Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-04
WILSON'S POLITICAL DEBUT
WAS CAUSED BY HIS DEFEAT
AS PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON

| wealthy 6IunlUl might De pS1Sudueu
! to contribute heavily to the cam
! paign fund. This was stoutly de-
MED and probably wasn't true so
far as any ld-be-contributors
, were concerned but unquestionably
the anti-Wilson men wished the
Democratic bosses all the luck in the
world if they only would furnish the
circumstances that would take DR..
Wilson out of their way.
Yet DR.. Wilson did not seek way
out. He talked politics to a few
close friends. If he was to leave
Princeton at all he wanted to do so
with a victory behind him and not
defeat.
In the spring of 1910, I was call
ing at DR.. Wilson's office to get a
copy of a speech he was to deliver a
few days later. Professor Robert Nc
Elroy who lectured on American
history and who had recently writ
! ten the authorized biography OF
Grover Cleveland was leaving DR..
Wilson's office.
Famous Bryan Letter
What do you think" exclaimed
Professor McElroy. "Dr. Wilson
thinks we are bound to have third
party in 1912 and he is inclined to
believe he has a chance to be its
presidential candidate"
1t was my first insight into the
| i'm vic Of Will
son on politics. 1 knew he cherish
! ed no admiration for William Jen-
nings Bryan's policies. DR.. Will
sons famous letter to Andrew o.
Joline, distinguished Princeton
alumnus, denouncing a speech at
Madison Square Garden on govern
ment ownership Of railways deliver
ed by Mr.. Bryan on his return from
| Europe was not then public. In
that letter DIR. Wilson expressed the
wish that somebody would knock
Mr.. Bryan sinto a cooked hat" once
and for all. While DR.. Wilson was
not in sympathy with the Bryan
doctrines he was not fond Of the
POSSES" who exercised SO big an in
fluence in the Democratic party. He
thought the country had tired Of
unless there was reform from with
in.
Woodrow Wilson made many
speeches during the years 1909 arwl
1910 and attracted attention wher-
ever he spoke. His Princeton critics
accused him Of making q campaign
for the presidency of the United
States. They said his whole quar-
rel, about democracy at Princeton
was simply a vehicle for the ad-
vancement Of his candidacy-a pub
licity effort. The anti-Wilson group
inspired several newspaper articles
along this line.
DR.. Wilson undoubtedly had an eye
to the future but he was endeavor-
ing to win his Princeton fight by
building up such prestige with
the American people that his views
on educational matters would carry
weight with his own alumni and
board Of trustees. He had no thought
of resigning until he won.
Suddenly in June 1910 just before
the commencement exercises which
were to bring alumni from all parts
OF the country to Princeton, there
came a development which changed
the whole coursL Of affairs Isaac
Wyman, of Boston, had died and his
will provided what was then esti-
mated to be a gift of approximately.
four or five million dollars for
Princeton. OF all things in the will
was a provision that the fund was
for a Graduate College and that it
was to be expended as the eXecu-
tors dlrected-and one Of the execu-
tors named was none other than
Dean Andrew F. West, the principal
antagonist Of DR.. Wilson.
1t was my duty as Associated
Press correspondent to carry the
first news of Mr.. Wyman's bequest
to DR.. Wilson to get his comment.
The expression of disappointment on
his face as he read the dispatch was
unmistakable. He was silent for
several minutes.
What shall I say?" l asked DR..
Wilson.
What can say?" was his hope.
less reply.
Farewell to Princeton
well" I suggested, "since the
funds are SO large it would seem as
if the site of the Graduate School
would become secondary question
and possibly there is money enough
now to buy all the intervening
property between the two proposed
sites a ! make a greater university
The Graduate College would then be
on university grounds as you have
wanted"
DR.. Wilson adopted the suggestion
and issued a statement along those
lines expressing satisfaction with
the bequest and the hope that the
university might now go forward
with the Graduate School plan.
"A voice from the grave, was
Dean Vests comment as he read
the news next day of the Wyman
bequest. DR.. Wilson was beaten at
last. He felt it keenly. At the
commencement exercises when the
lNaledictorian Of my class pronounced
his farewell, it was not the ordinary
goodbye. 1t was Woodrow Will
sons valedictory too. Tears stream
ed down his face as the students
save him again and again that day
thunderous cheers, testimonil of
their affection and esteem. They
knew little of the merits OF the
Graduate School controversy and
cared, less. They knew only that he
was strong man, a capable teach
er and an inspiration to them all.
During that summer DR.. Wilson
mad several offers to become the
president of various educational in
stitutions. He declined them. In
stead he became a receptive candi-
date for the Democratic nomination