Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-28
PRINCETON TO PAY
|. TRIBUTE TO WILSON
Celebration December II
Marks Reconciliation With
War Presidents Memory.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Princeton University ON December
IL Is to be the scene of q celebration
In honor of the fiftieth anniversary
Of Woodrow Wilson's graduation from
Old Nassau. In o very important de-
5fee, 1t will mark a transition In Prince
toms feeling toward its distinguished
alumIlus and former President-feel-
ings which have been bitter In the
extreme ever since Wilson quit the
campus In 1910 to nun for governor
shin OF New Jersey. Although Wood
row Wilson Is one of the greatest and
best known of Princeton alumni" the
Daily Princetonian announces, this
celebration will be the flrst important
one ever given in his honor here"
Barring the memorial service following
the War Presidents death In February,
1924, the campus where he spent four
years as an undergraduate ana 20 years
as teacher and executive mas never
before been the scene OF events In
Wilson's honor.
Joint Celebration.
The program on December IL will not
be confined exclusively to commemorate
ing Wilson It will include exercises
incident to the 160th anniversary OF the
American Wing Society" by James
Madison, Princeton. It'll ana Ioe 1,.,.a
Wilson-Whis celebration ell be held IN
whig-Clio Hall, the famous headquar-
tiers OF Princeton literary and debating
societies. Speakers will include Or.
John Grier Hibben, president OF the
university; Dr. James A. GARFIELD. preSl-
dent Of Williams College, and Robert
Bridges, editor of Seribher's Magazine.
President Hibben viii preside. DR.. Gar
field, son OF martyred President OF the
United states, will speak about wood
row Wilson as he knew him on the
Princeton faculty and as Chief Execu-
tive of the Nation. Garfield taught In
the Princeton department Of politics for
five years while Wilson was at the head
of the university. Mr.. Bridges will talk
of the Tommy Wilson he knew in
Witherspoon Hall when both Of them
were undergraduates In the class Of
1879. The honorary committee in
charge Of the Wilson-Whlg commemo-
ration includes DR.. George Mclean Har-
per, Woodrow Wilson professor Of litera-
ture at Princeton.
wilson's Quarrels Bitter.
AS most Americans will remember,
Wilson's troubles at Princeton grew out
Of his ambition TO "democratize" coll
lege life. Though elected president Of
the university in 1902. after having
served as a member of the faculty since
1890, Wilson's quarrels with the truS-
tees of the institution we're constant
and bitter. One Of the matters against
quests from millionaires and the con-
sequent peril, as Wilson saw 1t. Of
''capitalistic" influence at Princeton.
The situation became 50 critical In
1910, after Wilson had concluded eight
years of stormy presidency, that his
retirement became inevitable. Condi-
tons had been boiling to q climax over
the Graduate School controversy, in
which Wilson found himself pitted
against an equally strong character in
the person Of Dean Andrew F. West.
would have been invited by the uni
versity trustees to resign the presidency.
but when opportunity came TO him In
the Fall Of 1910 to be nominated for
Governor Of New Jersey, Wilson quit
Princeton and entered upon the po-
Iitical career which three years later
was to lead him to the White House.
"WIIsOn Spit Princeton"
A prominent Princetonian now In
washington, when asked by this writer
TO say In word what Is the underlying
significance Of the December ii cele-
loratioa, replied: woodrow Wilson
split Princeton, leaving violent bitter
ness and personal hatreds. Only time
and the right moment could permit the
mention Of his name there. That mo-
nent has come, very quietly and natu-
rally, and Princeton viii now claim the
glory Of having had q president Of
the distinction Of Woodrow Wilson" Al
though the Woodrow Wilson chair Of
literature IL the only outward honor
Old Nassau has so far shown the
American War President, there have
been suggestions in recent times of q
Wilson law school at Princeton. Tiger
alumni In New York are still consider
ing what form . woodrow Wilson
memorial at the university shall take.
Wilson'S League of Nations policies
have probably intensified campus ami
mosities toward him and his memory,
especially among the generation Of
Princetonians who have been on the
campus during the past nine years. AL
though the undergraduate body Is TAX
ing part for the FIRST time in an i'm
portant university celebration Of the
sort, there Is said to be In no sense
Wilsonian circumstance" among the
students. President Hibben points out
that the forthcoming honors are being
paid to Wilson not by Princeton, but
By Wing Hall, TO wilson as one-tinne
Copyright, 1922