Woodrow Wilson, his life and work; a complete story of the life of Woodrow Wilson, teacher, historian, philosopher, and statesman, including his great speeches, letters and messages, also a complete account of the World Peace Conference

Front matter

WOOD ROW WILSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

HIS LIFE AND WORK

A complete story of the life of Woodrow Wilson, Teacher, Historian, Philosopher, and Statesman, including his great speeches, letters and messages — also a complete account of the World Peace Conference.

Chapter I His Birth And Eaely Life

Thomas Woodrow Wilson is born in Staunton, Va — He is the son of a clergyman— His ancestry— His life as a boy— His playmates— His school days— Oft to college— He first goes to Davidson College— Later to Princeton— Becomes a student of law and politics— His interest in international events ^

Chapter II The Lawyer And Professor

He enters the practice of law— Rennick & Wilson— The failure of the venture— Woodrow Wilson becomes an author— He meets Ellen Louise Axson— His courtship— He returns to college— Is ottered a professorship on publication of his book— He accepts the offer of Bryn Mawr College— His marriage to Miss Axson— Is made a professor at Wesleyan University— The return to Princeton University— President of his Alma Mater— He institutes many needed reforms

Chapter III Governor Of New Jersey Page

The political situation in New Jersey— Reform is sweeping the country — Woodrow Wilson is chosen by the Democratic boss as a candidate — A mistake by the boss — Doctor Wilson opposes Boss Smith for Senator — He is nominated as candidate for Governor — The election — The fight on Smith — The new governor breaks up the machines — The rage of the politicians — New Jersey is given the best primary law in the country — The presidency looms up 46

Chapter IV The Presidential Nominee

The Democratic Convention of 1912 — The wildest in the history of the party — Governor Wilson nominated after days of deliberation — The entire party united behind him — President Taft and Colonel Roosevelt his opponents — His speech of acceptance . . 60

Chapter V Woodrow Wilson Elected President

The spectacular campaign — The Democratic landslide — Wilson elected President — His inauguration — The celebration in Washington — The inaugural address 71

Chapter VI A Fearless President Page

The new President wastes no time — He chooses his cabinet — He reverts to an ancient precedent and addresses congress in person — Revision of the tariff — The Underwood Bill — President Wilson seeks the desires of the people — The Federal Reserve Banks — The President publishes a new book 83

Chapter VII The Mexican Question

Revolution in Mexico becomes anarchy — Huerta seizes the government — President Wilson sends John Lind, former governor of Minnesota, to Mexico City — His instructions — The insolent reply to his questions—He returns to the United States— President Wilson addresses congress on the problem — Outlines his plan 99

Chapter VIII The First Presidential Message

President Wilson delivers his first message in person —He tells of the state of the Union— A description of the situation in Mexico — Promises an attack on "Big Business " H*

Chapter IX The Destruction Of Monopoly Page

President Wilson attacks monopolies in congress — He declares that they must be removed — Asks for anti-trust legislation — His demand resulted in the Clayton Anti-trust bill and the Federal Trade Commission act — The Panama Canal dispute — The President asks for repeal of the tolls clause — Congress repeals the offensive portion of the law — The death of the President's wife — The funeral 126

Chapter X The World War

President Wilson distressed by the conflict — He calls the attention of the belligerents to the Declaration of London — The replies are cordial — The President prepares to insist on American rights — The famous Neutrality Proclamation — American revenue demoralized by the war — President Wilson addresses congress and asks for additional revenue 143

Chapter XI America's Rights

The United States enters a new phase — President Wilson realizes the new trade possibilities — His address to the United States Chamber of Commerce — German threats against neutral shipping — President Wilson's protest — Great Britain's use of the American flag — The President insists on America's rights — Lays down principles to govern all belligerents — His stern reply to Great Britain 173

Chapter XII The Sinking Of The Lusitania Page

The fiendish plot — How it was hatched — German agents active in America — The sinister advertisement — Prominent Americans aboard — The false message — The ship attacked by submarines — Americans lose their lives — The world aghast — Rejoicing in Germany — President Wilson sends the first note — The reply unsatisfactory — William Jennings Bryan resigns from the cabinet — The President refuses to allow passage of resolutions warning Americans to ' ' stay at home ' ' — The nation backs the President . . . 190

