WILSON'S SIDE PARTNER.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1917, Page 8

WILSON'S SIDE PARTNER.

SILENT COLONEL HOUSE VALUED, ADVISER TO PRESIDENT. . KNOWN AS "MYSTERY MAN." •* New York, March 20. Tlie great crisis which has faced this country since the beginning of hostilities in Europe has strikingly emphasised the dependence of President Wilson on Colonel Edward M. House,,the "little man of mystery," the mild, big-eared, listening, whispering little man, who has played a quiet hand in the destiny of the United States since Wilson became the nation's chief executive. Official Washington had not recovered from its amazement at Germany's announcement of unrestricted submarine warfare when the President wired to Col. House to come to the capital at once. And this action was not a surprise, for Americans have become accustomed to the "directing whisper" of the Texas colonel. They have come to look upon him as the Administration's unofficial adviser—a man who has won a reputation for veracity, for quiet, unrewarded service, and for a willingness to work for his country without desire or expectation of public office or honor. Col. House, moreover, is said to have a way of "clearing things," of making light shine through the darkest cloud of doubt. This suggests why he is sent for when President Wilson is confronted with a grave problem. MAN OF INDEPENDENT WEALTH. Investigation of his history reveals that House was born with a silver spoon jin his mouth. 'His father was a rich planter, banker and man of affairs in j Austin, Texas. The son was Bent to a j school in Connecticut to prepare for eolI lege, and in the course of time he graduated from Cornell University. When his father died, Col. House inherited a handsome fortune. shrewd business man, he added to his patrimony. Today he is a large land owner in his native State, and is interested in banking and other enterprises in the East. In Texas he has been a power in politics for more than 20 years. He also has travelled much, and is as much at home in London or Paris or Berlin as he is on the streets of Austin or New York. Before Wilson knew much about it, the colonel's "directing whisper" was making friends for Wilßon in. various parts of the country. Later Wilson and House met and discovered that they agreed on almost everything in politics. Then came the Baltimore convention, in which stubborn struggle William Jennings Byran, Col. House and other staunch cliapions o! the New Jersey governor "put Wilson over." • THE ADMINISTRATION SCOUT. Before the Administration was well under way it became plain that when President Wilson wanted an unprejudiced opinion on men or things he sent for Col. House. When it came to making the Wilson cabinet, Bouse was right on the job. When the Administration wanted to fill important offices, Col. House was delegated to look over the field of available.*. It was largely through Col. House that Vance McCormick was chosen to lead tiu- President to a second victory in the last election. When, in li)lo, Mr. Wilson wanted to get a close viewpoint on the situation in the war zone, he sent Col. House to Europe. The colonel, in his usual plain democratic manner, had two interviews witli the King of England, and talked with Asquith, Lloyd George, Kitchener,

President Poincaire of France, Deleave, Viviani, von Jagow, Chancellor von Bctli-mann-Hollweg and many other notables. He "sized up" Europe, came home and reported to the President, There the matter ended for him. Col. House is the one important figure in American life of whom reporters always muH admit "he had nothing to say."