The Colorado statesman., 1924-03-01

1t was said occasionally in his life
that he lacked love Of human COM
panionship. but no man with Woodrow
Wilson's sense of humor ever was en-
tirely lacking in the human qualities
which make for close friendship. On
many an occasion when in conference
| with the body of Washington corre-
spondents he would illustrate his
meaning with a story always to the
point and always sharply humorous.
The newspaper correspondents In
Washington cid not have the close re-
lations with Woodrow Wilson that they
had with his predecessors in office
from Grover Cleveland's day. 1t was
only once or twice during his admin
lstration that he permitted himself to
be interviewed by an individual CORE
spondent. For a considerable time, he
met the newspaper men in body, an
swered their questions and occasional
ly outlined to them some legislative or
economic thought of his which he be-
lieved might be of interest to the
public.
SpCH bOOI INOt NCty SPcit.
When Mr.. Wilson came into office
there was a belief in Washington that
the White House would become an &C
lively working bureau of information
This belief was founded on the pres
dents statement concerning the ne
cesslty of "pitiless publicity" There
was much talk about the open door,
but the door never was thrown back
far enough to strain Its hinges.
When President Wilson wished
so to do, however, he knew how to
present a matter so that 1t not only
would be given publicity, but given 1t
in u form bristling with news points.
He knew news, but probably did not
realize at all times its true value as
an asset to his administration.
Once upon a time, however, Wood
row Wilson gave to the country q
news story which had continuing and
enlarglng life for months. The CORE
spondents had gone to the White
House for their weekly conference,
fully believing for the most part, prob
ably, that the days proceedings would
be but repetition of those of other
days which had produced no news OF
moment. In truth, a good many OF
the correspondents after attending
few of the presidents conferences
stayed away because they thought
nothing ever was likely to develop to
make them hurry to the telegraph
office.
His Exposure of the Lobby.
On this particular occasion, however,
Mr.. Wilson began the conference by
saying: "There Is n pernicious lobby
at work in congress against the inter
ests of the people"
Then he outlined what he meant.
Congress was stirred and the country
was stirred and an investigation fol
lowed. 1t was found to the satisfac-
ton of most people that lobby was
at work and that the president was
right in calling 1t pernicious.
In the course of investigation 1t
was discovered that some former mem
,rs of congress, taking advantage OF
the fact that their one-time status
gave them unchallenged entrance 10
the house and almost unchallenged en-
trance to the committee rooms, were
here us the paid attorneys of certain
of the country's great business inter
ests. The confessions of one or two
of these gentlemen, forced confessions
for the most part, It was thought
would prevent any effort on their
part in the future of attempted re-
entry into public life-but one or two
of them, are sitting in congress today.
There probably will not be one-tenth
MS many anecdotes related In the flu
ture of Woodrow Wilson as there were
of Theodore Roosevelt. Mr.. Wilson
| did not lend himself readily TO those
| things which make the spirit of an
unecdute. Some of the men who were
closely associated With him in an otli-
cial way curing his administration
| have stories about him laid by. and
one day will tell them, but from the
! few of them that one has heard they
are almost entirely of q serious ma
| ture, never frivolous and seldom light