Evening star., 1924-03-06
CHAPTER XII.
How Small Group of Friends In-
fuenced the Career of Woodrow


fuenced the Career of Woodrow
Wilson.
Woodrow Wilson's rise in the
political world has so often been de-
scribed as accidental that undisputed
evidence showing the deliberate ma
ture of his departure from Prince
ton University is now available to
refute that theory.
For many years it has been con-
tended by those who disliked Mr.
Wilson's administration of affairs at
Princeton University that he was
forced out. The author is in posses
sion of copy of letter which has
never been published and which
proves conclusively that Mr.. Wilson
left of his own volition and put his
fate in the hands Of a group of eight
friends who had supported him in
the fight at Princeton.
The letter not only discloses that
when Mr.. Wilson left Princeton he
had in mind running for the presi-
dency Of the United States, but it
reveals also that he was offered the
nomination for the governorship Of
New Jersey without pledges of any
kinda fact which is important to
bear in mind in view Of the charges
that he had pledged himself to sup
port former United States Senator
James Smith for another term in the
Senate. Mr.. Wilson's failure to sup
port Mr.. Smith has been referred to
often as the first instance of his in
gratitude. The letter in question
was sent from Lyme, Conn.,, and was
lated July IA, 1910, just month
after the famous Wyman bequest at
Princeton had made it appear that
rhe graduate school project which
Mr.. Wilson favored would be super
seeded by that of Dean Andrew F.
West. Mr.. Wilson's letter was ad-
dressed to Henry B. Thompson of
Wilmington, Del, a member of the
class of 1877 in Princeton and a
trustee of the university. who had
supported Mr.. Wilson's viewpoint in
the graduate school controversy.
Turning Point of Career.
Mr.. Thompson had gone to Europe,
20 the letter written him Is the only
actual record which Mr.. Wilson made
Of the famous conference which was
the turning point in his career. 1t
reads:
MY Dear Thompson:
II would have given a great deal
to see you before you left the coun-
try, for 1 have needed your counsel
very greatly and have had to decide
q very important matter without let
ting you know even that it was
pending.
II have been asked by the men
most influential in the democratic
party in New Jersey whether 1 would
accept the nomination for governor
next autumn II Il came to me un-
sought, unanimously. and without
pledges of any kind. and / have felt
Obliged to say that I would. This is
1ust the duty I have preached to my
classes all my life, and the men 1
was able to consult dodge, Sheldon, |
Mccormick, the Joneses, Jacobus,
AIcIlvaine) have all said what the
Chicago men put into this telegram:
".AIl four concur unreservedly in
the opinion that no obligation what
ever exists on your part, either to
any individual supporter or to the
university as a whole, which should
deter you from following your own
inclination. Question what you had
better do is largely personal to
yourself We do not feel sufficiently !
clear on the subject to advise. We
appreciate your perplexity and our
sympathies are and will continue to
be with you. Whatever your con-
clusion may be you can rely on our
Hearty support in any field of serv-
ice you may enter upon
Looked to the Presidency. |
Surely more generous telegram /,
that 1 felt myself so deeply their !
debtor that I was ready and willing |
to accept any conclusion they might !
arrive at as to my obligations to
them and to Princeton and, of course, |
! should have included you If you
had been within reach of conference. |
"Of course the men who are plan
ming my nomination for the govern
orship look forward to putting me !:
up for the presidential nomination
later; and there have been some F!
rather extraordinary indications that
that is what democrats in other parts !
of the country, want. The suggestion
came from the middle west But
have not allowed that part of the
program to form my opinions as to
my duty in the matter of the gov
ernorship. l wish letter were an
adequate medium for setting for the !
whole matter; but it is not. OF
course. I am giving you the bare
bulk of the thing because l. want
you to learn Of this from me- and
SPECIAL NOTICES.