Evening star., 1922-11-09

November 6, 1918.
Yesterday we had an election. I
had expected we would win because
the President had made a personal
appeal for a vote of confidence, and
all other members of the cabinet had
followed suit except Baker, who said
politics. The President thought II
was necessary to make such an ap-
peal. He liked the idea of personal
leadership. and he has received a slap
in the face-for both houses are In
the balance. This Is the elimination
OF the policy Burleson urged when
he got the President to sign a tele-
gram which he (Burleson) had writ
ten opposing Representative Slayden,
his personal enemy. from San An
tonic, and, in effect, nominating
Burleson's brother-in-law for Con-
gress. We heard of 1t by the Presi-
dent bringing 1t up at cabinet. Burle-
son worked IT through Tumulty. The
President said that he did not know
whether to write other letters of a
similar nature as to Vardaman, Hard
wick ct al. ] advised against II, say
Ing that the voters had sense enough
to take care of these people. Burle-
son said "the people like a leader with
CUTS" The word struck the Presi-
dents fancy. and although Lansing,
Houston and Wilson also protested,
in as strong a manner as any one
ever does protest. the letters were
issued. Even before the Stay
4 LAT iyH1n nrSin nlN-t
in Wisconsin as against Lenroot.
Then came the letter to the
people Of the whole country. reflect
ing upon the republicans, saying that
they were in great part pro-war. but
not pro-administration.
November II. 1918.
On Sunday / heard that Germany
was flying the red flag and postponed
my promised visit to the governors
of the south, to be held at Savannah.
At IL yesterday word came that the
President would speak to Congress
at /, and that he would have no OBJ
lection il the departments closed to
give opportunity for rejoicings. 1
went to a meeting of the Council of
National Defense and spoke. welcom-
ing the members. 1t was a meeting
called by Baruch to plan reconstruc-
tion: but the President had notified
him on Saturday that he could not
talk or have talking on that subject.
So all could do was to give word
of greeting to men who are bound
to be disappointed at being called for
nothing.
The Presidents speech was. as
always. sp.endidly done bit of
work. He rose to the occasion fully
and it was the greatest possible occa-
sion. Lansing says that they
Che and the President) had the terms
| of armistice before election-terms quite
To James H. Hawley:
Washington, November 9. 1918.
To my great surprise we
have lost both houses. We felt sure
that We would carry both, and did
not appreciate the extent to which
the republicans would be consolidated
by the Presidents letter. which. from
what 1 hear was one Of the inducing
causes of the result. although not by
any means the only one: for the feel
ing in the north and west was strong
that the south was in some way be-
ing preferred. am fresh from
talk with Senator Phelan, who. to my
surprise, tells me that these were the
factors in the New England states.
from which he has just come.
The Wilson administration may be
judged by the great things that ii
has dons-the unparalleled things
and the election of last Tuesday will
get but q line in the history of this
period. while the Versailles confer
ence and the fourteen points Of Will
sons message will have books written