Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-10

M ooDRoW WILSON was AID
Wv ed in no small extent in
what he accomplished in his
first administration by the astute-
ness of his private secretary, Joseph
2. Tumulty. and the constant coun-
sci Of Colonel House and Albert Sid
ney Bprlcson, postmaster general,
who had for many years been a
member OF the house Of represent
aiives.
Naturally the judgments of these
advisers became the source Of much
debate among President Wilson'S
friends as would be natural in political
matters. For every time that one
man is selected the friends Of the
disappointed candidates are loud in
their expressions Of criticism. 1t
has always been the viewpoint of
politicians themselves that more en-
emies than friends are made by
appointments to office.
Lack of contact with Washing
ton itself-Mr. Wilson had studied
congress only in a theoretical sense
made the first few years a peril
Gus proposition for President Will
son. He was not a mixer. He was
never known to slap anyone on the
back in jovial fashion. He was So
ciab1e enough upon occasions, good
humored and q fascinating CONVEX
sationalist, but he did not know how
to inspire the practical politicians
with that species OF support which
means working tooth and nail ana
with unflinching loyalty.
Impressions may differ, jealousies
are always present in the immediate
circle of a presidents daily life,
but the success of Woodrow Will
sons first administration may be
attributed in no small measure to
the warmth, enthusiasm and polttl-
cal sagacity Of his private secretary,
Joseph 7. Tumulty.
No one in recent years had been
the secretary of the Tumulty type.
He was unique. He was neither
the Machiayelli that so many of his
enemies thought him to be nor did
he exert the influence over Mr.. Will
son which so many inaccurate &C,
counts Of their friendship would
seem to indicate.
TumuIty's Advice Taken
President Wilson listened to Tu-
multy, read his memoranda and took
his advise on so many important
matters that in the inner circle
those who were dismayed by Tumul-
ty's growing influence sought to
check it-and eventually did.
Mr.. Wilson, as governor-elect of
New Jersey, did not select Tumulty
to be his private secretary because
of a desire to have at his elbow
n-- Y. of his own temperament, but
because he knew he needed some
aIe with the qualities he himself
Mcked Tumulty knew New Jersey
politics, he was a progressive in the
state legislature and CONSCIENTIOUS
worker. He was moreover frank.
He was one of the few men who
could stand before Woodrow Wilson
and tell him in plain language
wherein he was making a mistake.
Most of the other advisers Mr.. Will
son had were afraid of htm-rath-
err than incur his disfavor they
would couch their dissent in. euphe-
mistic phrases.
Certain influences were working
in 1912 to bring about the selection
of someone other than Tumulty to
be private secretary to the presl-
dent. 1t was not due to any lack
Of confidence in Tumulty but to
belief that someone who had eX-
perience in larger affairs might be
more of help to Mr.. Wilson. There
was time when the name of New
ton D. Baker was given serious con-
sideration for the post of private
secretary. He was at that time
mayor of Cleveland and had made
very favorable impression during
the 1912 campaign.
80 Il
more or less along this line-he
wanted Tumulty to continue but he
was ready to be convinced if any
one could show him why some 9TH
er type should be selected.
Religion the Issue
Curiously enough the opposition
to Tumulty was one of the things
which crystallized Mr. Wilson's de-
termination to appoint him. Mr..
Wilson retained the office of gov
ernor of New Jersey while he was
president-elect and made his home
in Princeton, committing every
morning the twelve miles between
his home and his office. The au-
thor rode with him many mornings
and discussed various questions re-
lating to the news OF the day. On
one occasion when we had been rid
ing along in silence for several min
utes Mr. Wilson suddenly said
''You would be surprised to know
| the number of letters l have been
receiving telling me l must not ap-
point Catholic to be my private
secretary" His jaw set. his eyes
| flashed II would like to ram that
appointment down their threats,
! he added.
Newspapers began to predict that
| Tumulty would be selected but ne
| never had the slightest information