The Real Colonel House (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX WILSON ON THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN championing Governor Wilson's presidential boom, Colonel House had not forgotten the last of his three requirements for a successful candidate. Governor Wilson was an Eastern Democrat and progressive, independent of any sinister control. But now the all-important question was what attitude toward this candidate would be assumed by Mr. Bryan? Shortly after Colonel House's first meeting with Governor Wilson, Mr. Bryan came to New York with Mrs. Bryan and stopped at the Holland House. Colonel House called him on the telephone one morning, and Mr. Bryan asked him to come downtown at once. The Colonel found Mr. and Mrs. Bryan at breakfast and sat down with them. Of course, the conversation which followed was confidential, but it may be said that Colonel House presented Governor Wilson's case to Mr. Bryan as persuasively as he could--and while the Colonel is not an orator, he is an exceedingly good talker, man to man. He told Mr. Bryan in detail of Governor Wilson's work as head of Princeton University, of his tireless efforts there in the direction of liberalism, of his democratic policy, and the plucky fight he had made against the powerful conservative element in the Board of Trustees. Colonel House also sketched briefly Governor Wilson's progressive legislative accomplishments at Trenton, and here he did not have to argue, for Mr. Bryan was fairly well informed on this phase of the Governor's career. Mr. Bryan listened very attentively to everything that Colonel House had to say; and while he was rather non-committal he did indicate that he had several objections to Governor Wilson, all of which, however, Colonel House was able to explain away, except Mr. Bryan's suspicion of Col. George...