Chapter XIII Germany Called To Account

President Wilson's second note on the Lusitania — German reply unsatisfactory — President Wilson sends sharp note — Tells Germany repetition will be considered as "deliberately unfriendly" — Germany recedes from position — The President's second romance — His engagement is announced — His marriage and honeymoon 208

Chapter XIV The International Lawyer

Great Britain's methods denounced by the President — He argues the question on a basis of international l aw — Quotes many authorities in a note addressed to the Mistress of the Seas — His claim recognized — The President emerges victorious from the controversy. . 223

Chapter XV The Third Message Page

The President asks congress to increase the armed forces of the United States — He dwells at length on the Mexican question — His opinion of the Philippines — Demands a strong navy 237

Chapter XVI President Wilson On Preparedness

" America First" — The President declares his thorough Americanism — "If any man wants a scrap ... I am his man" — Urges the Associated Press to avoid false rumors — His address at the Manhattan Club in New York — The Preparedness Campaign — His speech in Pittsburgh — Villa attacks Columbus, N. M. — American troops sent in pursuit — Carranza aroused — The fight at Carrizal — The National Guard mobilized — Carranza backs down 264

Chapter XVII Submarine Warfare Resumed

The sinking of the Sussex — President Wilson threatens to break relations with Germany — The act disavowed — He informs congress of his action — The controversy closed — A diplomatic victory for the President 290

Chapter XVIII The Eight-hour Law Page

President Wilson urges the adoption of the Eight- Hour Railroad Law — He champions the cause of the workingmen — Is opposed by the employers — Defeats their designs — The laAv is passed 305

Chapter XIX President Wilson Renominated

The issues at stake in 1916 — The Democratic platform — President Wilson insists that Americanism be made an issue — He is opposed by Charles Evans Hughes — Nominated by acclamation — His speech of acceptance — Says he will uphold American rights on the sea 318

Chapter XX President Wilson Re-elected

The campaign — One of the most bitter in history — Many issues at stake — The voters bewildered — Many say nothing — President Wilson speaks at Abraham Lincoln's birthplace — He also addresses the Woman Suffrage Convention — Promises new reforms in business legislation — Attacks Wall Street — The election — President Wilson victorious 342

Chapter XXI The Fourth Message Page

President Wilson urges many vital changes in the Preparedness programme — Advocates the passage of a Corrupt Practices Act — Congratulates congress on the work performed 363

Chapter XXII The President's Peace Proposal

The President suggests peace negotiations to the warring powers — Germany accepts the offer with conditions — The Allies refuse — President Wilson states his views in congress — They are widely discussed — He emphasizes self-determination of peoples He vetoes the Literacy Bill 375

Chapter XXIII Relations With Germany Severed

The Germans announce unrestricted submarine warfare — The President hands Von Bernstorff his passports — He goes before congress and declares diplomatic relations with Germany have been severed — Accuses the German Government of faithlessness — He next demands permission to arm merchant ships — They are armed — His inaugural address 394

Chapter XXIV The United States At War Page

The President asks congress to accept the German defi — Asks for Selective Service legislation — War is declared — "Make the World Safe for Democracy" — No quarrel with the German people — The pledge of life and fortune — The President's proclamation — Billions for defense 410

Chapter XXV The Appeal To The American People

President Wilson issues a message to the people — Pleads for unity of purpose — The nation united — The Selective Draft — The whole nation goes to war — Food control — President Wilson sends a message to the Russian people — He denounces disloyalty and warns the country against German agents 430

Chapter XXVI The Voice Of The Allies

Pope Benedict asks for war aims of the belligerents-— The Allies look to President Wilson to announce their views — The fifth annual message — The President asks for war on Austria — Congress declares war 444

Chapter XXVII The Fourteen Points Page

President Wilson states* the war aims of the Allies — He enunciates his famous "Fourteen Points" — The reply of Von Hertling — His address repeated by Czernin — President Wilson again attacks the German war aims 464

Chapter XXVIII The Challenge Of Force

President Wilson accepts the Challenge of Force- He declares that the war must be brought to a victorious finish — Demands the views of the German people 484

