Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-06
CHAPTER XIV
Wilson on March 4, 1921

now that his dearest wish was to be
realized. AS I looked at Woodrow
Wilson, seated in his study that
morning, in his cutaway coat, await
ing word Of the arrival of President
elect Harding at the White House,
to me he was every inch the presi-
dent, quiet, dignitied; ready to meet
the duties of the trying day upon
which he was now to enter, in his
countenance a calm mobility. 1t
was hard for me to realize as I be-
held him, seated behind his desk in
his study, that here was the head
of the greatest nation in the world,
who, in few hours, was to step
back into the uneventful life of a
private citizen.
A few minutes and he was notified
that the president-elect was in the
Blue room awaiting his arrival.
Alone, unaided, grasping his old
blackthorn stick, the faithful COM
panion of many months, his third
Leg" as he playfully called it, slow
ly he made his way to the elevator,
and in a few seconds he was stand
ing in the Blue room meeting the
president-elect and greeting him in
the most gracious way. No evidence
Il
ing in striving to play modest part
in the ceremonies was apparent
either either in his bearing or atti-
tude as he greeted the president-elect
and the members of the congression-
al inaugural committee. He was an
i'll man but a sportsman. determined
to see the thing through to the end.
President-elect Harding met him in
hn l-in61U 70 Shinn chn1rriy1 o.
him the keenest consideration and
courtesy.
And now the final trip to the capt.
toll from the White House. The ride
to the capitol was uneventful. From
the physical appearance of the two
men seated beside each other in the
automobile it was plain to the casual
observer who was the outgoing and
who the incoming president. On the
right sat President Wilson, gray,
haggard, broken. He interpreted
the cheering from the crowds that
lined the avenue as belonging to the
president-elect, and looked straight
ahead. 1t was Mr.. Harding's day,
not his. On the left, Warren CANA
liel Harding, the rising star of the
Republic, healthy, vigorous, great
chested, showing every evidence in
his tanned face of that fine, sturdy
health SO necessary a possession in
order to grapple with the problems
of his country. One, the man on
the right, a battle-scarred veteran, a
casualty Of the war, now weary and
anxious to lay down the reinS of Of
fee; the other, agile, vigorous. hope
full and full of enthusiasm for the
tasks that confronted him. Upon
the face of the, one were written in
indelible lines the scars and TRACE
dies Of war; on that of the other, the
lines of confidence, hope and readi-
ness for the fray.
At the Capitol
The presidential party arrived at
the capitol, Woodrow Wilson took
possession Of the presidents room.
Modestly, the president-elect took a
seat in the rear of the room. while
President Wilson conferred with SEN
ators and representatives, who came
to talk with him about bills in which
they were interested, bills upon
which he must act before the old
clock standing in a corner Of the
room should strike the hour Of II
noon, marking the end of the official
VI w OOul v" w 1lOOll
with the affairs of the government
of the United States. 1t was about
11:30. Senators and congressman of
both parties poured into the office
to say goodbye to the man seated at
the table, and then made their way
over to congratulate the president
elect.
It was few minutes before IL
o'clock. The weary man at the table
was still the president, still the ruler
of q great people, the possessor for
a little while longer, just a little
while longer, of more power than
any king in Christendom.
Presently there appeared at the
door a gray-haired man of imperious
manner. Addressing the president
in a sharp, dry tone of voice he
said: "Mr. President, we have come
as a committee of the senate to noti-
fly you that the senate and house
are about to adjourn, and await your
pleasure" The spokesman for the
committee was Henry Cabot Lodge,
the distinguished senator from Mas
sachusetts, the implacable political
foe of the man he was addressing.
It was an interesting study to
watch the face and manner of Wood
row Wilson as he met the gaze of
Senator Lodge, who by his attacks
had destroyed the great thing of
which the president had dreamed,
the thing for which he had fought
and for which he was ready to lay
down his life. 1t appeared for Sec
ond as if Woodrow Wilson was about
to give full sway to the passionate
resentment he felt toward the man
who, he believed, had unfairly treat
ed him throughout the famous treaty
fight. But quickly the shadow of
resentment passed. A ghost Of a
smile fitted across his firm mouth,
and, steadying himself in his chair,
he said, in low voice: senator
Lodge, have no further communi-
cation to make. thank you. Good
morning"
Last Minutes at President
Senator Lodge and the committee
withdrew from the room. 1 looked
at the clock in the corner. A few
minutes more and all the power
which the man at the table possess
ed, would fall from his shoulders.
All left the room except the presl-
dent, Mrs. Wilson, Admiral Grayson
and I.
The Odd clock in the corner Of the
room began to toll the hour of IL.
Mechanically 7 counted, under my
breath, the strokes. Zone, two,
three" on through twelve" and the
silent room echoed with the low
vibration Of the last stroke.
Woodrow Wilson was no longer
president. By the votes of the
American people he had been return
ed to the ranks of his fellow coun.
trymen. A great warrior had passed
from the field, a leading actor had
made his exit. The dearest wish OF
his political enemies had at last been
realized. The prayers of his devoted
friends that he would live to see the
| eight years of his administration
4lnrn,1oh had been answered. Ills