Evening star., 1924-02-25
The True Story of
Woodrow Wilson
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

W
to some a wrathful chieftain, i'm
patient and headstrong. and to others
the harassed prophet OF a new day.
Turning points there were in the
career OF Woodrow Wilson, separated,
indeed. by intervals of besetting cir
cunlstances, but climaXes nevertheless
which marked assuredly his progress
from the cloistercd atmosphere of
the college to the forefront of the
world stage itself In the greatest
crisis of modern times. They were
like acts in a drama with touch Of
comedy here and there. triumphant
rise over enemies who wished him
i'll and plotted his defeat, and a
tragic collapse at the moment he
most needed the physical strength to
carry forward his greatest battle.
Turned Defeat Into Triumph.
Seemingly connected as II by pre-
destination were the major occur
renceS in Woodrow Wilson's life.
Defeat at Princeton forced him re-
luctantly into the realm Of national
politics. Population OF the man who
nomination as Governor of New Jer-
sey in 1910 won nationwide atten-
tion even. as the cry OF migrate" was
raised. HIS sensational victory at the
national convention in 1912, after an
unprecedented series Of ballots, took
on the fervor of a crusade. The COL
leEe professor who had become in his
day the most noted authority on
the doctrines of constitutional gov
ernment had the unexampled oppor-
tunity to put his theory Into actual
practice.
Again and again Woodrow Wilson,
sure-footed, confident. self-reliant, SO
far as the outside world was con-
cerned, seemed on the verge Of a great
blunder, only to be saved therefrom
by the insistent counsel OF his COL
leagues and advisers. AS fascinating
as the tale of what Woodrow Wilson
wanted to do but did not is the story
or the spectacular things he did do,
some of them, too, in direct opposi-
tion to his most faithful friends and
counselorS
Romance, which in the lives OF all
great men has played a dominating
role, runs through the drama of the
Wilsonian career. affecting him at
times most profoundly. In all history
perhaps there is no statesman who
was as deeply influenced or as quick
ly stimulated in intellectual vigor
nP int
lance. 1t raised him to the lortiest
heights. Chivalrous, always whole
some, susceptible to the charms of
those he loved, the unpublished writ
ings OF Woodrow Wilson apart from
affairs Of state constitute a most re-
markable collection Of literary gems
The world missed a great novelist in
Woodrow Wilson. His spontaneity
was genius itself
The death of the first Mrs. Wilson.
in 1914, nearly wasted away the
moody husband who survived her.
The courtship and marriage follow
ing a tomb-like melancholy Of six
months in the White House which
alarmed his physicians and family
gave Woodrow Wilson the inspira-
tion to carry on in the great war It
was the largest single factor in pro-
longing his life four years and a half
beyond the ill-omened day when there
came an end to his famous speaking
trip for the league OF nations.
Consistency to the Winds.
Consistency he often threw to the
winds; obsttnacy reared itself i'm
placably at moments when compro-
mise would have won the day. That
which happened before his physical
collapse must be judged differently
than that which occurred thereafter.
Had he retained his health, Woodrow
Wilson, just as sure as day follows
night, would have accepted reserva-
tions to the Versailles treaty and
secured thereby the acceptance by
the United States Of membership in
the league of nations He was almost
persuaded to do so on his sick bed, but
his illness induced a consciousness OF
martyrdom which, togetheC with the
exclusion Of outside advice, made him
irritable and infiexible.
study, however. is not to construct a
defense of the temperament of Wood
row Wilson nor to cast X-rays of
penetrating criticism on his mode of
self-eXpression. The story is unfold
ed for no other purpose than to place
on record a dispassionate narrative
of the man who Travelled into the ac-
customed path Of the politician prac-
ticing the arts that make for per-
sonal popularity. but the road that
combined personal magnetism with
the sheer power Of intellect road
that marks the unparalleled ascent Of
a college professor to the throne Of
moral leader in a world torn between
intense commercialism and Christian
idealism.
Copyright, 1924. by the George II Doran
Companr, in the United States Canada
South America. World publication rights
reserved by Current News Features In
corporated.t
(Tomorrow's chapter deals with the
relations between Grover Cleveland
and Woodrow Wilson, hitherto un-
told story)