Chapter XXIX No Peace By Compromise

The President rejects the overtures of the Central Empires for a debate — Announces that terms have been stated — Refuses to consider other terms — Denounces the treaties of Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest —Speaks for the Allies 495

Chapter XXX The Enemy Whines For Peace Page

The German Empire and the Kaiser ask for peace — Attempt to ignore the " Fourteen Points" — The President asks if the chancellor represents the German people or the Imperial government — The Germans dodge the issue — President Wilson demands unconditional surrender — He refers the Germans to Marshal Foch — The Austrians surrender — The Germans appeal to Foch for an armistice 508

Chapter XXXI The Armistice

The President reads the terms of armistice to congress — Germany is militarily defeated — The demands of the Allies — Germans ordered to retreat to east of the Rhine — Forced to surrender munitions of war — The war comes to an end 525

Chapter XXXII The Victory Message

President Wilson's Sixth Presidential Message — Tells the story of the victory — The American army- How the entire country won the war — Reduction in expenditures — Declares his intention to attend the peace conference — Gives many reasons — Prepares for departure 537

Chapter XXXIII The Peace Conference Page

The President the dominating figure of the conference — The most notable gathering of statesmen in history — The League of Nations Committee — The Committee of the Big Four — The League of Nations Covenant — President Wilson's first draft 557

Chapter XXXIV The Demands Of The Victors

I The price of peace — The United Staffed a,sks nothing

— The British demands — France^Italy^-Belgium —

— r"> Japan — The Balkan states — A l^ga^r-price — Many

I questions of international importance — Herbert

yHoover, world food administrator, feeds Germany. . 577

Chapter XXXV Lloyd George Defends President Wilson

Lloyd George returns to England — He addresses parliament — Answers his critics — Arraigns Northcliffe for attacks on the President — Tells of the difficulties at the peace conference — Discusses the Russian situation — Tells why allied troops are fighting in Russia . . 591

Chapter XXXVI The Italian Embroglio Page

Italy demands Fiume — President Wilson opposes Premier Orlando — The demand is based on the Treaty of London — President Wilson declares he is not a party to the London agreement — The clause of the treaty in question — Orlando threatens to quit — The Germans accept an invitation to attend the conference — Japanese diplomacy — Italy deserts the conference 614

Chapter XXXVII The League Of Nations

The revised covenant of the League of Nations — Provision made for withdrawal of nations — Geneva named as the seat of the league— Provision for reduction of armaments— Monroe Doctrine is made an integral part— The mandatory clause — The Bureau of Labor — The nations participating 640

Chapter Xxxviii President Wilson Speaks

He enters a motion for the adoption of the covenant- Explains the changes — The President nominates Sir James Eric Drummond for secretary general — His motion is passed — The covenant accepted by the nations 660

Chapter XXXIX The German Emissaries Page

The German delegates arrive in Versailles — The Germans in the occupied territory attempt to celebrate — The y are stopped by American military police — "Tando returns to Rome and explains Italy's stand — President Wilson issues a statement on the Italian question — Declares his friendship for Italy 675

Chapter XL Japanese Aims Attained

The Chinese aims defeated — Japan obtains possession of the Shantung peninsula — President Wilson betrayed by Great Britain and France — Diplomatic notes exposing Japanese deceit — The Germans present their credentials — Helplessness of the German nation 684

Chapter XLI The Germans Receive The Peace Treaty

Premier Clemenceau hands the document to the Germans — His address — The reply of Count von Brockdorff-Rantzau 699

Chapter XLII The Peace Teeaty Page

Official summary of the treaty— The League of Nations is made part of the treaty— German territory ceded to France — Poland recognized 706

CHAPTER XLIII THE PEACE TEEATY (Continued)

Eeparations provided— Germany forced to pay damages for lives of submarine victims — The indemnity —The Ehine bridges go to France— The Kiel canal opened to the world — Germany to be occupied by the allied army for fifteen years 729

Chapter XLIV Geemany Ceushed

The German people stunned by the peace terms— A week of mourning ordered by the Berlin government —Total indemnity is estimated at $450,000,000,000 — The reaction leads to an indignant outburst — Maximilian Harden tells Germany to sign or accept worse conditions later— The first protest from the German delegation on the peace treaty— President Wilson directs the reply— The President decides to remain in Paris — Brockdorff-Eantzau proceeds to Berlin and announces on his return that he will sign. 748

