Woodrow Wilson as I Know HimTumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
History
Woodrow Wilson as I Know Him
Tumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Prosperity now sweeping in from coast and Middle West will soon be
upon us. Even business which turned away from us in last campaign in
the hope that Excess Profit Tax and other burdensome taxes would be
reduced, will soon find out how fatuous and futile is the Republican
policy. Many Progressive leaders will soon come to the front and will
take up the work left undone by Roosevelt. My opinion, therefore, is
that what action you take in this matter should await the turn of the
tide so that as the hopes of Democracy rise and success for 1920 looks
more promising than it does to-day, then that time in my opinion will
offer the psychological moment for you to say what really is in your
heart about a third term and thus help not only the party but the
League of Nations. Therefore, until the psychological moment comes,
the politic thing to do is to keep "mum" about this matter and await
the happenings of the future.
TUMULTY.
A clear, inside view of the feeling of the man toward the Treaty, his deep
heart interest in it, and his characterization of the opposition were
disclosed in a speech delivered by him to the members of the Democratic
National Committee at the White House on February 28, 1919. This speech is
now published for the first time, and is as follows:
The real issue of the day, gentlemen, is the League of Nations, and I
think we must be very careful to serve the country in the right way
with regard to that issue. We ought not, as I know you already feel
from the character of the action you have just taken—we ought not
even to create the appearance of trying to make that a party issue.
And I suggested this to Mr. Cummings and the others who sat by me: I
think it would be wise if the several National Committeemen were to
get in touch with their state organizations upon returning home and
suggest this course of action—that the Democratic state organizations
get into conference with the Republican state organizations and say to
them: "Here is this great issue upon which the future peace of the
world depends; it ought not to be made a party issue or to divide upon
party lines; the country ought to support it regardless of party (as
you stated in your resolution); now we propose to you that you pass
resolutions supporting it, as we intend to do, and we will not
anticipate you in the matter if you agree to that policy; let us stand
back of it and not make a party issue of it." Of course, if they
decline, then it is perfectly legitimate, it seems to me, for the
Democratic organization if it pleases to pass resolutions, framing
these resolutions in as non-partisan language as is possible, but
nevertheless doing what citizens ought to do in matters of this sort.
But not without first making it a matter of party record that it has
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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