Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17042
Date
1919 January 21
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
TUESDAY, The President attended meeting at Quai D’Orsay in the morning and afternoon. That evening the President had, as a guest for dinner and for some hours afterward, A. G. Gardner, the noted English publicist and editor of the London News. They discussed public men, past and present. At the table the President and Mr. Gardner discussed the lives of General Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln, the President emphasizing the similarity of character of the two men. He expressed the belief that the spirits of the two men had long since met in the better world and that there they had come into perfect harmony of soul and purpose. It struck me as very remarkable the wonderful grasp which Mr. Gardner had on American affairs, particularly those of a political nature and his intimate knowledge of men who are figuring in the political history of America. The conversation varied from Andrew Jackson, Grant, Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington to Crum, the notorious appointee of Roosevelt as collector of customs at Charleston, South Carolina. Gardner thought Roosevelt should have known better, because his mother was born in the south and he, Roosevelt, was acquainted with Southern traditions. Mr. Gardner said to the President that it was too bad Grant had been elected President, because the World had gained the impression that he was a great general, but had proven an utter failure as a President. Gardner had the impression of him as having been very stern, sober and lacking both animation or humor. The President said he could recall one humorous incident about Grant which however might have been accidental. A friend asked Grant to come out and witness a game of golf. Grant, never having seen a golf game, went with this friend, who explained the details of the game. Then after placing his ball he drew back his club but missed it. Upon a second stroke he topped it and the ball went about six inches from the tee. Becoming very much embarrassed he made another attempt. Again he missed it, whereupon Grant remarked, “It seems to be good exercise, but may I ask what is the ball for?” They agreed that the poorest President probably that America ever produced was Benjamin Harrison of Indiana.
Discussing Colonel Roosevelt the President told Mr. Gardner of an incident that took place some years ago when agitation over the drawing of the color line was at its height in the United States. President Wilson said he had asked a noted educator who he considered the two men in America whose achievements were most striking. The educator replied, in his opinion, they were Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. He said, however, that while he admired the achievements of both, he would hardly consider it any honor to have shaken hands with Roosevelt after he had invited Washington to the White House for luncheon.
Discussing Gladstone, of Great Britain, the great Liberal Leader, Mr. Gardner related an incident which he did not attempt to explain. It seems that Gladstone had an absent minded habit whereby during his speeches he would throw his hand back and scratched his head, sometimes continuing in that attitude until he finished his remarks. Some of Gladstone’s closest friends disapproved of the habit, so they selected James Bryce, now Lord Bryce, the noted British author and former Ambassador to the United States, to call upon Gladstone, direct his attention to the habit and explain that the force of his remarks sometimes were lost by the performance. Gladstone was stern and did not relish rebukes, with the result that when Bryce reached him he found him rather bad tempered. Bryce discreetfully came away without delivering his message. Singularly enough, however, the next night Gladstone delivered an address and did not scratch his head, neither did he do so on any subsequent occasion. Earl Bryce took credit for having secured the desired reform, although he never explained how he accomplished it. The theory of thought transferrance by mental telepathy seems the only explanation suggested.
Gardner, commenting on the recent British elections, spoke of Mr. Asquith’s defeat, saying that he made no political effort or campaign, remaining at home, while on the contrary his opponent made numerous speeches and won out at the polls. The President said that this explains the difference between the British method of “standing for office” and the American method of “running for office.”
President Wilson explained the real reason why he had been unable to disclose all of his plans to Congress and the American people before he left for France. In the first place he said that had he announced a concrete program in the United States he would have incurred the resentment of the European powers, and might encounter difficulty in their acceptance of anything that had been completely arranged for them and simply presented for their approval and signature. He explained that he had allowed everyone to suggest plans along all lines, so that when the agreement was reached all would feel that they had equally participated. In explaining his exact position the President told this story: A drummer upon alighting from a train in Richmond, Virginia, got into a cab drawn by a horse, driven by an old time negro. The drummer said, “Drive me to the nearest haberdasher”. The negro said, “Yessir, gid up.” After going about a block he pulled up his horse and opened the door of the cab and said, “Scuse me boss, but where is it you said you wanted to go?” The drummer answered, “Nearest haberdasher”, and the negro responded, “Yassir, gid up.” After going another block he repeated his inquiry and said, “Scuse me boss, but this nigger been drivin white folks for twenty years and he aint never give one away yet, so jus’ tell this nigger exactly where you do want to go.”
