THE REAL WOODROW WILSON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 265, 5 April 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE REAL WOODROW WILSON.

By ISAAC F. MARCOSSON, in the London Daily Mail.

Mr. Marcosson, who in ono of the best known of American journalists, ig now making nis third visit to England since the, outlxreak of the war. He is perhaps the foremost American authority on finance, and id tlie author of a much-discussed of Mr. Lloyd George, with its message to America, which appeared recently in an English magazine.

1 first met Woodrow Wilson in 1911, when ho was Governor of New Jersey. With the almost precpitate sudden, ness which accompanies 'publicity ;iv. America he had been projected from the academic quiet of a college presidency into the fierce light that beats about national politics. He was a Presidential possibility. If your Kings wore elected by popular vote you would find the parallel in an active Governor ot. Kent (assuming that there .was such an office) being almost unexpectedly considered as a candidate for the national rulership. This swift projostion into the arena of national life, however, was not as sudden as appeared on the surface. The explanation furnishes the first intimate index to the character of the President who has faced tho most difficult and solemn problems encountered by an American Executive since Lincoln's day. AVhen Wilson was a struggling lawyer in a Southern State he saw the vision of a national career rounded out with the goal that is the dream of every American schoolboy—the Presidency. Then began a definite campaign of preparation—slow, sometimes stokd, but always persistent Those who know Woodrow' Wilson best —and they are not many—know that he has always felt himself to be more or less a Man of Politca] Destiny. Now comes the first and only kinship with Theodore Roosevelt, who almost from birth has believed himself to be an inspired Nation Mentor. E.ich of these men realised nis dream by different procossos that are astonisluihgly typical of their temperament.

Roosevelt was inevitable. Exiled int > the political eclipse which masks under the office of Vico-PrcsidSnt; he was raised to the Presidency by the tragic death of William McKinley. But, regardless of circumstances, he would have risen. It is as impossible to suppress him as, it is to curb Nagara. He had become iwhat the United States called Grant—a Man on Horseback—which means that he had been literacy dashed into politics on the red wave of war. The exploits of the Rough Riders

in the Cuban War made Roosevelt Governor of New York, which is one traditional approach to the White House. With Wilson, on the other hand, there was none of the glamour of spectacular heroism, no tumult or shouting. His elevation to the highest office in the g!ift of the people was tho final net of a silent drama of'patient preparedness. It explains, perhaps, what seemed to be his interminable forbearance of German insult and aggression. His Job-like attitude which rasped so many of his countrymen bespoke no lack »f patriotism. It was merely Wilson the Man pursuing, as Wilson the President, the unhurried tenor of his way to reach in time tho moment of action. THE MAN AND HIS METHODS. Let me illustrate. When I first met the President I had been "assigned" to write a magazine interview with him. It was an important moment in his career. Millions would read what he said. As a matter of fact, his utterances became a campaign document. His procedure was characteristic of what he did in real crises.

We rode in liiis motor-car from Trenton, the capital of New Jersey, down to Sea Girt, his summer home. He talked of business, labour, capital, the tariffs all those subjects that pressed down upon tho mind of America. Unlike Boosevolt, whoso speech is like a rapid-fire gun at work, Wilson talks slowly, deliberately, carefully weighing his words. Roosevelt acts or speaks first and thinks afterwards. Hia mistakes are those of action. Wilson is just the reverse. His errors lie on caution's side.

Like most American public men, he spoko frankly. When I submitted the manuscript of tho interview to him he almost completely revised it, because he had changed his mind about the various subjects. Perhaps I should say that he changed the form of expression rather .than his mind. He wanted no unhappy word to recoil on his head. Mr. Wilson was then lean of face, long and hard of jaw (it is the Scotch i.i him), with a clear and calculating eye, and hair only moderately sprinkled with grey. He lacks Roosevelt's sunburst of "a smile, but he can relax, for ho has a very keen sense of humour. Tho war has "aged him just as- it /ias matured everyone. His fate is leaner, tho jaw looks longer but firmer, his hair is almost white. There are deep lines aibout Ins mouth —etched by the travail of long and anxious .waiting. They began when the Lusitun'a wassuuli.

In those searching days you got a glimpse of tin; working of Wilson's mind. Ho became, a nmi aloof. ll'almost lived in hi* -rtudy; he took solitary walks into the. country. Alow: n«» wrestled with the problem that meant peace or war for Irs country. He practically took no counsel of Ins as-.ociatcs. A definite reason for this wtis that Mr. Bryan, by the grace of politic**, happened to l>e Secretary of State. But his whole conduct reflected one ol h's strongest traits, which is. a* the Americans .say, "to go it alone." I happen to know that in several of the great war emergencies—more especially his peace move he deliberately ignored the advice of those believed to bo hj" e!o-<-st friends. With the exception of lloesevelt he has established more precedent* tlnm any other Pies dent. Xot Mince Washington's dav has any Chief Executive ol the nation appeared in pcr-on before ConrrroFS Vet Wilson did this on moro than""one occa-ion. This performancn invests a State document with what, Amor civ keenly like - the tl«ii;» known as human interest.

THK PARALLEL WITH LINCOLN'

Tlrs leads me to one of his greatest gifts—on oratory strangely effeetivo when tou consider his tntfcmw struo-

tore. It mi.s.s.'-, the Cod-given fervour ol Lloyd Courgo's e!o(|Uence; has none of the iinpas-ionod lire that Hooscvolt |uit,s into lii.s speeches. But it ha-< a linLshed, polished, and well-nigli perfect expression of word and delivery thai: never fails to hold attention. He talks precisely as he write-*—brilliantly. Sivc only Roosevelt, no living American apI roaches h'm as phrase-maker. One curious fact about Wi'son's method is tl it he writes all his important work on a -mall typewriter himself. He knows shorthand, and his. plan is to jot down the speech, mc-sigo, or Idler in ;>. iiulnlwok in the form <f shorthand notes and then transcribe iliem. His famous \<>te to Oermanv after the tor-pedo-ng of the Lusitanta was done in LlVj W?V. Wood-row Wilson has mere than a community of grave war responsibiitv with Abraham I/moln. Fyke the Great Kmancipitor, he prefer, to point his moral or drive hem • h s argument with c story. - One of h ; s favourites is of n doughty sea. captain who had to deal with a noisy and mutinous crew. He got thorn to-

geth< r on the deck one day and in language move forceful than elegant laid down the law. Tn.cn he added with vehemence : " All I want of you men is silence, and not much of that."

Anal.vie Wilson's speeches and letters and you will find a Lincoln-ike simpicity .•hi 1 dire.-tne.-i of style and with it, in many instances the same kind of 'homely applicatin of trutns. It's historic speech to Congress in wliich he defied Germany, may well claim kinship with some of Lincoln's noblest utterances, and move espe-iallv the Second Inntigral Speech. I am one of many Americans who have differed from President Wil-on in policy and politics, who felt alter the o'iiei'al inertia following the sinking of the Lustania, that his Amrrcaniwii had become diluted. But eventually he has found tl'o way to the truth and to t: e light. Having do laved th » faith, he u ill abide by his declson. It is the Wil 0:1 way. His Americanism, now the Amereanisin of an aroused and united people, i-s henceforth part of that larger world-mnvl of organised protest against Butht ris \\ brutality.