Woodrow Wilson As I Know Him | Page 5

some time, seated
at my desk at the White House in the office of the secretary to the
President of the United States, I would have the pleasure of meeting
face to face the leading actor in this lurid drama, Mr. Andrew Carnegie
himself, and of hearing from his own lips a human and intelligent
recital of the events which formed the interesting background of the
Homestead Strike.

CHAPTER II
DOING THE POLITICAL CHORES
For the young man who wishes to rise in the politics of a great city
there is no royal road to preferment but only a plain path of modest
service uncomplainingly rendered. Of course, there seem to be
exceptions to this rule. At times it is possible for the scion of a great
family to rise to temporary distinction in politics without a preliminary
course in the school of local politics, for as a Democratic boss once
said to me: "Great family names are fine window-dressers," but in my
own experience I have seen the disappointing end of careers thus begun
and have found that sometimes after a great name has been temporarily
used to meet certain political emergencies, the would-be politician is
quickly thrust aside to make way for the less pretentious but more
capable man. There is nothing permanent or lasting about a place in
politics gained in this adventitious way. Of course, there sometimes
come to high office men from military careers, or men, like the
distinguished subject of this book, from fields apparently remote from
practical politics, but such successes are due to an appealing personal
force, or to exceptional genius which the young aspirant had better not
assume that he possesses. The general rule holds good that a political
apprenticeship is as necessary and valuable as an industrial

apprenticeship.
My first official connection with politics was as the financial secretary
of the Fifth Ward Democratic Club of Jersey City. My father had told
me that if I intended to play an active part in politics, it would be
necessary to begin modestly at the bottom of the ladder, to do the
political chores, as it were, which are a necessary part of ward
organization work. I recall those days with singular pleasure, for my
work gave me an unusual opportunity to meet the privates in the ranks
and to make friendships that were permanent.
The meetings of the Club were held each week in a modest club house,
with part of the meeting given over to addresses made by what were
then considered the leading men in the Democratic party. It is queer
how the average political worker favours the senator, or the ex-judge,
or the ex-Congressman, as a speaker on these occasions.
Ex-Congressman Gray, of Texas (I doubt whether there ever was a
congressman by that name), would often be the headliner and he could
be depended upon to draw a crowded and enthusiastic house. The
knowledge and experience I gained at these inspirational meetings were
mighty helpful to me in the political life I had carved out for myself. I
found that when you had convinced these plain, everyday fellows that,
although you were a college man, you were not necessarily a highbrow,
they were willing to serve you to the end. It was a valuable course in a
great university. It was not very long until I was given my first
opportunity, in 1896, to make my first political speech in behalf of Mr.
Bryan, then the Democratic candidate for President. I was not able at
that time to disentangle the intricacies of the difficult money problems,
but I endeavoured, imperfectly at least, in the speeches I made, to lay
my finger on what I considered the great moral issue that lay behind the
silver question in that memorable campaign--the attempt by eastern
financial interests to dominate the Government of the United States.
After my apprenticeship, begun as secretary of the Fifth Ward
Democratic Club, an incident happened which caused a sudden rise in
my political stock. At a county convention I was given the opportunity
of making the nominating speech for the Fifth Ward's candidate for

street and water commissioner--a bricklayer and a fine fellow--who was
opposing the machine candidate. It was a real effort on my part and
caused me days and nights of worry and preparation. Indeed, it seemed
to me to be the great moment of my life. I vividly recall the incidents of
what to me was a memorable occasion. I distinctly remember that on
the night of the Convention, with the delegates from my ward, I faced
an unfriendly and hostile audience, our candidate having aroused the
opposition of the boss and his satellites. While I felt that the attitude of
the Convention was one of opposition to our candidate, there was no