Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-10
Physical Breakdown Blamed
for Treatment OF Old
Friends During Last Days
in White House
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1924, by the George Fl. Dorar
| company( lin the United states, Canada, South
| America World publication rights reserved
| by Current News Features, Incorporated.)
CHAPTER NXXII
Can stored urn or animated bIst
Back to its mansion call the fleet
ing breath?
Can honour's voice provoke the
| silent dust,
Or flatt'ry soothe the dull cold
ear of death?
THOMAS GRAY.
~ n the plains of Kansas, the
II appeal of Woodrow Wilson to
the American people to give
their support to the League of Ma
tons stopped suddenly. Tie presi-
dental train was turned homeWard.
The symptoms of a breakdown of
the arteries-the inevitable collapse
Of an overburdened physique-cast
their warning none too soon.
Nervously the president tossed in
HIS DeQ III the pLAffltI C1L' IoAA1
ed mostly by the thought that his
enemies would say he had quit the
fight, thai he was shamming Illness.
There were skeptfcs among the
newspaper men bit they were a
minority. Most of us knew the break,
long-eXpected, had come at last. The
train sped rapidly TO Washington
with hardly a stop. Arriving on a
Sunday morning, the president
walked brisIlly through the Union
station, was photographed as usual
snd the slleptics increased in num-
ber-for outwardly he showed no
signs of change.
1t was not until a few days later,
in the White House, that a blood
clot formed in the blood vessels of
Mr.. Wilson's brain, permanently
impairing the use Of his left arm
and leg. After that he was never
the same. To his physical condition
with the accompanying lapses Of
memory, irritability, and excessive
emotion, must be attributed many
of the acts of Woodrow Wilson be-
ginning in October, 1919, and con-
tinuing until the day of his death,
more than foIr years later. Every
criticism, every GOODNESS which old
friends experienced, every express
sion on the part OF Woodrow Viii
son with reference to the few prob
lens that he was permitted to con-
slider or discuss cannot be appraised
in retrospect without being mindful
Of the tired brain that once sWayed
the world and then feebly sought
to retain it's hold on the presidency
ana public opinion.
Seemed Mentally Capable
There were days when Woodrow
Wilson seemed to be mentally as
keen as ever. Shutting ones eyes
to the dropping figure and listening
only to his fiery logic, the illusion
of an unchanged personality would
not have been difficult to main
tain. Little by little, as gradual inn
provement in his condition was evil
dent, more executive work was I'M
dertallen, bit always at his side
stood the devoted wife and the physi-
clan, Admiral Cary r. Grayson. To-
gether they carried the secrets of
the sick room while Private Secre-
tary Tumulty' played the role of
everything as-usua. in the executive
offices, a mark of loyalty to his
chief which alone should have earn
ed him something better than the
brusque treatment he later re-
ceived.
But those were topsy-turvy days
and many an cid friend who had
served Mr.. Wilson in the past Wa s
turned away. The tragic events that
followed Mr.. Wilson's breakdown
cannot be explained by any theory
of logic Those who had it in their
power to persuade President Wilson
to permit advisers to reach him
failed to realize the immensely Of
their responsibility in shutting him
off so completely from the outside
world.
Whether America would have ben
Gifted by entrance into the League
of Nations it is not necessary to
discuss, but the United States would
today be in the league officially if
the president had been able to get
the advice he so much needed in his
enfeebled condition. On his sick bed,
he almost agreed to accept the Lodge
reservations, but someone urged him
to make of it an issue in the 1920
campaign and in January, 1920, he
asked that a solemn referendum he
taken. Was it the whispering voice
of ambition which put into his mind
the forlorn hope that he could re-
cover and that a third term in the
White House was possible? For HIM
self, Mr.. Wilson was not ambitious.
Those around hinl-not all-felt the
magic pell of power and inevitably
longed for its continuance
Early in 1919, the author had
made a tour of the United States
and had written for the London
Times a cable stating that while
sentiment for the league was pre-
pOnderant, the cause would be
strengthened if people were sure Mr..
Wilson did not mean to use it as a
vehicle for a third term. The presi-
dent read that article and Cabled to
his private secretary 10 discover If
the sentiment reported were correct
and If he should issue a statement
saying he would not run for a third
term. He was advised that it was
unnecessary.
Platform Cast Aside
Nearly a year later when the au-
thor published a story about the
presidents cable and his apparent
Willingness to forego a third nomi
nation if it would help the cause of
the league, there was evidence of