San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-11

serted that he had never been inter
csted in fighting for himslf, but that
he was always intensely interested in
fighting for the things he believed in.
He was speaking naturally when he
said that il was matter Of per-
sonal Indifference to him what the
verdict of the people was in the cleo
ton Of 1916.
Never at any time did he attempt
to make personal capital out of his
high position. He was humbled rather
than exalted by II, and his keen wit
penetrated quickly the atmosphere
with which lesser spirits surrounded
themselves when they descended upon
Washington in their official dignity.
He was amused at the front the aver
age man threw when he assumed high
position and especially when one of
them heard himself addressed as. for
instance. Senator or "Mr. Secre'
tary."
"There are two sorts of men who
come TO Washington" he said, those
who swell and those who grow, AMI
the former are greatly in the ma
jority.-
Those little understood him who
represented that his main motive in
going to Europe was TO capitalize his
position and to win personal glory
and acclaim. This representation was
as cruel as it was untrue. He went
to Europe through his stern sense OF
duty to the nation and to those whom
he sent to Europe to offer their lives
for humanity.
Having this high conception of his
position and of government, this self
less and objective state of mind
he had a deep suspicion of the Or
binary run Of professional politicians
and an innate hostility to them. They
appeared to him to have primarily
only a selfish interest in the govern
ment and to be determined to use
il merely for personal ends and the
ends of their friends and adherents
He could not easily bring himself to
take interest in the solicitude of sena
tors and congressman for their poiitl
cal fences and their desire to keeT
them in order by seeking local and
national positions for their party sup
porters.
WANTED TO BE LIKED.
Doubtless he carried this attitude
too far. Doubtless he took too littl
account Of poor human nature, it
weaknesses and foibles. Cnlvinist
habitually do 50. Doubtless he wa
disposed unconsciously to subject u
to an unduly severe strain. Posi-
bly, he could have yielded something
without sacrificing principle.
IL he had done so he might hav'
been a better party leader and ha'
hack of him to the end a unite'
fighting force instead Of finally a dis
organized and half-hearted congress
sional lineup. But l am by no mean
sure that If he had ! should nov
cherish the same admiration for hin
that had from the beginning an'
still have.
Mr.. Wilson longed to have the PEG
: pIe like him and applaud his course
He craved popularity, but only on it
own basis. This was his statemcn
Of It:
81 am sometimes very much inter
ested when ] see gentlemen suppos
ing that popularity is the way to sue
cess in America. The way TO sue
cess in this great country, with 1t
fair judgments, is to show that yo'
are not afraid Of anybody except Got
and his final verdict
"If | did not believe that | woul'
not believe in democracy. II dl'
not believe that / would not believ
that people can govern themselves
If 1 did not believe that the mora
judgment would be the last judg
ment, the final judgment, in the mind
Of men as well as the tribunal o
God, / could not believe in popula
government. But l do believe thes
things, and therefore I earnestly be
lieve in the democracy not only o
America, but of every awakened pee
pie that wishes and intends to COVER
and control its own affairs"
DIDN'T SEEK POPULARITY.
Wilson could not stOop to emplo.
, the arts which many men use to gail
favor and popularity. He had no apt
} itude for the game of practical poll
ties, and resented its practices. Fl