Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-02
Woodrow Wilson,
AS l KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY.

by the president as a necessary ana
proper thing in the unusual war sit
uation which confronted him, as the
criticism directed toward 1t grew
more bitter, turned away from it
and criticized what they said was
the ineptitude and lack of tact of
the president in issuing it. AS a
matter of fact, opinion in the Dem
ocratic ranks as to the wisdom and
necessity of general appeal was
Unanimous prior to the issuance OF
the statement. When the president
asked the support of the country
through the election of Democrat
ic congress, he was seeking to tpre-
vent divided leadership at moment
wheAS his undisputed control was a
necessity, because of the. effect a
Reputation of his administration
would work upon the central pow
ers. He realized that the defeat OF
his administration in the. midst or
the world war would give aid and
comfort to the central powers and
that the allied governments would
themselves interpret it as g weaken
ing of our war power, and while the
enemy would be strengthened, our
associates would be distressed and
disheartened.
He looked upon 1t, therefore, as
a partisan matter, not partizan, but
involving the good faith Of Amer
lea. At previous elections the White
House had been inundated with re-
quests from particular senators and
congressman, urging the president
to write letters in their behalf, and
this had resulted in so much en-
barrassment to the chief executive
that as the critical days OF the No
Vember elections of 1918 approached,
the president was forced to consid-
err a more general and. If possible,
q more diplomatic method OF ham
ding this difficult situation: The
gentlemen who criticized the appeal
as outrageously partisan evidently
forgot, that for months Will Hays,
chairman Of the Republican national
committee, had been busily engaged
in~visiting various parts of the coun-
try and, with his coadjutors| in the
Republican national committee, had
been. openly, and blatantly demand
ing an emphatic reputation of the
administration from the country.
Advice From Tumulty
The president and 7 discussed the
situation in June, 1918. and I was
asked by him to consider and work
out what might be thought a tact
full, effective plan by which the
president, without arousing party
rancor or bitterness, might make an
appeal to the country asking for
it's support. I considered the mat
ter and under date of June Is, 1918,
I wrote him letter, part Of which
was given over to q discussion of the
way it might discreetly be handled.
The White House,
Washington, June IS, 1913.
Dear Governors: 1 think the atti-
tude of the leaders Of the Repub-
lican party, as reflected in the
speeches of Will Hays, national
chairman, and Senator Penrose on
Saturday last will give you the op-
portunity at the psychological mo-
ment to strike and to define the is
sue. in. this campaign. think for
the present our policy should be one
Of silence and even a show of in
difference to what the leaders on
the other side, Messrs. Hays and
Penrose, are saying and doing. This
will, no doubt, eS1bolden them to
make rash statements and charges,
and by the time you are ready to
make your general appeal, the whole
| country will realize how necessary
it is for you frankly to ask for the
reelection of the Democratic con-
gress. In speech on Friday night,
delivered at Philadelphia, in urging
the election of Republican congress,
Will Hays said:
"We. will bring the government
back to the limitations and princi-
plies of the constitution in time of
peace and establish policies which
will again bind up the wounds OF
war, renew our prosperity. admin
lister the affairs Of government with
the greatest economy, enlarge our
strength at home and abroad. etc.
-
| Senator Penrose, at the same time
Eurging a Republican congress. said
Let us keep up an efficient Repub-
lican organization in Pennsylvania
and, all through the United States,
and make successful Republican
contest at every opportunity in every
i congressional district and at the next
presidential election, and endeavor to
assure the election of Republican
Il 1 think these speeches will give
you an opportunity some time in