Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-04
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. C.. M.


CABINET: 1913 to 1920. David F.
Houston. Doubleday, Page & Co.
The tide of Woodrow Wilson 1itera
ture flows in undiminished freedom.
Still at only short intervals. from one
purpose and another, under this or
that claim of special call and adj
vantage, a new Wilson book moves
out into the open. These studies upon
a single theme vary, naturally, with
the purpose and opportunity and COM
potency of their authors. Yet they
all come together, nevertheless, as a
single body of material which some
historian of the future will sift for its
essential truth, and weigh for it's
actual substance, and interpret for its
real significance and will then, after
these considerations, relate it to
world affairs as a properly evaluated
and placed part of general history at
one of it's great and vital turning
points.
But history is a fruit whose ripen-
ing is a long and vicissitous process.
Our children's children will be read
ing the true history Of Woodrow Will
son and his times. Not before then
will it be ready. In the meantime the
Wilson literature stands as a big and
constantly increasing budget of per-
sonal intimacies, of individual recol-
lections, of snap judgments here and
ponderous announcements there, of
sheer idolatry set off against clear
rancor. Vivid, immediate work, this
running treatment of a subject of
O0T0nalIInCr xErhn iSin
in love or bitterness, a tribute all of
1t to a commanding personality pro-
Jected into the arena of time at a
moment which served to lift high the
political and individual drama of
woodrow Wilson, which served to
seal his fate as well.
x 4 x
Among the many studies of this
striking career, the two volumes in
hand by David F. Houston possess
the exceptional advantage of making
& clear and outstanding record of
Mr.. Wilson's administrative achieve
ments. A sense of historic values, an
intuition toward that which Is perma.
nent in the course of events and
away from that Of merely passing
interest, led the author to an adroit
use off the element of emphasis
whereby the administrative acts of
Mr.. Wilson, as head Of the Nation,
stand in black type. so to speak, with
OUT in any degree, however, tending
to blur the striking personal picture
of the man himself. An especially
useful treatment, this. and one equal
ly difficult to sustain. Useful, by
virtue Of the fact that there Is the
general present need for a collected,
condensed, clear summary of the
specific contribution of President Will
son to the formulated policy of the
Government, in respect to matters,
both domestic and foreign, during the
period of the World War. Most diff
cult to maintain this clear course of
administrative history, since the per-
sonality of Mr.. Wilson was one cal
culated to create glamour and to stir
deep emotions, both of which are
clearly hostile to a calm chronicle of
political yicissitudes and government.
tai activities. While these volumes
abound in incident, anecdote, picture
and sketch. all bent upon the dramatic
figure at the center of affairs, there
is here, above all, clear and pene-
trating record of the true and lasting
substance of the Wilson administra-
ton A definite system of stress and
release, stress and release, throws
into sharp emphasis the vital matters
as distinct from those of passing con-
Germ.
This is markedly fair-minded
study. Certain measures of national
importance came to a definite stand,
or to an actual elimination, in this
period. Take certain aspect of the
tariff, take the Federal Reserve act
These have been subjects of discus
sion since our Government began. No
greatly important thing springs sud-
denly into complete perfection. No
one man ever by himself creates any
single thing. So it was here And
upon his own ground, for Mr.. Hous-
ton is deeply trained and experienced
IN finance. he recounts the history of
these financial measures and others
aIlled TO them in nature and effect
Here is a development set out fairly
ana simply, one grounded in the
character and needs of the situation
one that ripened during the unusual
conditions of the Wilson administra.
ton. A very useful study, by virtue
OF the authors personal command of
the subject; by virtue also of his
clear and expert handling of it. How
ever, If a passionate and unadulterate
Wllsonian had made this chronicle
Well, 1t wouldn't have been a chroni-
Gle at all, just a paean of praise in.
stead for a financial miracle per-
formed. AS authority and clear
statement this is most convincing
and desirable study.
Its intimate point of view gives
greatly increased interest to the read
er. AS one of the Wilson Cabinet, Mr..
houston talks from the heart of the
family, so to speak. There is always
a bit. OF mystery, in the common
mind, as to the nature and standing
of the Cabinet. 1t has a certain I'M
official implication and a kind of
secrecy, too, in it's proceedings that
greatly add to the general curiosity
about it. Well, right here, is where
the mystery proves to be nothing of
the kind, and where the proceedings
stand out, naked and unashamed. as
mere functioningS of the President
himself along certain definite lines
which one man alone could not pos
slDly command. l doubt if there is,
anywhere, a franker disclosure of
TINS body than Mr.. Houston has here
made. He gives just a casual treat
ment of the Cabinet family in passing.
but this proves to be a most illuminat
ing procedure from which this mem
Der or that one stands out in a clear
opJectlvlty of personal characteristic
enlisted in community service to the
President himself.
A complete and most competent sur
Vey OF the Wilson period from one
specially qualified for certain i'm
portant parts of the work. A clear
picture OF men and affairs at a vital
point in history. An amazingly
worthwhile book to the student, a,
most interesting one to the general
reader. A curious characteristic of
Mr.. Wilson stands out here as it
stood out in THE Letters of Col.
House" as 1t stands out in an intimate
study or Mr.. Wilson. Either Wood
row Wilson drew to him men strange
lX like himself in cartnix ,.os.aoo+s. =,