Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-14
WILSON SPLIT
WITH TUMULTY
Is DISCLOSED
Break With Former Aide
Traced Back TO Last White
House Days.
GOODNESS DEVELOPS
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,
International News Service STAFF Ger
respondent.

International News Service STAFF Ger
respondent.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-Woodrow
Wilson's blunt and unqualified repudia-
ton Of the so-called Wilson message"
delivered to the National Democratic
Club banquet in New York Saturday
night by his ex-secretary, Joseph P.
Tumulty, brough open confirmation to-
day of the fact known to inside Demo-
cratic circles In the capital for months
that a decided GOODNESS exists between
Mr.. Wilson and his former aide.
Back of Mr.. Wilson's public disavowal
that Mr.. Tumulty is his spokesman in
things political lies a story Of two-years
steadily growing estrangement.
This condition would have brought
about an open split before Mr.. Wilson
left the White House, his friends say,
had it not been for the long Illness Of the
former President and the embarrassments
that such q course would have brought
during his trying last days in the White
House.
The Wilson Tumulty split had Its in
ception during Mr.. Wilson's long alb
sences abroad, during which time Mr..
Tumulty literally conducted the exec
Utive end of the Government, according
to the inside story" Of the affair as told
by Mr.. Wilson's friends today.
The former President Is said to have
been highly displeased at soma of the
proceedings at the White House during
his absence but was not in a position to
make a change at that time because Of
the pressure of public business and the
fact that his own time was to be largely
taken up in trying 70 clear the rocky
road for the League Of Nations and the
Versailles treaty.
PRESIDENT PANIED BY
TUNULTY POLICIES.
Then came the Swing around the
country" and the long Illness which
lasted up to the last day of Mr.. VIII
sons stay in the White House. Many
Of the Tumulty policies, pursued by the
executive office while Mr.. Wilson lay
between life and death In the Mansion,
hundred yards away, are said to havo
panied Mr.. Wilson a great deal.
Mr.. Tumulty saw very little OF the
President during the last months of the
Administration. What contact there was
between the sick President and his sec
rotary was conducted by the exchange
of notes and memoranda, usually through
Mrs. Wilson as intermediary.
The GOODNESS between the two was in
tensifed during the 1920 campaign and
particularly during the hectic days when
the San Francisco convention was dead
locked. In almost daily notes, Mr. Tu-
multy is said to have constantly urged
the bed ridden President to take a hand
in the situation and speak as the leader
of his party, despite Mr.. Wilson's curt
refusals. This is said to have annoyed
Mr.. Wilson exceedingly.
There was a decided lack Of sympathy
L
day when Mr. Wilson left the White
House, a picture Of broken health-Mr.
Wilson retiring to his quiet home in
S street, away from the turmoil, and
Mr.. Tumulty to his law office.
There has been virtually no contact In
the last year. Mr.. Wilson's callers were
infrequent and one of the most infre-
Quent of these was Mr.. Tumulty.
Then came the Tumulty book, wood
row Wilson as l knew him" The former
President did not see the manuscript be-
fore it went 10 the printer, and he Is
said to have been enraged when, at
last, II was brought to his attention.
Mr.. Wilson it is understood, did not see
the book until long after it was on sale
in the b0oksh0ps and had been widely
reviewed. Mrs. Wilson saw to that
This message incident in New York
Saturday night was described by Mr.
Wilson's friends as the "last straw"
Mr. Tumulty saw Mr. Wilson for q
short time Friday for the first time IN
weeks, it Is said by those In a position
to know.
Saturday night a message, ostensibly
from Mr.. Wilson, was delivered TO the
Democratic banquet. 1t was taken 20
New York by Mr. Tumulty. It said:
Say to the Democrats OF New York
that 1 am ready to support any man who
stands for the salvation of America. and
the salvation Of America is justice to an
classes"
The message itself was innocent
enough, but read In conjunction with
what apparently was a boom for James
NJ Cox, 1t created a sensation, and was
much resented by other factions of the
party not sympathetic with the ex--Goy-
ernor's candidacy.
Mr.. Wilson promptly took cognizancs
OF the situation by writing a letter TO
the New York Times, a Democratic news
paper, with request that the letter he
published. It said:
II did not send any message what
ever to that dinner, nor authorized any
one to convey message"
To this Mr.. Tumulty responded today:
If Mr.. Wilson says the message was
unauthorized, then I can only say that
deeply regret the misunderstanding that
has arisen between US. l certainly would
not have given the message If I had not
believed 1t to be authorized"
Mr.. Tumulty has said he has nothing
to add TO his statement.
Meanwhile, Washington is In the throes
Of a small sensation.