Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-28
Woodrow Wilson
AS | KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY.


If it's effect upon his own politica
fortunes. All through the discussion
1ne could easily see the passionate
1esire of the man to bring the ter
'ible war honorably to an end.
While the president was engaged
in conference with Colonel House,
addressed a letter to him, as fol
.ows:
The White House.
Washington, Oct. 8, 1918.
Dear Governor:
L do not know what your atti-
tude is toward the late German
and Austrian offers. The record
you have made up to this time,
however, is SO plain that in my
judgment there can be only one
answer, and that is an absolute
these proposals.
AS you said in your speech Of
September 27: "They have con-
WINGED us that they are without
honor and do not intend justice.
They observe no covenants, &C.
cept no principle but force and
their own interest. We cannot
come to terms with them.
They have made it impossible.
The German people must by this
time be fully aware that we
cannot think the same thoughts
or speak the same language Of
agreement" Several
editorial articles are here quot
ed from neWspapers)
Certainly the German people
are not speaking through the
German chancellor. 1t is the
kaiser, himself. He foresees the
end and will not admit it. He
is still able to dictate conditions,
for, in the statement which ap-
peared in the papers yesterday,
he said: 'It will only be an
honorable peace for which we
extend our hand"
The other day you said, 1--WE
cannot accept the word of those
who forced this war upon u.s."
If this were true then, how can
we accept this offer now? Ger
tainly nothing has happened
since that speech that has
changed the character of those
in authority in Germany. De-
feat has not chaStened Germany
in the least. The tale Of their
retreat is still a tale Of savage
ry, for they have devastated the
country and carried off the in
habitants; burned churches,
looted homes, wrecking upon the
advancing allies every form OF
vengeance that cruelty can sug-
gest.
In my opinion, your accept
ance of this offer will be disas-
trous, for the central powers
have made it's acceptance impos-
sible by their faithlessness.
TUMULTY.
While the president was comforting
With Secretaries Lansing, Daniels
Baker and Colonel House, ad
Iressed the following letters to Colo
lel House and the president:
The White House,
Washington, Oct. Z, 1918.
Dear Colonel: Since I return
ed, every bit Of information that
comes to me is along one line
and that is, that an agreement
in which the kaiser is to play
the smallest part will be looked
upon with grave suspicion, ana
I believe it's results will be dis
astrous. In my opinion 1t VIII
result in the election OF a Repup-
lican house and the weakening
if not destroying Of the lnflu-
ence of the president through
out the world. I am not on the
inside, and so I do not know,
but am certain that Lloyd
George and Clemenceau Will
take advantage of this oppor-
tunity in declaring that, so far
as they are concerned, they are
not going to sit down at the
council table with William IL,
and the president will be put in
q nosition before the world, by
his acceptance Of these cond1-
lions, of seeming to be sympa-
thetic with the kaiser and his
brood.
May not Germany be succeed
ing in splitting the allies by TINS
offer, lust as Talleyrand sue
,ceeded, at the congress OF Wen
ma, in splitting the allies who
had been victorious over Napo-
leon? The president cannot blot
out his record he has made In
his speeches, which in every
word and line showed distrust
of this particular autocracy,
with which he is now asked to
deal. So,
T realize the great responsible
ity that rests upon the president.
There is a great responsibility,
also, that rests upon you as his
friend and adviser. In any other
matter, not so vital as this, ne
could be wrong and time would
correct it, but in a ling IKE
this, which goes to the very
DEPTHS of international action
and world progress, he is at the
parting of the ways. Ii ne
wishes to erect a great structure
of peace, ne must be sure ana
certain that every brick in II,
that every ounce OF cement that
goes in it, is solid and lasting,
and, above all, he must preserve
his prestige for the bigger mo-
ments to come. Sincerely yours,
TUMULTY.
Colonel e. M. House.
Washington. D. c.