Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-30
Woodrow Wilson
AS KNOW HIM
AS | KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH p. TUMULTY.

ed. Every measure that he sought
to press to enactment was the chal-
lenge to a great fight, as, for in
stance, the tariff, the currency, the
rural credits and the Panama tolls
acts.
I have often been asked whether
anger or passion ever showed itself
in the president, and I am remind
ed of a little incident that happened
at the White House during one OF
those conferences with the newspa-
per men, which, before the days OF
the war, and for a long time after
wards, took place in the executive
offices. At the time of this partlcu-
lar conference the presidents first
wife lay seriously i'll at the White
House, and stories were carried IN
the various newspapers exaggeratlng
the nature Of her illness, some OF
them going so far as to say she was
suffering from this or from that dis
ease. At the very time these stories
were appearing in the newspapers
there were also articles that his
daughter, Margaret, was engaged 10
marry this man or that man.
The president came to the news
paper mems conference this morning
Fighting mad. It was plain that
something serious was atoot. TAX
ing hold of the back of the CHAIR
as if to strengthen himself for what
he had to say, he looked squarely
at the newspaper men ana salu'
hope that you gentlement Will par
don me for a personal Word TINS
morning. I have read the stories
that have appeared in certain news,
papers of the country, containing
outrageous statements ABOUT the
illness of my wife and the marriage
of my daughter. l realize that' DIS
president of the United states, you
have a perfect right to say any
thing you damn please about me,
for I am a man and can deteno
myself. I know that While am
president it will be my portion to
receive all kinds OF unfair crltl-
cism and I would be a poor sport
if L could not stand up under IT,
but there are some things, gentle
men, that I will not tolerate. You
must let my family alone, for they
are not public property. I acquit
every man in this room, of respon-
sibility for these stories. [ know
that you have had nothing to do
with them; but you have feelings
and I have feelings, even though
I am president. My daughter has
no brother to defend her, but she
has me, and I want to say that If
those stories ever appear again
will leave the White House and
thrash the man who dares Ito utter
them"
A little letter came to my notice
in which the president replied to
an old friend in Massachusetts, who
had asked him to attempt to inter-
pref himself:
My Dear Friend:
You have placed an impossible
task upon me-that of interpret
ing myself to you. All l can
say in answer to your inquiry
is that I have a sincere desire
to serve, to be Of some little as
sistance in improving the condl-
| ton of the average man, to lit
him up, and to make his life
more tolerable, agreeable and
comfortable. In doing this try
hard to purge my heart of self
ish motives. It will only be
known when am dead whether
or not I have succeeded
sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
That he grew more humble every
day and less sure that he knew "the
whole thing was evidenced by the
following letter:
Dec. 80, 1914.
THE White House,
My Dear Senator:
Thank you very warmly for
your gracious letter written on
my birthday.
AS for my own feelings, I can
assure you that 1 do not feel as
I should like to feel, that my
wisdom grows with my years.
think that any one who finds
himself in my present situation,
! face to face with so many ques-
tions of capital Importance,
must, If he has any sense at all,
grow more humble every day
and less sure that he "knows
the whole thing
With best wishes and sincere
appreciation.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
(signed) WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. William e. Chandler,
Washington, D. G.
Copyright, 1921, by Doubleday,
Page, & Coz
(All rights reserved)