Evening star., 1924-03-20
The True Story of
Woodrow Wilson
DAVID LAWRENCE.
yDAVID LAWRENCE.

his fiancee. In the inner circle of
Washington rumors started that the
Presidents desk was piled high with
unattended business. There was no
patch of a note to Great Britain pro-
testing against violation of neutral
rights. Rumor had-it that Mr.. Wilson
was not concentrating on the note,
but in this respect at least the re-
ports were unfounded. Mr.. Wilson
chose to delay that note because
cabinet crisis in Great Britain was
beginning to develop, and he did not
compl ications to Great Britain's in
ternal political turmoil. Premier AS
quith and Sir Edward Grey were at
the helm. Mr.. Wilson had for both
of them at the time n warm admira-
his letters to the President that the
United States tone down it's protesta-
tions to Great Britain.
Controversy Reaches Climax.
Mr.. Wilson finally sent the note
not by cable but by messenger, who
carried special instructions to Ambas-
sador Page. In the autumn of the
year the controversy between the
President and Ambassador Page
reached climax. One Sunday after
noon word came that Ambassador
Page had resigned. The author, who
was at that time in charge Of the
for the Associated Press at Washing
ton, sought to verify the report of
Mr.. Pages resignation, but neither
Secretary Tumulty nor any member
of the cabinet knew anything about
it. The Associated Press had received
a private cable from London, but. as
usual, did not print any news of this
kind until verification could be OBJ
tained. The author. of course, did
not know how long the secret would
be kept, fearing, of course, that COM
petitors might obtain it and score
beat" il it were disclosed. The Presi-
dent could not be reached-he had
gone to the home of Mrs. Gait on Goth
street. Across the street two secret
service men lounged against a tree
in an all-day vigil. Neither one would
carry message into the house. The
idea of disturbing the afternoon So
States was dismissed by them as abb
surd. The telephone operator at the
White House switchboard, through
which private line to the goth street
nected, would not disturb the Presi-
dent. The author penned a note to
the President telling him of the SEN
sational developments, and waited
outside, hoping that somebody might
emerge from the Gait home and carry
the afternoon and evening there.
Finally DR.. Cary T. Grayson appeared
on the scene, and with his customary
courtesy took the note and a few
minutes later returned with the an
swer. Mr.. Page has not resigned"
ReSignafiou Not Acreuted
For a long time this episode was
unexplained. because the man who
sent the cable from London actually
read a copy of the letter of resigna-
tion written by Mr.. Page and knew
of an exchange of cables between
the President and Ambassador Page
relative to the letter.
But Mr.. Wilson did not accept the
Observation-Disclosures to his mind il was
just as If Mr.. Page had not offered
to relinquish the post. And the Presi-
dent saw no reason at that time to
disturb the delicate situation which
existed by revealing the friction he
was having with the embassy at Lon
don. 1t is a fact, however, that Mr..
Wilson did for a time consider accept
a ambassadorship to Great Britain to
Cleveland HI. Dodge, his classmate at
Princeton. who, however, did not care
to undertake the mission.
Shortly after this incident Mr.. Will
son called in his private secretary
and told him that he could announce
the engagement of the President to
Mrs. Norman Gait. Secretary Tum-
ulty, still mindful of the political
dangers of an early marriage, hoped
I ha or
believing that it should
be deferred until after the 1915 cam
paign. But Mr.. Wilson would not
listen to it. and Secretary Tumulty,
cepted the situation and Loyalty sought
to set the stage for a favorable re-
sponse by the press to the news he
was about to disclose. For many
hours he labored over the form of the
announcement and the necessary data
which would give to the newspapers
the best impression possible OF the
and would completely sweep
aside the criticisms by those who
might be disappointed over the re-
of the President fifteen
months after the death of his first
wife.
Approved by Daughters.
Mr.. Tumulty talked with the news
paper men about the rise in the Presi-
dents spirits and his general i'm
provement in health, together with
the fact that all the members of the
Wilson household, including the
were fond Of Mrs. Gait.
All this had it's effect and made the
wedding pass without incident and
without political ill effect.
Mr.. Wilson's disinclination to post
pone his engagement-he never for a
considered it seriously-was
evidence OF the strength
of his affection for the fascinating
widow. He cared nothing about the
political phase of it-he was in love.
Those who knew him best realized
that it meant a prolongation of his
life and an inspiration to do greater
things. For he was the type of man
who lived on feminine Inspiration.
Copyright, 1924. by the George n. Deran COM
pany in the United States, Canada, South
America. World publication rights reserved
by Current News Features, Inc.)
(Tomorrow's chapter tells why
Wilson broke with Joseph p. Tumulty.
his private secfetafy.)
SPECIAL NOTICES.