The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-02-07

vert 1t. Already there has been a re-
vival of his popularity and this will
gather volume as the years go by.
Leaders in great crisis do not de-
pend on favor for renown. Ernestness
is indeed the path of immortality, and
all they who tread that way are GER
tain Of enduring fame.
"In the solemn presence of death
we behold the evidences of tender sym
pathy and universal grief. Tears, toll
ing bells and heartfelt prayers through
out a grief-stricken land inspire ap-
probation for his hopes and his
| dreams - hopes of freedom for every
people - dreams of peace on earth
and good will toward men,"
Study Political Angle.
Washington.-Wh will be the poll
teal effect of the passing of former
President Wilson is a question that
only time can answer.
From his place of retirement he has
kept a keen eye on the fortunes of the
party over which he once exercised not
only undisputed leadership, but almost
dictatorial CONTROL He told his friends
that he looked to 1924 as a year of
vindicatlon at the polls for the Demo-
cratic principles that went into eclipse
in 1920, but he never revealed to any
one how far he might be prepared to
go in re-asserting his claim to a place
in party councils. 1t is certain there
was no truth in widely circulated re-
ports that the former president planned
to become candidate for the nomina-
ton. And if he had any preference
among those who are seeking to in
herit his mantle of leadership, he kept
it from some of his closest friends.
No Successor to Leadership.
He did plan, however, to make a very
definite effort to align his party behind
the policies that he believed to his
dying day to constitute the paramount
issues before the country and the
world He expected to place before the
Democratic convention in concrete
form a declaration of principles whose
adoption, to his mind, would signalize
| a RECOMMENDATION of the fundamentals
of democracy. Not only in regard to
foreign affairs, but in domestic ques-
tions as well, he was preparing to lay
before his party the fruits of his long
months retirement and reflection.
To the last he never wavered in his
belief in the League of>Nations that he
did so much to create, but it must re-
main one of the problems of history
whether in his declining days there was
any softening of the determined stand
he had taken against compromise in
the form of American participation in
the leagues activities. Almost his last
public utterance was re-affirmation Of
his complete contempt for those who
had blocked the way of his proposals
in the senate, but in the two days of
his last illness, after he saw the end
nearing, he appeared to put out of his
thoughts entirely all the public ques-
tions that for so long had been the
meat and bread Of the keen intellect.
Although he had not known well
day since he crossed the threshold of
his place of retirement or for months
before, last Friday saw the beginning
of the end of his long illness. His
collapse during his western speaking
trip in 1919, followed by stroke of
paralysis soon after his return to
Washington, had made him almost an
invalid long ago. Early last week a
slight digestive disorder further
weakened his delicate vitality, and on
Friday his friend and physician, DR..
Grayson, found his condition growing
hourly more serious.
AS the End Nears.
He refused nourishment and by Sat-
urday night he was barely conscious.
At 9 o'clock he fell asleep and never
Weakened again. 1t was 11:15 a. IN.
that life finally went out. From first
to last he was without pain, and in
his last wakeful moments he appear
ed to be resting in complete comfort.
| AS the end approached the little
group watching in the sick room
drew nearer about him.
Mrs. Wilson sat on the bed beside
! him, with his almost lifeless hand iii
both of hers. Close by was his eldest
daughter, Margaret Wilson; and DR..
! Grayson, faithful in his ministrations
since the first sign of illness more
than four years ago, watched for
some new way to help him as he
crossed the bar.
But there was nothing to. be done.
More and more feeble became the
pulse beat; there was a quickening of
the breath; little by little death was
completing its conquest. A quick
futter of the eyelids, faint twitch,
almost like a smile, across the wasted
| features, and the spirit of the great
war president had burst at last the
long weakening letters that bound it
to earth.
Thus, he who had dreamed a high
dream of peace for all the world had
found peace for himself, and had left
behind him a world still tossed by
strife and turmoil.
Thus, he against whom life had
turned at last, after leading him
through paths of greatest glory, found
death gentle and even mercifuI.
Thus, with the soft chanting of
hymns floating in on the Sabbath air,
was written the last letter of that i'm
nerishable chapter of human history
comprising the life of Woodrow Will
son.
| Congress in Tribute.
| Congress put aside today the bitter
partisan debate which has held forth
there in recent days, out of respect
for the memory of Woodrow WILSON,
Both houses met at noon as usual
but it was only so that their leaders,
of all shades of political opinion,
! might pay tribute to the fallen chief
tain and pass resolutions commensur-