday whiri he