Chapter XLV The Peesident Calls Congress Page

Congress meets in special session — The President's message — The question of labor — Foreign trade field — Revision of taxes — Tariff problems — Protection of the dye industry — Safeguards for the United States — The President's recommendation of woman suffrage — The telephone and railroad problem — He urges the repeal of the prohibition law — He continues his work with the peace conference — The Germans seek to evade responsibility — They are pinned down to the facts — Brockdorff-Rantzau asks for more time — His request is granted 756

TO CRITICS OF PRESIDENT WILSON

Ye safe and formal men, who with unf evered hands weigh in nice scales the motives of the great, how can ye know what ye have never tried?

And so the Nile is fretted by the reeds

it roots not up. — "Richelieu."

Preface

While President Wilson became the leading figure in world affairs when this country entered the war, and exercised influence amounting to positive authority in extremely difficult international readjustments throughout the interval between the armistice and the signing of peace, he has yet to be understood for what he is and what he has done. For that reason this history of his career is timely and necessary.

It presents him as an individual and a statesman actuated by one unswerving purpose — a determination to promote and perfect a genuine government by the people, a government democratic in the pure, inclusive meaning of that word.

Any American familiar with the operation of party politics behind the open acts of our government knows that up to the time Mr. Wilson became Governor of New Jersey the whole system was directed by "machines" — a euphemism for barter and spoils. That state was an extreme example of spoliative political organization. To his masterful leadership as Governor, New Jersey owes its liberation from political cattle herding ; and the nation the now cardinal primary law, under which political initiative rests with the voters themselves under provisions that make corruption at the source of things an impossibility.

If he had done no more than this he would have earned a place high up among the great ; but it was only the first of a long line of acts by which the nation has been brought forward from the musty conditions of fifty preceding years into clear air and healthful public life. He is a sanitarian of governments, a figure distinct among the apostles of real liberty. His patriotism is passionate ; but his reasoning is clear, though cold — and very broad, very alert and comprehensive, as all the nations know.

The pages here following show him in impartial light. Not all of his countrymen agree with him in all things. No man of high ideals so steadily upheld can escape criticism, but no man is less disturbed thereby. He has taken the torch of truth from the hands of the Fathers, and holds, and will pass it on, more luminant than it was — even as Lincoln did, and Washington before him. This history of his life and acts should reinspire everyone whose fortunate lot it is to be an American citizen ; for it shows them one of themselves, as plain, as unaffected as any, standing to the world as one of the foremost men that ever lived in the tides of time.

Chapter I His Birth And Early Life

Woodrow Wilson, the twenty-eighth president of the United States, was born December 28th, 1856, in Staunton, Va.

He was the son of Reverend Joseph Ruggles Wilson, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church, and Janet Woodrow Wilson, to whom Reverend Wilson had been married on June 7th, 1849. Mrs. Wilson was born in Carlisle, England.

The Wilson family had been one of pioneers and their early history dated back to the time when James Wilson, an Irish emigrant boy, landed at the port of New York, shortly before the end of the eighteenth century, seeking a place in the new world.

James Wilson proceeded to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ of William Duane, a newspaper publisher. There it was he learned to set type by the old hand method and there he met Anne Adams, a young Irish girl who had come over on the same ship with him. They were married and remained in Philadelphia until after the war of 1812, when they moved to Pittsburgh, which was then on the frontiers. The next journey was to Ohio, where James Wilson located in the town of Steubenville and began to publish a newspaper called the Western Herald.

The venture was successful and the pioneer journalist taught the entire business to his seven sons, who became expert at the trade. The paper grew and waxed prosperous, so that James Wilson came to be addressed as Judge Wilson by his friends, while his enemies feared his sharp and caustic comments published in the columns of the Western Herald.

Among these political enemies was Samuel Medary, who, according to Judge Wilson, was too prominent in the public limelight. On one occasion, while speaking from a public platform, Medary 's friends chanced to boast of the fact that he was born in Ohio. The following day this notice was published in the Western Herald :

' ' Sammedary 's friends claim for him the merit of having been born in Ohio. So was my dog Towser."

