COLONEL HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 12

COLONEL HOUSE

CUIDE, PHILOSOPHER, AND FRIEND OF PRESIDENT WILSON

AN AMERICAN MYSTERY

"What cio you know about House?" Ask tlio iivcrnge American citizen that question, mid hi! is Jilcolj to reply: "House? E. M. .llouso? Why, he's-; he's President Wilson's friend." Eight there he will probably stick, and it is ten to one that lie cannot tell whether he Uaib from New York or Texas; whether he is a lawyer, business man, or a plain politician. Eor without intending it, Colonol Edward llandell House, the President's personal representative on'the European War-Mission, is very much of a man if mystery in his own country. Ho does not represent tha United States Government by virtue of any office. He seeks neither place, power, nor political preferment. He is an ambassador and a Minister, but he bears no portfolio ror credentials. In his Buffalo speech'in the middle of November, President Wilson thus referred to Air. House and his mission: "I sent a friend of mine, Colonel House, to Europe. He is as great a lover of peace as any man in the world, hut. I did not send him on a nenco mission; I sent him to tako part in a conference as to how the war is to be won; and ho knows, as 1 know, that that is the way to get peace, if you want it for more than a few miuutes." Colonel Honse is a name known tho world over, but only a small group 0 f intimates knows the man. There has frequently, in the history of our Govern, ment, been a man, or mind, behind the "throne." There was Hanna in tha day? of M'Kinley, when you had to "see Hanria." There .was Wood, when Eoosevelt ruled. Wood was his most intimate "chum.'" You didn't "haTe to so'" Wood, but a word from him'was a prized token that reaehd Roosevelt's ear direct. There wa3 Hay, when Harrison was in power— afterwards Consul-General at London, the most valued prize id tho executive gift-box. And there was Hornblower' in the Cleveland ,days. In the case of Colonel House there is a distinction and a difference quite dissimilar from the relation of his predecessors in potentiality. ITous9 is a mental equilibrium, a gyroscope, a stabiliser, a confidant, a sounding-board, and an ambassador, ex jure, of the Presidential mental slant. He kr.ows what the President's thought emanations are and how to feed them upon what they seek.

President Wilson has been quoted as Baying of Colonel House: "Ho is ono of those rare men who can hold a subject off while discussing it so that you can g«t a proper perspective. His mind is so clear that he grasps any subject and ■enables you to seo it as it is, without any reflected light or any distorting angle.". It is known that in 1912. nhsn Mr. Wilson was Governor of New Jersey, some letters passed between him and the mysterious Texan. Whether tbo colonel or the then Governor wrote tho first letter is not recorded. But this fact stands out above all else: In 1912, Colonel E. M. House, of Austin, Texas, was scarcely known outsido' tho Lono Star State. By February, 1913. the name of Colonel House had appeared in practically every newspaper in the country! "Wbo is he?" was asked. "A man from Texas," was tho ".uswer. "Yes, but what has he-doneP" "Nothing, except dabble in State politics." "Ah, a politician. What officen has he heldP What office docs he hold?" "He holds no political office, no nerer has held political office-and what he says goes!" "Well, then," conies the puazled plaint, "how did lie get into print?" And tho only reply was then as it is now, "He is the closest friend uf Woodrow Wilson. We believe ho is a political adviser of the President. The President admires him probably more than any other man. Doubtless Colonel Houso's suggestions in regard to the Cabinet and to scores of other things wa fcnow not of, nor will ever know, have been followed." Now comes the politicians leading question:

"But what does he get out of it?" Ifs a natural' question—from the standpoint of politics. And the reply is one that few veteran politician can understand. "He gets nothing out of it except the satisfaction of honaitly believing that he is serving his country and his party. He is. a believer in measures hut not of individuals." A Biographical Sketch. Colonel House was fiftv-ono yeais old on July 26 last. Ho is the son of Mr. T. W. House, a successful Texas banker. The colonel was born in Houston, but made his hone in Austin. He inherited some money but made the larger part of his fortune in Agriculture, investments,, and "similar ways. He became' a director in somo banks and railroads, bnt only in corporations where he could tako an active part. Ho never believed in being; a cirector unless one can actually help direct. The latojlenry B. Hyde got him a directorship in the Equitable Trust Company, but when he found that he could not attend all the meetings and take an active part, he promptly gnvo it up. Aside from his banking and railroad interests he made much money with.his many farms and ranches. Ho owns many of these and they all pay him well. " j\o one knows the extent of his wealth. It isn't great as so many multimillionai.'es are ranked, but all sorts of guesses from ono to twenty millions have .been made. Tho favourite "guess." and the one probably approaching the nearest to correctness, is. 2,000,000 dollars (.-CMO.OOO).

He has 6aid that he has enough money. He doesn't cave to make any more. Ho has explained that he has more than ho can uso, enough for his children, and ihat he sees no reason to struggle for more. Ho has a business office in Austin, one small -.oom with an old-fashioned, flat-topped ■ desk that has seen batter days, a few filing-cases, some chairs, a small, old-fashioned safe, and upon the glass door this lettering, "Mr. Edward M. House."

Even in his native Slate they do not know much about tho men—but they know what; he can do. AVhenevcr thcro is a, gubernatorial campaign the question comes up: "Is House in this?" And if it is found that: he is, they know that he is very much "in this," and that his man will in all probability win. Reticence Personified. Colonel House's reticence amounts almost to bashfulness. When he worked so successfully for tho nomination of Mr. Wilson in 11)12 the newspaper men (locked to him. And it was 'lien that ho made this statement, which is considered a record-breaker for him: "To a man such as I ;»m publicity is not only annoying, but injurious. I am not seeking anything for myself, and I am not scekinj, anything for anybody else; I am simply trying to do the best I can for the measures 1 favour. I am for measures, not men. To say that 1 have been able to accomplish anything would only bo to draw upon me attention which would be mast distasteful. I am not working for any influence that might be obtained, or favours ihat might be granted; I am just a plain citizen, and determined to remain one." The CoWl-this title, by the way, is his by Southern "courtesy"' only-oiico hold an ofllco for a brief moment. Ho was made chairman of tho cxeoutive committee that put Governor ,-anham in office, but alter ho had accepted he said: "I cannot see for tho life of me why I took this. I'll resign." And he did.