They then discussed the conditions which developed following the armistice, especially the frame of mind of the French people following the campaign of personal propaganda that has been carried on by the present governmental leaders. Both Mr. Gardner and the President agreed that the French public opinion had become so hysterical, as a result of the suggestions that at least an army of 3,000,000 should be kept to protect France against the Germans, or Germany would renew the war, that it failed utterly to take into consideration what had been accomplished through the armistice terms, and the fact that Germany’s fangs had been drawn through the surrender of her fleet, her U-Boats and her rolling stock and munitions. The French still suffer from militarism and still are fearful of being overwhelmed. It was their opinion that the creation of the league of nations and the making of it a virile force was the one remedy for this condition. The President said that the French people were very impatient and disappointed because he had not gone to the front to see the battlefields. “I regret that they want to make me see red, thinking it will effect me in my deliberations at the Peace Conference,” he said. “I have followed the war closely and realized what they have suffered, but they seem to insist that I must see red before I can render a decision just to France on the peace terms.”
Mr. Gardner remained with us until eleven o’clock. I recalled that I had introduced Mr. Gardner to the President about four years ago by finding in a book store in Washington a little book entitled “Prophets, Priests and Kings” by A. G. G., and also another volume called “Pillars of Society”. The President would very often read aloud from these books a chapter or two on some character like Lloyd George, Balfour or the King of Italy, and pronounced Gardner one of the best writers he had ever read. I was anxious for Gardner to meet the President and discuss matters of common interest. The meeting between them was a real love feast.
DIARY ENTRY: Drove to quai d’Orsay with PresidentMrs. W. walk Champs Elysees with B.M. Baruch—Conference Crillon Hotel newspaper men—Lunch President & Mrs. Wilson—Miss Benham—Drive to Peace Conference with the President—Shopping Probert, Corcoran—met A Krock. F Esary.
Dined President & Mrs W.A.
G. Gardner & Miss Benham7. P.M—A.
G. Gardner remained until 10.45 11 P.M. He and President had wonderful conversation on varied topics—Robert E. LeeA Lincoln—hope they’d meet in heaven—Grant—A JacksonHarrison—Roosevelt—B Washington—Crum— Peace Conference—Gladstone—English & American politics—England stand for office—American runs—Booker Washington—Crum—Clemenceau—France—Germany—war—stories—jokes—Haberdasher store—League of Nations—why he couldn’t take Am. people in his confidence about coming here—strategic point—Italy—Russia—
Discussing Colonel Roosevelt the President told Mr. Gardner of an incident that took place some years ago when agitation over the drawing of the color line was at its height in the United States. President Wilson said he had asked a noted educator who he considered the two men in America whose achievements were most striking. The educator replied, in his opinion, they were Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. He said, however, that while he admired the achievements of both, he would hardly consider it any honor to have shaken hands with Roosevelt after he had invited Washington to the White House for luncheon.
Discussing Gladstone, of Great Britain, the great Liberal Leader, Mr. Gardner related an incident which he did not attempt to explain. It seems that Gladstone had an absent minded habit whereby during his speeches he would throw his hand back and scratched his head, sometimes continuing in that attitude until he finished his remarks. Some of Gladstone’s closest friends disapproved of the habit, so they selected James Bryce, now Lord Bryce, the noted British author and former Ambassador to the United States, to call upon Gladstone, direct his attention to the habit and explain that the force of his remarks sometimes were lost by the performance. Gladstone was stern and did not relish rebukes, with the result that when Bryce reached him he found him rather bad tempered. Bryce discreetfully came away without delivering his message. Singularly enough, however, the next night Gladstone delivered an address and did not scratch his head, neither did he do so on any subsequent occasion. Earl Bryce took credit for having secured the desired reform, although he never explained how he accomplished it. The theory of thought transferrance by mental telepathy seems the only explanation suggested.
