Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-01-21
A TRN TO
AGREAT AMERICAN

only as q servant Of mankind
Woodrow Wilson's Address ct
swarthmore College. October g..
1918.
Within Q few days the American
public will be given an opportunity to
express tangibly its faith In liberal
4 ideals, and in the world democracy for
which Woodrow Wilson has Decn the
chief spokesman. This opportunity
will be the national freewih offering
for the endowment Of the Woodrow
Wilson Foundation, the purpose OF
which IL 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 q fund OF $1.O0o00o 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
until 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 a rebirth OF
civilization. 1t remained for the
American 10 become their highly artic-
ulate spokesman BY word and deed
he clarified the issue so that all the
world could see 1t as struggle be
tween democracy and autocracy.
Any student OF Mr.. Wilson's life. any
undertaking related 10 him. must come
to consider this question: What is
the motive that actuated him in his
public life? His ideals have been
published to the world; but what is
the source from which they come?
The answer seems 10 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 servant OF mankind"
The Foundation created in his name
can find no better watchwords.
On Christmas Eve. 1920. q group OF
women met to consider what was then
q nebulous wish TO pay some sort OF
tribute 10 the man who was shortly to
leave the White House. There was
no doubt in their minds as to the YER
dict OF history: rather the thought
was to establish precedent. il pos
sible. and honor a great American
while he lived Great men had seldom
been so honored
The thought of a tribute was dis
cussed among the women and then
presented to group OF men. friends
OF Mr. Wilson and former members OF
his official family. and finally the
nebulous desire TO honor him while he
lived became the Woodrow Wilson
Foundation.
The materialized idea has been de-
veloped far beyond the thought OF a
tribute TO the former President. II
is to be that of course. but chiefly it
Is 10 perpetuate his ideals OF democ
racy and human freedom. and in such
form as to be both an inspiration and
a reward TO other men whose ambition
II is to enable the world to live more
amply. with greater vision, with
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 democracy. public welfare. lib
eral thought or peace through justice.
The founding OF an institution which
Is to be q significant demonstration
OF Americas belief in idealism lie an
historical occasion. and to be com.
memorated as such. An emblem has
been adopted which will permanently
represent the spirit Of the Foundation
The central feature OF the emblem is
q portrait Of Woodrow Wilson.
A number OF reproductions OF this
emblem have been struck of in the
form of certificates to be presented to
subscribers to the endowment. They
will mark the recipient as one OF the
founders.
II is the present purpose OF the
Woodrow Wilson Foundation to raise
the endowment. When that has been
done 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
conqueror's work will endure-Wil
sons thought"
Acting with Franklin d. Roosevelt,
the national chairman. is an executive
committee OF national distinction. in
Guiding Cleveland II. Dodge. chair