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

Washington bulletins were issued
twice daily on his condition. but no
| nature of his illness. Physicians from
Baltimore and Philadelphia were
called In consultation by DIR. Grayson.
and on October IL it was said the
president would require long rest"
II was about the same time that DR..
Grayson admitted that the President
was "a very sick man"
Two days later the first of 4 series
OF "unof1iciar' cabinet meetings was
held, with Secretary Lansing p-esid-
ing, the meetings continuing for al
| most four months. when the Presi-
dent made such meetings a basis for
asking the Secretary for his resigna.
ton.
4 In the meantime the King and
Queen of the Belgi ans. accompanied
| ~ their son. the Duke of Brabant. had
arrived in the United States. and on
account OF Mr.. Wilson's illness had
postponed their visit to Washington
until after their visit to the west
They arrived in Washington late in
October and were received by the
President while in his bed, on October
90. Mr.. Wilson was bright and cheerful
during the unusual scene and the Wis
itors were happy at being able to re-
new the acquaintance with him, begun
abroad
Another royal visitor was received
by Mr.. Wilson under similar circum-
stances on November 10. when he chat
ted for twenty minutes with the Prince
Of Wales. then visiting in Washington.
About the same time IL was an
to sit up in a wheel chair. and all OF
hts subsequent visitors found him in
that position. usually on the White
House portico or in the rose garden
with golf cap on his head.
Rumors which for two months had
Presidents condition were largely
dissipated by his message to Con-
gress on December 2, which showed a
comprehensive understanding OF the
which was written in his usual easy
style. This effect Was heightened on
December when Senators Hitchcock
and Fall called on him officially, os
tensibly to learn il he was fully in
formed as to the Mexican situation.
There was a wide impression at the
time. however, that they were expect
ed by their colleagues to learn * the
President was able to discharge in
full the duties that devolved on him.
Mr.. Wilson appreciated the situa
ton and jokingly remarked to Senator
Fall, now Secretary OF the Interior.
that the senators should be treasured,
| though some OF them might be dts
appointed"
On the day previous. December I. the
btuminous coal strike had been settled
by agreement with the United Mine
| Workers at Indianapolis. and 1t was I'M
derstood that the basis Of the agreement
/ had been dictated by the President.
| For the next two months Mr.. VIII.
sons improvement was slow. but con-
| tinuous. At Christmas time DR.. Gray
! son announced that his patient could
have anything he wanted" on his
q ~I-sr dNtlc tnh
! had been especially prohibited on
| Thanksgiving day. On December Is DR..
| Grayson said Mr.. Wilson was able to
! walk about his room unaided. but he al
him while seated in his wheel chair.
AS the season advanced MIR. Will
son began taking frequent automo-
bile rides, usually accompanied by
| Mrs. Wilson and DR.. Grayson. Numer.
Gus summer residences we're offered
him, but these were declined. and 1t
was said that he preferred to remain
| in Washington for the summer. un-
less the weather became unusually
oppressive.
months was held Wednesday, April
II, to discuss the strike Of railway
| employees, then interfering with
\ transportation. The meeting was NOT
held in the executive office. but In the
\
| time Ion meetings were held every
Mr.. Wilson took a keen interest in
the campaign, letter. which waa
read at the Jackson day banquet
early in January. being his first ex-
| had two-hour conference with
/ Chairman Cummins OF the democratic
national committee on the eve OF the
| latter's departure for the convention
at San Francisco.
Watched Campaign Closely.
, Although unable to participate 40.
lively In the campaign. President
Wilson followed closely its develop
ments and received daily reports
from Secretary Tumulty as to the
progress Of Mr.. Harding's front-poroh
campaign and Gov. Cox's ocean-to-
| ocean speaking tour. Mr.. Wilson re-
manned hopeful Of Gov. Cox's victory
until the last days Of the memorable
political battle. II he regarded the
| sweeping victory OF the republicans
as reputation Of his policies he 70.
verdict with the same fortitude he
+, had manifested in his illness. There
were those who thought ths Noven.
! Der election would break the Presi-
dent; that, weakened by his lons
suffering. disappointment over the
failure to realize. his LIES ideal
would hasten his death and that he
might not live to see his successor
inaugurated: But Mr.. Wilson was
not ready to die-when there waa
still league Of nations to fight for
when. az a private citizen and not
! tho President, he might make q new
appeal for the ideals which had gone
down to defeat with the democratic
party. Under the watchful eye OF
his physician. Admiral Grayson, he
| adhered strictly to the mode Of liv.
ing mapped out as an aid to his 70.
] his program. As the fall slipped into
| winter 1t was noticeable to White
House attendants that he had I'm.
proved perceptibly. And this i'm.
provement continued unifterruptedly
until the 4th Of March, when Admiral
| Grayson pronounced him we'll enough
to participate In the trying inaugural
ceremony.
| Toek Part In Iaauguration.
The President drove to the Capitol
with the President-to-be. acknowl-
edgtng with bows and SMILES the eva.