It seemed paradoxical some years later when Medary was governor of Ohio that Henry Wilson, a son of the publisher, should woo and win the governor's daughter. It is the youngest son of Judge Wilson in whom history is deeply interested. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on February 28th, 1822, and learned the publishing business from the ground up like his brothers. To him was given, however, the mark of student and his father encouraged him in his thirst for knowledge. He attended the academy in Steubenville and later went to Jefferson College, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1844. After a few years as instructer at Mercer Academy, he entered the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny, Pa., finishing his course with two years more at the Steubenville Academy and a year at Princeton University. It was at Steubenville, the city of his birth, that he met Janet Woodrow. They were married two weeks after his ordination and settled in Staunton, Va., when he received a call to the pastorate of the church there.

Woodrow Wilson was baptised Thomas Woodrow and was known as Tommy for many years. In 1858, when he was two years old, his parents moved to Augusta, Ga., when Eeverend Wilson was called to the pastorate of a larger church. It was the First Presbyterian church of Augusta and still stands. The superintendent of the Sunday School was James W. Bones, who later married Marion Wilson, a sister of Reverend Wilson.

The family was firmly installed in Augusta when rumors of the Civil War came sweeping down from the north. Of those days the president now has little recollection. He recalls but two incidents : the first when he heard a man shouting, ' i Lincoln is elected and now we will have war," and the second when he saw a detachment of men recruited for the Confederate Army as they passed through Augusta.

Little Tommy Wilson was a leader of his playmates. He was an interested spectator when the first horse car rolled through the streets of Augusta and soon cultivated friendships with the drivers, who used to take him aboard for two or three round trips. It was the lore of these drivers that inspired in him the love of horses and brought him to the point where he could ride like an Indian. One of his riding companions was Pleasant Stovall, in later years editor of the Savannah Press. The inhabitants of Augusta would turn and smile at the barefooted boys riding through town on the big black buggy horse of Reverend Wilson.

It was this friendship between Tommy Wilson and Pleasant Stovall that brought about the formation of the "Lightfoot Club," an organization formed for playing baseball with other boys in Augusta. In the winter months, activities were turned to debates and studies of parliamentary proceedings. This was the first manifestation of the love for politics that was to mark Tommy Wilson 's later life.

One of Tommy's favorite play spots was at the home of James Bones, some distance out of town in what was then known as the ' ' Sand Hills. ' ' Jessie Woodrow Bones, his daughter, was an inveterate tomboy and liked nothing better than to see the old black horse approaching with Tommy Wilson and Pleasant Stovall on his back. To her it meant a delightful day playing the beautiful maiden captured by the Indians and rescued by the dashing disciples of Leather Stocking. Other games in which the three took interest were ambuscades of the little darkies who would pass through a nearby ravine on their way to the stores. A bloodcurdling warwhoop would ring out and the victims would flee in terror followed by the toy arrows of the "savages." At other times, little Jessie would have to play the part of the tortured trapper and submit to being burned at the stake.

Tommy Wilson made friends right and left. He became a favorite with the Federal soldiers who occupied the arsenal near the Bones' residence soon after the war and was not dissuaded from continuing the acquaintance by being told that they belonged to the hated and feared Yankee army which had threatened the existence of the south. Tommy and Jessie seriously considered converting the Yankees into Presbyterians on the assumption that there was little difference between Yankee and heathen.

Reverend Wilson was most careful of his son's education. Rather than send him to the primitive schools in Augusta he was kept home until he was nine years old. That did not necessarily mean that the youngster was without instruction, as his father schooled him in the rudiments of learning and taught him the love of literature which distinguished his later days as president of one of the leading American universities.

When his father was reasonably sure that schooling would not affect the free and healthy development of his son's mind he was sent to the school of Professor Joseph T. Derry, who maintained a private institution in Augusta.

The school was held in an old building, which also housed the town livery stable for a time, but Professor Derry soon sought more commodious quarters in a cotton warehouse. While Tommy and his friends were at liberty from the class room they played hide and seek among the bales of cotton.

