Evening star., 1924-03-11
The True Story of
Woodrow Wilson
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Wilson to make it. And he did. 1t
was with considerable amusement |
therefore, that the colonel read later
on Of reports that friction had devel-
oped between Ambassador Page and
President Wilson because Col House
had been sent to Europe as an unof-
fetal envoy.
Helpful In Many Ways.
In the weeks Immediately preceding
the inauguration Col. House was espe-
cially valuable to Mr.. Wilson in de-
Gliding political questions relating to
the personnel of the cabinet. After
the Inauguration the colonel kept on
dealing with patronage matters for
Mr.. Wilson and keeping the latter
informed on the impressions the ad-
ministration was making in the
large centers of the east. But the
colonel brought mostly to Mr.. Wilson
later an intimate knowledge of for
eign affairs and a personal acquaint-
ance with many of the most impor-
tant figures in world diplomacy. Mr..
Wilson's readiness to intrust Col
House with his confidence on mis-
sions relating to foreign policy was
due to his belief that the colonel was
tactful and diplomatic and would not
be restricted by the same forms and
conventions that surrounded full
f1edged ambassador. Many people
Wilson made use of unofficial envoys.
The truth of the matter Is that Mr.
Wilson felt more could be accom-
plished by an unattached envoy than
to a government, and therefore un-
able to reach into the heart or
problem and make personal investisa-
| ton or say things as bluntly as
could casual envoy who had. no
| official status.
Mr.. Wilson used to refer to Col.
| House as his "eyes and ears" He
| was more than that. He was Mr..
making a first-hand investigation Of
| the facts and opinions conveyed 70
| the White House by Ambassadors ana
| ministers in long-winded official re-
ports. Col. House was really analo-
gous to the star reporter who Is oc-
| casionally sent by his newspaper TO
make a general survey OF SITUATION:
Local correspondents are maintained
in nearly every important center, put
large newspapers every now and then
send a man to visit certain section
, of the country and follow a partlcu-
! lar line of investigation. He is often
able to pry into matters which tne
/ local correspondent. for one reason
: and another, is embarrassed In at
| tempting to untangle Col; HOUSE
! moreover, had the faculty OF olses.
! brief reports. He was adroit IN ms
! conyersations-he never committed
t the government of the United States
J to any policy. He worked IN c.oss
! ministers and he did take large
! burden off Mr.. Wilson's mind.
! Helped Pick the Cabinet.
| But before the inauguration Coionei
House can be said to have been re-
sponsible for the selection of at least
. half of Mr.. Wilson's cabinet. He
knew David F. Houston. who became
Secretary of Agriculture. Mr.. Hous-
; ton had been president of the UNI
versity of Texas. The friendship OF
! Mr.. Wilson and Secretary houston
was the admiration of one inteliectuai
for another. Indeed, when it became
apparent to Mr.. Wilson in 1870 that on
, account of his i'll health he could not
expect the democratic convention at
San Francisco to nominate him he
wished that the convention might
turn TO a man like Houston. He
never made public announcement or
that fact, but among the PRESIDENT
intimate friends this was an open
secret Gharles so B haa an9 and VINO VINO es
erted great deal Of influence on
Mr.. wilson in connection with Rus
sian affairs, was one or the inner
circle who favored Mr.. Houstons
candidacy in 1920. An index Of how
Mr.. Wilson felt toward secretary
| Houston was given when Secretary
! Glass resigned as head of the Treas
| ury Department, to become United
States senator from Virginia. Mr..
Wilson transferred Secretary houston
| to the Treasury portfolio without
moments hesitation. Mr. Houston
, had always shown practical knowl-
edge of economics At that time Mr..
Wilson leaned heavily in the cabinet
! on Mr.. Houston's advice-he was one
of the strong men of the admins
tration. Many of the communications
| to Congress particularly on fsca,
matters signed by President wilson
during his illness were word for
word written by Secretary Houston.
Copyright, 1924. by the George a. Doran
| Company In the United States, Canada, South
America World publication rights reserved
| by Current News Features, Incorporated.)
! (Tomorrow's chapter tells how
Woodrow Wilson picked his cabinet
one member he never met till
Iu.usnratf0n day.)