Evening star., 1924-03-11
CHAPTER XVI.
The Early Innuence OF Col Hou..

Ihe Eoriy Annuence OF Col House..
Selection of the cabinet of Wood
row Wilson was a unique process.
probably without parallel in Amer
lean history. 1t is doubtful whether
any one played a greater part in the
making of the cabinet than Col.
House..
The development of the friendship
between the quiet man from Texas
and Woodrow Wilson was as remark
able as their subsequent separation
under circumstances all the more
amazing to relate when the full story
OF their association is told.
Col. House was first of all a man
' OF independent means, a liberal in
politics and of influential personality.
His tact and diplomacy, his progress
sfveness and unselfishness captured
Mr.. WilTon's imagination
What l like about Col House."
explained Gov. Wilson one day to a
group of newspaper men who dis
played curiosity about the growing
friendship. lis that he holds things
at arms length-objectively He
seems able to penetrate proposition
and get to its very essence quickly.
he wants nothing for himself. He
VIII not hold Office and is a truly
disinterested friend-the most valua-
ole possession man could have"
Col. Houses influence.
In those weeks preceding the inau-
guration of Mr.. Wilson Col. House
did an extraordinary thing which
from that day to this has not been
disclosed in print, but it shows the
q m a~lr ;ra
AS will be remembered by those who
follow the stock market, the uncer-
tainty over what the new democratic
administration might do had an un-
settling effect in the financial dis
trict; at least SO claimed the leading
hnanciers, some of whom kept hint
ing that unless the uncertainty was
allayed a panic might even follow
the inauguration of the President
Wall street nrofessed to be alarmed
over the radicalism of the newly
elected Chief Executive and what he
might do to business generally. Some
or the bankers asked Col. House to
attend dinner and explain what was
nkeiy to happen under the new ad-
ministration. He did not consent un-
til he had Mr.. Wilson's sanction.
According to some of those who
were present, the amount of money
1CpieSeHteo at lndt SdlneTlHS was dt
least five billions of dollars in actual
wealth and many billions more in
potential credit. All the important
financiers in America were there or
sent representatives. The colonel
y erased the notion that Woodrow Will
son was a wild radical who would
turn things upside down, and instead
gave general sketch of what Mr..
Wilson hoped to accomplish by way
of currency reform. What the bank
ers wanted was something straight
from headquarters about the Wilson
intentions-not the details, but his
general attitude toward business and
finance. Whether the talk Col. House
gave that night to all the important
financiers of the country had any
sequel in the confidence thereafter
tangible to prove, but there was a
noticeable let-up in the predictions
of disaster and calamity which had
been spread about the metropolitan
district.
Again and again Gov. Wilson went
to the apartments of Col. House In
New York, seeing many important
visitors there. Later on, after MI:
Wilson was inaugurated, the home of
Col. House was sort OF New YORK
branch of the White House.
Wilson's HsiIent Partner"
There were frequent conversations
over the long distance telephone and
a regular series of letters day by day.
These communications were private in
every sense and were not opened by
any intervening officials. Naturally
there was often a disposition on the
part of other advisers of the President
TO wonder what subjects were being
discussed or taken up between Col.
House and Mr.. Wilson. The colonel
was reticent-he earned a reputation
of silent partner" and he kept Mr..
Wilson's confidence faithfully.
Many of the matters with which
Col House dealt related to appoint
ments to Office. If the President
wished to conduct an investigation as
to the fitness of an individual for an
important place he would ask Col.
House to make such an investigation
tactfully. 1t was Col. House who sug-
gested the name of Walter Hines
Page to be American ambassador to
Great Britain. l rode from New York
to Washington with him on the day
before he took this matter up with
Mr. Wilson and he told me of the
prospective appointment. feeling alb
solutely sure hee could persuade Mr..