The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-04
WILSON RITES TO BE WEDNESDAY
OF
WILSON UNUSUAL
IN PUBLIC LIFE


P) w Woodrow Wilson's personal
ity was in many respects the most
unusual that ever inhabited the
White lIolse. 1t commended from
millions an admiration approaching
worship; it aroused in others aver
sion amounting to hatred.
Mr.. Wilson himself acknowledged.
that he had Single track mind"
Friends acknowledged he was re-
served. Critics said he was cold.
His few intimates declare he was
neither and joined in acclaimlng
him one of the most delightful of
associateS.
Mr.. Wilson's scclusion and scarcity
of intimatcs were among his out
standing characteristics. II was said
of him by those who ought to know
him that he called only two men OF
his wide acquaintance by their first
names. They were Cleveland h.
Dodge and Cyrus II. Mccormick.
T.. NJ. House, of Texas, who was sup
posed to have been as close to MIR.
" ilson as any other men during his
incumbency of the White House
| never won state where MIR. Wilson
called him Ed or Edward
Neither did Mr. Wilson call him
"Colonel' the complimentary title by
which Mr.. House was most commonly
known. Through all the intimacy up
to the moment of the celebrated
breaking off point Mr.. Wilson called
him simply House
The one enduring friendship which
Mr.. Wilson made in the White House
was with his personal physician,
Rear Admiral Cary 4. Grayson who
restored him to health when he came
into the Presidency sick man,
watched over him as he would new
born baby and finally snatched him
from death bed at the time of his
breakdown and prolonged his life
several years after he left the White
House.
Woodrow Wilson had way Of
thinking things out for himself and
making his own decisions.
When he was working through Il
crucial moment he invariably shut
himself up in his study and worked
the thing out on his own typewriter
He called for information when he
was working toward a decision but
he preferred to have it in writer
form. He wanted the facts cold ano
untinged by the personality of tho
} purveyor.
II When he got mad-and he did ge
| mad once in while just as any 9th
er man-it was his favorite trick t
lam on his hat and walk around tn
block "to cool off,
When Lusitania Was Sunk
He did that when he heard tn
Germans had torpedoed the Lusitania
Then he came back to his study full
master of his emotions and penne
the historic note to Germany whicl
forecast war. He read it to tn
cabinet and the Secretary q Stat
after it was we'll on its way owe
. the cable to Berlin. 1t was typical o
= Wilson's way. Having decided on
:, course of action he wanted no ad
? vice. Cabinet meetings during tn
, Wilson administration were descIih
n ed by those who chafed under tn
= restraint as a morning in the scloc
{, room with the "schoolmaster" at tn
n head of the table.
n Feared Washington
: It was said to Mr.. Wilson that h
s seclusion in the White House result
l. cd partially at least from SON
g misinformation he got about Wash
e ington and its atmosphere before h
J. got office. Someone, so the stor
went, journeyed to Princeton an
n told him there was a local ring
n social celebrities, bankers and otl
e ers, who profited mostly from II
n prestige of association at the Viii
le House. Mr.. Wilson, it was sal
"a made up his mind to have none
y their company. He further dete
VI u. mined not to have on his visitir
~ list committees of bankers, railro:
presidents and manufacturers whe
J.. he was considering public question
~ in which they were interested.