The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-02-07
FORMER PRES.
WILSON DEAD
OUTSTANDING WORLD FIGURE
FROM 1914 TO 1918 LOSES
LONG FIGHT
SIMPLE FUNERAL SERVICE
REMAINS LAID TO REST IN MA
TIONAL CAPITAL WEDNES-
DAY AFTERNOON

: Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth
president Of the United States of
America, was the most prominent
world-fgure of the events growing out
of the World war, the most momentous
of all wars. His place, as history will
fix it, can only be conjectured. Hun
dreds of millions placed him at the
zenith, as they placed the ex-kaiser at
the nadir.
The great war brought to the front
many men whose names will live in
honor. In the last analysis three men
stand out: Wilson, Lloyd George,
Clemenceau. OF these three 1t was
Wilson who held the worlds eye-Wil-
son, the human phenomenon of the
times, until fifty-four no more than
college president and political writer
and at sixty-three ron pinnacle of
fame and honor and power unsur-
passed If ever attained by any man
in history.
1t is impossible now to differentiate
between Woodrow Wilson the man and
Woodrow Wilson the head of the most
powerful nation of earth in wealth,
material and fighting men. Certainly
he could not have reached the place
he held without great ability and ex-
traordinary capacity for leadership.
BY virtue of his place he became
focus Of world attention as soon as
the great war began. Before the arni-
stice was signed he had become
great moral leader with the ear Of the
peoples of the world. Only as such
could he have forced upon the allied
world the unofficial acceptance Of his
project of league Of nations. with its
To particularize would be largely to
review the political history of the last
six years. The railroad situation, how
ever, may be cited as an example.
Representative e. e. Denison (Rep)
of Illinois said January 10, 1919,
Government ownership of railroads
will be the dominant political is
sue in the next national campaign and
Mr.. McAdoo will of course expect to
be the candidate of his party. He will
hope to capitalize what has been done
for the railroad men,"
President Wilson was reelected in
1915 upon peace platform. October
.25, 1913, just before the congressional
elections, he issued an appeal to the
voters Of the United States asking
them, If they had approved Of his
leadership and wished him to continue
to be their unembarrassed spokesman
in affairs at home and abroad, to ex-
press themselves Enthusiastically to that
effect by returning Democratic ma
tority to both houses. The result of
the elections was to change the po-
Ilitical complexion Of both houses as
follows: 65th congress Senate, 81
Democrats and 45 Republicans; house,
215 Republicans and 213 Democrats.
i66th congress Senate, Al Democrats
and 40 Republicans; house, 239 Re
lpublicans and 1913 Democrats.
President Wilson in attending the
lpeace conference made several new
departures. He left the country during
office. He took the Office with him,
signing acts and making appointments
while in Paris. He ignored the senate,
Though he is empowered by the Con-
stitution to make treaties "by and with
'IthA advice and consent of the senate"
Abroad and at Home.
The enthusiasm evoked by President
Wilson's visits to Paris, London and
Rome was proof of his unique place in
the regard Of the people. 1t was evil
dent that he was to Europeans not so
much man as voice-a voice put
ting into words what they wanted and
had not been able to express :; mis- ideas
and ideals were sort Of religion to
them.
But he showed himself statesman
as well as voice. He played the game
masterfully. He established sympathy
between himself and his man or his
crowd. He made few If any mistakes
In taste or judgment. He matched
his mind" to use his own expression,
with the best of Europe and he got his
league of nations before the peace
conference and got 1t adopted.
President Wilson's two months in
Europe may be divided into phases.
When he landed the attitude toward
the league of nations was this: The
government Of France was antagonis-
:. tic; Great Britain's was suspicious;
Italy's was skeptical. The first phase,
his triumphant progress through
France, England and Italy opened the
eyes of these governments to his hold
ON the people. The second phase, the
preliminary work Of the peace con-
NContinued on Page ght-Insert)