The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-03-28
Col. House, Master Politician
Who Stayed in Background
Wrote Original Draft
: OF Wilson League
:. Of Nations

e EDWARD M. HOUSE, q ITAl spec
tacled Texan, belonged to that
tiny group of statesmen politicians
whose conclusions became the
Allied policy of the World War.
There were three others-Lloyd
George, Of Great Britain, Orlando,
OF Italy, and Clemenceau, Of
France. ..-.a.
Only Lloyd George survives
among the string.pullers, as he
has survived all the great field
commanders.
AID INVALUABLE
a House carried the brand of poll
tics upon which he had been vir.
tually sucked, back on the prairie,
into the courts Of the mighty
across the water-and found them
good medicine for his purpose. He
might not have Jared so well in
q post or pre-war arms limitation
conference but his canny sense of
timing and his judgment Of men
Kept us out Of the great conflict
until the last possible moment. He
knew his country was headed for
1t but he kept the brakes on as
long as they were able to function.
Born in Houston, Texas, Colonel
House would have been 80 years
old had he lived until next July
rs. His early schooling was gath
cred in his native State and he
later, attended Cornell University.
>. NEVER SOUGHT OFFICE
:, He inherited wealth and took
up Texas politics because he
loved the feel of intrigue. His
debut, back in the eighties, was
as campaign manager for Cover
nor Hogg. In succession, pulling
The strings, he made State Cover.
norS out Of Culberson, Savers and
Lanham. He could have been
governor himself on any one of
these four occasions, but he pre-
Ierred, as always, the background.
i introduced to Woodrow Wilson
ny his brother.in-law, Professor
Arson, Of Rice University. Hous-
ton, when the future President was
stu head Of Princeton University.
House became one of the original
W1lsonites at the Baltimore con
Vention Of 1912.
!. REFUSED CABINET POST
He was first q convention adj
wiser, then a campaign adviser
and, when the goal was finally
reached, became adviser-extraor.
binary. He refused q cabinet
post, telling Sthe President he
could serve him better in the back
ground.
y, His first commiSsion-from the
war angle-waS a visit to the
German Kaiser in the late spring
Of 1914. The war clouds were
gathering but had not yet broken.
Wilhelm said, many years later, of
the Soft-Spoken little Texan.
Colonel Houses visit to Der.
lin and subsequent. visit to Lon.
don cleared up a misunderStand-
stng. But for Sarajevo he could
ahave been credited with prevent
sing the World War"
70 ASSASSIN UPSET CART
r(The assassination of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo in
June Of the same year ended the
pourparlerS and precipitated the
cOnflict.) .
3sFrom that fateful day, practi-
cally until the entry of the United
States, Colonel House journeyed
through war-torn countries, con-
suited with kings, princes, pre-
miers and generals. OF course
there were frequent trips home
when the American observer
would spread his reports, always
verbally on these occasions, before |
the President. On one of these
visits he is said to have told Wood
row Wilson:
"You may be able to stay out
OF 1t until after you have a Sec
sond term-but no longer"
- PROPHECY TRUE
Wilson was reelected in Novem-
Der Of 1916 and took office in
March, 1917. On April 6, the
United States declared war on
Germany.
Is It was at the request of Wilson
that Colonel House made the first |
draft Of his principals idealiStic
League of Nations platform. At
the sessions Of the Treaty Of Yer
SailleS he was second in command
when Wilson was absent in the
Emitted States or through illness
In Paris.
e2 1t was House who was seated
as the American member of the
big four-Lloyd George, Orlando,
Clemenceau and himself. And it
was the little Texan who signed
the treaty on behalf Of his country.
For months previous to the
Armistice he had been the Ameri-
can member Of the Supreme War
Council, which included such men
as Marshal Joffre, Field Marshal
Sir william Robertson, General
Diaz. Lloyd George, Clemenceau
and Lord Grey, Of Falloden.
1.-The still mysterious break be-
tween the war President and his
chief war adviser occurred soon
after Mr.. wilson's League of Ma
lions proposal had been rejected
by Congress. 1t has been said
that Mr.. Wilson put the blame
fpr defeat on House.
TT has also been said that House
disagreed with the theology, al
though he drafted the proposal at
Wilson's request.