Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03


men who by the progress OF events
are called upon to exert great infiu-
ence on the affairs OF the whole world.
1t was under his leadership that the
United States abandoned its policy OF
Isolation, became an active partici-
pant In European affairs, and. estaD-
fishing itself as great military
the allies and the central powers,
bringing German to defeat.
However history may assess this
natlopa! metamorphosis 1t must re-
cord the fact that the years when Mr..
Wilson was President marked Il radi-
cal diversion from the path of the
fathers.
Smashed Precedent At Outset.
No other President certainly, ever
took such part In world affairs: no
other President ever exercised such
an influence upon thrones and cabi-
nets, upon kings and premiers. He
began smashing precetents almost
rmediately upon his Induction into
Office by delivering his addresses in
person TO Congress and finished by
going to Europe to attend the peace
conference. What he accomplished
there Will remain for posterity to ap-
praise.
NOmiaa tiOn Dramatic Episode.
The nomination Of Gov. Wilson to
the presidency by the national demo-
cratic convention in June. 1912. at
Baltimore. after long deadlock. was
one Of the most dramatic episodes in
American political history. No less
interesting was his election 20 the
chief magistracy of the nation the
following November, when ho receiv-
ed 1876 votes in the electoral college
tc IS for Col. Roosevelt and s for Mir.
Taft. who was renominated by the
republican party to succeed himself.
During Mr.. Wilson'S two terms
Of office there was a world up
heaval such as had never before been
witnessed since the dawn of time.
Empires crumhled and thrones col
lapsed. The map of Europe was torn
to shreds. China that aeops-old mon
and with the ending Of the world war
Russian autocracy had been humbled
In the dust. German militarisn crush
ed, Austria Hungary dismembered
and Turkey driven out OF the Holy
Land.
%. 1855. OF scotch-Irish parentaRe.
and christened Thomas Woodrow VIII
son, the future President was known
a. Tommy until he graduated from
Princeton In 1879 ana was thereafter
known only as Woodrow Wilson. His
father. the Rev. Joseph RugglesWt lson
q prominent Presbyterian minister.
moved to Augusta. Ga. when Wood
row was two years old. Later the
family went to Columbia. S. c.. and
nj hn nf
seventeen. entered Davidson College,
leaving soon to go to Princeton. Upon
graduating he studied law in the
University of Virginia. and in 1882
began the practice OF law in Atlanta,
Ga.
Married ClerEymnn'a Daughter.
While in Atlanta and at Augusta
he became engaged to marry Miss FL
lon Louise Arson, daughter OF a
Presbyterian clergyman OF Savannah
Ga. The young lawyers clients were
few and he soon abandoned legal
career. For two years thereafter he
was a student at Johns Hopkins Uni
versity and while there published his
ment." study of American politics.
It won recognition both in the United
States and abroad and Is believed
tn have been influential in evoking
offers Of professorships from Bryn
Mawr College and Wesleyan Univer-
q. ' 1856. "A''''0 -N''' '>NS'A ." Juno
He became successfully professor
of history and political economy at
Bryn Mawr and at Wesleyan Univer-
dence and political economy at
princeton. wnere. subsequently, he
was made head Of that institution.
Meanwhile. Prof. Wilson had gained
high reputation as d writer. Some OF
his works. with the date of their pro-
Elements Of Historical and Practi-
cal Politics" usss); Division and
Reunion" (1sss): George washing
ton" (18s6):. "a Histor,. of the Amer
lean People" t1so2); constitutional
GH s"s, in ,t the United sta Ns
Comes a' to himself if; t,si5 zen ION Beine e
Human" $3.50. IAN Old Master and
Other Political Essays" and Mere
among his earlier writings. His state
papers, notes to belligerent govern
ments and addresses to Congress
would NIL many volumes.
The honorary degree Of doctor Of
laws was bestowed upon him by Wake
xersity (1sss). Johns Hopkins Ie02).
Brown Cniversity 1e03). Harvard
University (1907), williams College
(190S) and Dartmouth College u909).
Yale made him doctor of literature
In 1901.
Gave Picture Of Himself
In an intimate pen picture OF the
President drawn by himself before
the National Press Club here. Mr..
Wilson once said: when I think Of
the number Of men who are looking
to me as the representative of a
party. with the hope for all varieties
OF solvage from the things they are
struggling with. in the midst OF It,
1t makes me tremble. 1t makes me
tremble with a sense of my own In
adequacy and weakness and il
seem circunspect 1t is because 1 am
80 diligently trying not to make any
colossal blunders."
Princeton, with its great oaks. Its
shaded lawns. and historic halls.
furnished the setting in which Mr..
Wilson did much OF the literary work
which later commanded the attention
of the world. His family life was
ideal and serene. Surrounded by his
wife and three daughters-Margar
Jessie and Eleanor-the fierce con-
troversy which ragged over the
preservation of democratic ideals at
the university disturbed him but
Not Regarded M Politician.
Heretofore he had not been regarded
as a politician. Indeed, 1t had COM
monty been reported that the Presi-
dent OF Princeton. never a wealthy
man, was contemplating retirement
upon q teachers pension In 1910. In
September OF that year he WAS
nominated by the democrats for
Governor Of New Jersey. Elected
the following November. he served
until March l, 1913, when he resigned
to take up his duties at Washington.