Cary T. Grayson Diary

Cary T. Grayson Diary

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938

WWP17225

1919 September 15

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

English

MONDAY, The Presidential Special arrived in the Portland station at 9:00 o’clock, and the party was greeted by a reception committee headed by Governor(insert name) and C. S. Jackson, publisher of the OREGON JOURNAL. The President had had a rather bad night and his cough was extremely troublesome, interfering materially with his rest. In consequence he had a headache when Portland was reached. The program here was one that might well be criticized, as it resulted in the death of one of the members of the Presidential party and the serious injury to two others. After a ride through the principal streets, the automobiles continued for a distance of sixty miles along Portland’s public thoroughfare – The Columbia Drive. This is a macadam road that skirts the Columbia River chasm for many miles and is a beautiful drive inasmuch as the entire picturesque river and mountain scenery is in view at all times. However, because of the crowded program, which included a luncheon and a night meeting, it was necessary that speed limits be disregarded in order that the trip could be made. All the way out to the Half-way Point on the drive, the automobiles ran at a rate of speed in excess of forty miles an hour. I tried on several occasions to have the guide-car, which was controlled by the Mayor of Portland, slackened up but was unable to get my message properly delivered. As soon as we reached the Half-way Point, I went directly to the Mayor and demanded that he issue orders that on the trip back the speed do not exceed twenty-five miles an hour. He promised that he would do so. The party left the cars and looked up and down the Columbia River for ten minutes, after which the return trip to the city began. We went directly to the hotel, where a luncheon had been arranged by Mr. C. S. Jackson. However, on the way in a slight detour was made and the President and party passed around the race-track at the Multonomah County Fair Grounds, where the state fair was in progress. Some members of the party had promised that the President would deliver an address here, but I put my foot down sharply and refused point blank to allow him to attempt to strain his vocal chords in the open air in such circumstances. It was well that I did so because the grounds were very dusty and the trip very uncomfortable. Just before the luncheon began I received word that one of the automobiles in which the newspaper men were riding had been in a collision outside of the city limits and that Ben F. Allen, the correspondent of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, had been killed outright, and Stanley M. Reynolds and Robert T. Small were badly hurt. I had the secret service men get in touch with the authorities and a few minutes later received word that Small had been taken to the train. I had him brought to the hotel, whtere I made a complete examination of him and found that he was suffering from severe contusions and from shock to his nervous system but that no bones were broken. I had him put to bed, and then got an automobile and proceeded to the Samaritan Hospital, where I found Reynolds had been taken. He had a fracture of the shoulder and was otherwise badly hurt. I gave directions that he should have all possible care, and upon my return to the hotel directed the secret service to make arrangements for sending the body of Mr. Allen back to his old home in Cleveland. News of the accident had reached the President and he was greatly depressed. He told the luncheon audience that because of the injury to the members of his party – he did not know then that Allen had been killed – he could not make a very long speech, and he contented himself with a brief appeal to the audience to use their efforts to have the Treaty ratified. The night meeting in the auditorium was an immense success. The audience cheered for Mrs. Wilson on her arrival until she was forced to stand up and bow her greetings. She was presented with a beautiful basket of flowers on behalf of the Women’s Clubs of the city. The President made a splendid address dwelling particularly upon the arbitration features of the League of Nations Constitution. He told several stories that were apropos of his subject. One story that moved a good part of the audience to tears was of a woman who came up to him and shook hands with him, and then bursting into tears was forced to turn aside. When he asked a companion the cause of her emotion, he was told that her son had given his life for his country on the battlefields in France. The President said that this typified the spirit of the women of America; that they were willing to sacrifice their best for the cause of liberty; and that this woman and no other woman had blamed him because he in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Army had sent their sons overseas to fight for the liberty of the world. The President told the audience that he would be recreant to his duty if he did not do everything in his power to have the Peace Treaty ratified so that other mothers would not have to sacrifice their loved ones in a final war for world liberty. Portland was left at 11;00 o’clock that night. For half an hour before the train pulled out the President and I walked up and down the platform. He stopped for a few moments in the compartment where Small was lying and expressed his personal sympathy and his hope for a speedy recovery. The strain of the trip was showing on the President, and it required all of my skill to keep him fit so that he could meet the engagements before him.

Diary