Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
Did Wilson Want to Quit

Col. Edward M. House, who was the
closest and most intimate friend OF
Woodrow Wilson during his presidential
career, says in an interview printed in
the Boston Post that on the night Of
the election in 1915 as he and the
President sat together in the White
House study and saw the returns come
in that clearly indicated the victory OF
the Republicans and the election Of
Hughes, President wilson said to him:
1 am satisfied Of my defeat and to-
morrow or the next day I Will resign
as President of the United States and
turn the Office over to Mr.. Hughes
Since he Is the choice Of the people
and a situation of tremendous uncer-
tainty is caused by the World War, 1t
Is only fair that he should take the
helm Immediately. Gregory (then At
torney GeneraD assures me that my
program is entirely legal. It is this:
Vice President Marshall win resign. I
will remove Lansing (Secretary Of
State) and appoint Hughes. Then hav-
ing done this will resign myself.
Which is most interesting indeed, as
casting light upon the temperament Of
Mr.. Wilson, but of no historical i'm
portance whatever in view Of the early
change In the election prospect and
the eventual disclosure Of the defeat Of
Mr.. Hughes. Before the President had
time to arrange for the resignation of
the Vice President and the removal Of
the Secretary Of State and the accept
ance of the latter Office by Mr.. Hughes
the electoral vote Of California was
found to have been cast for the Demo-
cratic candidate and the situation was
reversed.
1t IS not disclosed by Col. House
whether any understanding had been
had with Vice President Marshall to
step aside to make room for the Hughes
appointment. Perhaps President VIII
son took it for granted that a hint
from him to his associate would cause
REIMBURSEMENT of the vice presidential
Office. With recollection of the hap
penings of few years later, when
an effort was made by highly infiu-
entail persons to substitute Mr.. Mar
shall for Mr.. Wilson in the White
House when the latter was desperately
Ill and was by some believed to be
incapacitated for the discharge Of his
duties, 1t may be questioned whether
the second in command" would have
been willingly a party to such pro-
gram. There is always a satisfaction
i,, 1F
for a brief period, and Mr.. Marshall
might have felt that he was the one
who should take the chair for the
interval between election and inaugu-
ration II it was vacated.
AS for the removal of the Secre-
tary Of State to create q vacancy for
the appointment of Mr.. Hughes, there
Is no question on the score Of the
Presidents power to effect such q
change. Indeed he later in effect re-
moved Mr.. Lansing from that ONCE.
But there arises the question Of whether
Mr.. Hughes would have consented to
agree to such an arrangement. In
all likelihood he will never say what
he would have done If Mr.. Wilson had
attempted to put through his project
of retirement So the whole matter
becomes simply one Of interesting
speculation, and assuming that Col.
House is correctly reported and has
himself correctly repeated the words Of
Mr.. Wilson, 1t remains as an illumi-
mating side light on the temperament
of the War President.