The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-12
SHA TERED
WRECK IS
LEI I Of
DREAM
Publicity and Troubles of
Manager Crush Plans OF
Hero Worshipper
BY JOSEPHINE TIGHE

By JOSEPHINE TIGHE
In one small office room on the
seventh floor of the Transporta-
ton building repose the remains
Of what once was the National
Woodrow Wilson Memorial Asso-
citation"
There is no crepe on the door
and no flowers of sympathy have
been received, yet the 100000
University project, in honor of
President Wilson, is dead as the
proverbial doornail.
The atmosphere of gloom and
detection in the room where the
corpse lies can only be success
fully negotiated by way of gas
mask.
Gives Up Ghost
With the dragging ito light Of Ger.
tain facts concerning the associa-
ton, the declaration Of its man.
ager, A w. Lowell, that there
would be a general reorganization.
together with the contemplated
resignation. of President r. Moul-
ton Pettey, a government income
tax auditor, was too much for the
already sick and ailing National
Woodrow Wilson Memorial Associa
tion and it gave up the ghost. In
addition. the fact that Mr.. Lowell
was being sued for S1O2.72 unpaid
hotel bill did not help matters at
all.
With regard to the Vowel unpaid
MOTEL bill, the suit was brought by
an Orkney Springs. Va. Hotel. 1t
was alleged that Lowell stayed at
the hotel and presented a check
on the Baker Trust Company of
Atlantic City which was worthless.
He defends himself on this charge
10y stating that his checking ac-
count at the New Jersey bank had
been attached by certain disgruntled
persons who attempted to finance
"A scheme to bring the Shriners 10
Atlantic City in the 1925 conven-
ton and that his check given the
Orkney Springs Hotel was there
fore dishonored.
WiIbur's Withdrawal
The withdrawal of Secretary of
the Navy Wilbur from the memorial
association has not exactly helped
matters, especially as his letter of
withdrawal stated that he was sever
ing his connections because of
personal reasons.
AS early as December last year
the National Woodrow Wilson
Memorial Association was under
fire. outside of the investiga ton
then being made by the Washing
ton Times In A letter of April ).
TO President Pettey. Norman Davis.
president of the Woodrow Wilson
Foundation says In part:
With regard to enquiries com
ing to me about the National Wood
row Wilson Association. ] judge
that Sid enquiries are made he
cause IL was known that the
Foundation was organized with the
approval of Mr. Wilson himself and
IL Is thought that we would know
about any other movement for the
purpose of raising funds to per
petuate his memory
Not having knowledge OF the
association you are forming,
wrote to Mrs. Wilson last Deem
her requesting what informa ton
she had on the subject and she
replied that she had first heard Of
81 through letters Of enquiry and
spoke Of letter received from
you. She said she had not en-.
couraEed your efforts because she
thought that a memorial to Mr.
Wilson should be under one head
and thus avoid duplication Of effort
from various groups"
Hero Worship
r. Moulton Pettey, clerk in the
income tax division of the Treasury
Department, could not be reached
today because Of Government rules
with regard to employees answer
ing phone calls during office hours
Friends and co-workers of Mr.
Fettey declared that the clerk hai
had a dream, or beautiful vision
with regard to building a memorial
TO the ex-President, whom he held
in absolute hero worship. They
assert fhat every moment Of Pet
tey's spare time, and almost every
penny of his income, has gone into
realizing his vision. without the
fsintest hope of financial reimburse
Hnent.
The National Woodrow Wilson AS
ISOLATION, Pettey's title. was incor
porated August z. 1924. by 2ettey
and two Washington lawyers
Henry Fowler and o. e. 5eiger-
who do not figure in the associa
tion's present activity.
Then It langiIished for a yea
until Pettey met Lowell. In tn.
meanwhile a friend OF PsttsVl