Evening star., 1925-11-11
FRIENDS Of WILSON
SILENT ON PROJECT
AT Least One Investigation of
Proposed University Me-
mortal Now Is Ordered.

While II private investiga ton of
the purposes and methods OF pro
cedure Of sponsors for the National
Woodrow Wilson Foundation was be
ing ordered today by at least one Of
the nationally prominent men named
on the advisory committee, evidence
accumulated that close friends of the
late Woodrow Wilson have adopted d
policy of silence regarding their in
dorSement of the movement.
This attitude. in the light Of the
apparent mea ger information init
mates of the war President have been
able to obtain. has extended even 70
Mrs. Wilson. although she was said
to have expressed herself regarding
the organization in letter which
gave scant announcement to its pur-
pose.
The organization maintains a one.
room office in the Transports tion
Building. Seventeenth and II streets.
and according to A. w. Lowell. its
manager IS an incorporated body.
Details for campaign to raj ist $500.
900 for the establishment OF 4 mag
nificent university 10 be erected on
the Virginia side " the Potomac
River. overlooking the Nations Cap
tai" are being arranged, with state
and county chairmen 10 be appointed.
fund and all organiza tions circulal-
izcd in a drive to raise The large
amount OF money set as the goal.
Mrs. Wilson Silent.
Mrs Wilson's present position ac-
cording 10 a close friend. is one OF
silence. friends declaring she holds ne
view that it would be undcniffed Tor
her to comment adversely on any pro
posal TO honor her late husband. Phi
vate advices at the Capital today. nov
ever. made IL appear certain tnat Mrs
Wilson might issue a statement glN-
ing her views of the a association with
I'm a short time Mrs Wilson was said
To be in touch with Josephus aniels,
former Secretary Of the Navy seeking
his advice on her position in the mat
ter In the a absence Of a COmmenda-
tory statement from the widow ~ tne
late President many OF his friends
have withheld Endorsement. preferfine
10 permit Mrs. Wilson 10 Set the sea
Of approval on a matter SO delicate
A political and official intimate oi
Mr. Wilson. who holds high post IN
government life today. holds that lht
association has not sufficiently eStah-
Iished its purpose and outlined liS
pIan Of campaign to suit him and
wit thholds comment on its work. tie
has advised friends against donatInt
TO the fund until its purposes al"
more clearly outlined. Relatives o.
Mrs Wilson adopt the same attituut
she has taken-one OF silence penn
ing clearer delineation OF the aims
OF the organiZa ton. AT the same llIne
public thought was being focused OF
the association: II was learned that
man high in the councils OF the Na
ZION whose name is used III conneC-
tion With the publicity Of the orSani-
Zation. has inaugurated an inquiry
Hope to start December 20.
Woodrow Wilson was born Decen-
Der 28 In StauntOn. Va. on the daE
preceding his birthday. sponsors for
the assoCia ton hope To have the Ma
tton so organized that the drive for
funds can commence on the same DAY
on which he was born. They expect 10
usher in Wilson week with sermons
in all churches. and to conduct drive
in all orga niZations and among the
millions OF admirers of the war Presi-
dent scattered throughout the coun-
try. Friends Of the President have or
ganized a campaign 10 purchase
Woodrow Wilson's birthplace. and
transform II into national shrine
similar to Mount Vernon. This cam
paign has an objective of only $500
600 The Woodrow Wilson Founda-
tiOn. whose Work Is done, raised onIA
$500, 600 in its campaign.
r. Moulten Petty, president of the
association, is a native OF AleXa ndria
and worked for the Red Cross during
the war as assistant 10 the national
secretary. lie was later an emplOye
of the War Department and was sub.
sequently transferred To the Treasury
Department. where he Is now an
auditor in the income tax unit of the
Internal Revenue Bureau. He admits
not having been personally acquainted
with Mr.. Wilson.