For the greater part Tommy still relied on his father for his education. Trained as he had been in the newspaper business, Reverend Wilson was a master of English, and it was to him that the future President owed his literary ability. In this manner Tommy Wilson passed the rest of his school days and found himself prepared for college far sooner than the average youth of the times. In 1870 Reverend Wilson was called to assume the pastorate of the largest church in the capital of South Carolina.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson left the family home in Columbia, S. C, at the age of seventeen to enter his first college course. Reverend Wilson had been debating the question in his mind for some time and Davidson College, in Mecklenburg County, S. C, was chosen as the institution for Tommy.

It was in the fall of 1873, shortly after the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war, and the mind of the young student was attracted to international politics by the career of Bismarck, who then was standing out as the guiding spirit of German destinies.

Davidson College was a staunch Presbyterian school. It had carried out the stern doctrines of the church for many years and at that time was known throughout the south. The living was rather primitive, as the times had not been prosperous owing to the reaction necessarily following the civil war. The town itself was only a small village having but one general store which catered to the tastes of the students. It was here that Tommy Wilson and his boon companions purchased the crackers and cheese for their nightly feasts.

It might be mentioned at this point that several of his classmates later achieved distinction in life. Among them was R. B. Glenn, who afterward became governor of North Carolina.

Tommy's days of study were interspersed with athletic hours to which he gave a desultory interest. On one occasion the captain of the baseball team, irritated at Tommy's apparent lack of interest, stated that "he would be a good player if he wasn't so damn lazy." His favorite form of recreation was walking. He seldom took companions on these jaunts and explained his action by saying that he used the time to think.

Soon after his arrival in Davidson he earned a nickname that followed him through the year. It seems that the class in rhetoric was discussing the manner in which the Normans changed Saxon words to suit their conven- , ience and the professor turned suddenly to Tommy Wilson.

"What is calves' meat when it is served at table?" he asked.

1 1 Mutton, ' ' was the prompt reply.

He was "Monsieur Mouton" to his classmates from that time on.

Just before the time came for examinations, Tommy Wilson fell sick and was forced to return to the paternal mansion in Wilmington, N. C, where his father had accepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian church. The young student remained there through the winter of 1874 and 1875 and it was then determined that he should return to Princeton University to resume his studies. He hailed the announcement with delight and began preparing for the entrance examinations. So it was that in September, 1875, Tommy Wilson boarded a train for the historic university.

There he soon became the popular leader of his class, among whom were Eobert Bridges, later one of the editors of Scribner's Magazine; Mahlon Pitney, afterward a Judge in the United States Supreme Court; Edward W. Sheldon, president of the United States Trust Company in after years; and Reverend A. S. Halsey, secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.

Tommy Wilson was able to assume leadership in a group of men like these because of his early training in literature, received at his father's knee in the days that followed the civil war. He passed most of his spare moments in the university library, where he could satisfy in part the insatiable demand of his mind for knowledge.

It was on one of these literary quests that he happened across a stray file of the Gentleman's Magazine in which a serial was running under the caption of "Men and Manner in Parliament." It was then his life ambition was fixed and he proceeded to apply his mind to the study of politics. He had many examples from which to seek inspiration and application. Disraeli, the British intellectual giant; Gladstone, and John Bright were his favorites. The incident of Disraeli's first day in parliament always remained in his mind. He liked to read over and over the words of the famous statesman to the members of the house who laughed at his first oratorical attempt: "You laugh at me now but the day is coming when you will listen." He followed the career of Disraeli up to the time when that statesman dictated the policies of Continental Europe.

The influence of this independent course of study led Tommy Wilson to drop his first name and announce to his friends that he would be known as Woodrow Wilson from that time on. The change was accepted and today the average man, woman and child in the United States could not tell offhand what the president's other name is.

Woodrow now entered upon the second phase of his career. He formed a resolution to fit himself for public life and the course of study he had mapped out for himself outside of the classroom showed his determination to succeed. He was receiving a cut and dried education in the classroom, but it must be said that his independent course had a far greater influence on his after life. He was not a particularly bright student in the classroom. He threw away two opportunities to win prizes when he learned that he would have to study Ben Jonson and two plays of Shakespeare to compete for the English Literary Prize, and that he would have to defend "Protection" in a debate on "Free Trade versus Protection" to enter the lists for the Lynde Debate. He was a staunch advocate of free trade from the time he entered Princeton.