Gardner, commenting on the recent British elections, spoke of Mr. Asquith’s defeat, saying that he made no political effort or campaign, remaining at home, while on the contrary his opponent made numerous speeches and won out at the polls. The President said that this explains the difference between the British method of “standing for office” and the American method of “running for office.”
President Wilson explained the real reason why he had been unable to disclose all of his plans to Congress and the American people before he left for France. In the first place he said that had he announced a concrete program in the United States he would have incurred the resentment of the European powers, and might encounter difficulty in their acceptance of anything that had been completely arranged for them and simply presented for their approval and signature. He explained that he had allowed everyone to suggest plans along all lines, so that when the agreement was reached all would feel that they had equally participated. In explaining his exact position the President told this story: A drummer upon alighting from a train in Richmond, Virginia, got into a cab drawn by a horse, driven by an old time negro. The drummer said, “Drive me to the nearest haberdasher”. The negro said, “Yessir, gid up.” After going about a block he pulled up his horse and opened the door of the cab and said, “Scuse me boss, but where is it you said you wanted to go?” The drummer answered, “Nearest haberdasher”, and the negro responded, “Yassir, gid up.” After going another block he repeated his inquiry and said, “Scuse me boss, but this nigger been drivin white folks for twenty years and he aint never give one away yet, so jus’ tell this nigger exactly where you do want to go.”
They then discussed the conditions which developed following the armistice, especially the frame of mind of the French people following the campaign of personal propaganda that has been carried on by the present governmental leaders. Both Mr. Gardner and the President agreed that the French public opinion had become so hysterical, as a result of the suggestions that at least an army of 3,000,000 should be kept to protect France against the Germans, or Germany would renew the war, that it failed utterly to take into consideration what had been accomplished through the armistice terms, and the fact that Germany’s fangs had been drawn through the surrender of her fleet, her U-Boats and her rolling stock and munitions. The French still suffer from militarism and still are fearful of being overwhelmed. It was their opinion that the creation of the league of nations and the making of it a virile force was the one remedy for this condition. The President said that the French people were very impatient and disappointed because he had not gone to the front to see the battlefields. “I regret that they want to make me see red, thinking it will effect me in my deliberations at the Peace Conference,” he said. “I have followed the war closely and realized what they have suffered, but they seem to insist that I must see red before I can render a decision just to France on the peace terms.”
Mr. Gardner remained with us until eleven o’clock. I recalled that I had introduced Mr. Gardner to the President about four years ago by finding in a book store in Washington a little book entitled “Prophets, Priests and Kings” by A. G. G., and also another volume called “Pillars of Society”. The President would very often read aloud from these books a chapter or two on some character like Lloyd George, Balfour or the King of Italy, and pronounced Gardner one of the best writers he had ever read. I was anxious for Gardner to meet the President and discuss matters of common interest. The meeting between them was a real love feast.
DIARY ENTRY: Drove to quai d’Orsay with PresidentMrs. W. walk Champs Elysees with B.M. Baruch—Conference Crillon Hotel newspaper men—Lunch President & Mrs. Wilson—Miss Benham—Drive to Peace Conference with the President—Shopping Probert, Corcoran—met A Krock. F Esary.
Dined President & Mrs W.A.
G. Gardner & Miss Benham7. P.M—A.
G. Gardner remained until 10.45 11 P.M. He and President had wonderful conversation on varied topics—Robert E. LeeA Lincoln—hope they’d meet in heaven—Grant—A JacksonHarrison—Roosevelt—B Washington—Crum— Peace Conference—Gladstone—English & American politics—England stand for office—American runs—Booker Washington—Crum—Clemenceau—France—Germany—war—stories—jokes—Haberdasher store—League of Nations—why he couldn’t take Am. people in his confidence about coming here—strategic point—Italy—Russia—
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 21, WWP17042, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.