Page:EB1922 - Volume 32.djvu/1059

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WIMBORNE—WINCHESTER
1021

unquestionably contributed to his defeat. In private inter- course Mr. Wilson displayed a personal magnetism, a breadth culture, and a genial cordiality that are amply attested by his intimates. But in public life he proved unable to capital- ize such advantages, possibly because of natural shyness, possi- bly because physical delicacy restricted his social activities. Roosevelt's capacity for " mixing " with all political and human

types he totally lacked. In the formation of his policies he

isolated himself and was unable to establish close relations with Congressional leaders. This gave rise to the impression that the President disliked advice, was an ego-centric autocrat, and immediately dispensed with anyone who disagreed with him.

| Such criticism, by no means a novelty in the case of strong- willed presidents, was utilized by his political opponents and intensified his unpopularity in the industrial centres, especially

'of the east, an unpopularity which, except for a few months during the opening months of the war, was an outstanding factor in the political situation. Broadly speaking, the criticism does not seem to be fully justified. In matters of what he regarded as principle he was adamant, and he distrusted the judgment of those whose basic point of view was different from his own; but the evidence of those who worked with him, includ- ing that of Republican advisers at Paris, is almost unanimous to the effect that he was anxious to secure advice, was tolerant of opinions, and glad to delegate responsibility. The contrary belief was doubtless fostered by Mr. Wilson's inability to build up an efficient secretarial organization, and his incapacity, rather than unwillingness, to apportion effectively the details of administrative labour. His handling of war problems shows clearly his desire to delegate responsibility; once an appoint- toent was made he refused to interfere and consistently pro- tected his appointee from the importunities of politicians.

Political responsibility in general, he believed, should rest iwith the President. From conviction, rather than from egotism, ihe sought to emancipate the presidential office from the con- tool of Congressional committees, a control which he earnestly 'deplored in his earliest writings. The President, he felt, should be the real leader of the nation, and not a mere executive super- intendent. The Cabinet he looked on as an executive and not as a political council, and it was always strictly subordinated to his policies. So long as the Democrats held the majority in Congress he was able to translate such ideas into fact, and disposed of all attempted Congressional revolts. This attitude naturally did not allay the political resentments which were inevitably aroused and which were intensified by Mr. Wilson's tendency to regard political opposition as tanta- mount to personal hostility; when the Democratic majority dis- appeared he faced uncompromising hostility. He was intensely impatient of partizan obstruction of his idealistic plans, and (there is much of the Calvinist in his refusal to temporize or deviate from the path which he believed himself appointed to tread. While in matters of detail he showed at times some capacity for compromise, in matters of principle he displayed the unswerving determination characteristic of the prophet, a trait that is not always conducive to success in the exigencies of modern party warfare. Indeed it is as a prophet, rather than las a statesman that Mr. Wilson should be regarded. No one

has preached more effectively the necessity of introducing a

moral standard into international politics.

The following are the most important writings of President Wilson : {Congressional Government, a Study in American Politics (1885); \The State Elements of Historical and Practical Politics (1889); JKoision and Reunion, 1829-1889 (1893); An Old Master and Other \Political Essays (1893); Mere Literature and Other Essays (1893); \George Washington (1896); A History of thi American People (1902); \Constitutional Government in the United States (1908) ; The New \Freedom (1913); On Being Human (1916); International Ideals (1919). Personal and political biographies of President Wilson have been written by H. J. Ford, Woodrow Wilson: The Man and His [Work (1916); by H. W. Harris, President Wilson: His Problems \ind His Policy (1917); by W. E. Dodd, Woodrow Wilson and His

  • Work (1920); and by his private secretary, Joseph P. iumulty,

'oodrow Wilson as I Know Him (1921). All four are eulogistic, lecially the last two named. General surveys of Wilson s foreign olicy are to be found in E. E. Robinson and V. J. West s The Foreign

Policy of President Wilson, 1913-191? (1917); and in Charles Sey- mour's Woodrow Wilson and the World War (1921). Editions of President Wilson's State papers have been made by Albert Shaw, President Wilson's State Papers and Addresses (1917); by J. B. Scott, President Wilson's Foreign Policy; and Messages, Addresses, Papers. (C. SEY.)


WIMBORNE, IVOR BERTIE GUEST, 1ST BARON (1835-1914), British politician, was born at Dowlais Aug. 29 1835, the eldest son of Sir Josiah John Guest, ist bart., of the firm of Guest, Keen & Nettlefold (the Dowlais Iron Works). He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and afterwards devoted himself to the management of his large property. He succeeded his father as 2nd bart. in 1852. He stood for Parlia- ment as a Conservative several times between 1874 and 1880, and in the latter year was raised to the peerage. During the Tariff Reform controversy he seceded from the Conservative party, and afterwards sat in the House of Lords as a Liberal. He died at Canford Manor, Dorset, Feb. 22 1914. Lord Wim- borne married in 1868 Lady Cornelia Spencer Churchill, eldest daughter of the yth Duke of Marlborough.

Lord Wimborne's eldest son, IVOR CHURCHILL GUEST, was born Jan. 16 1873, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He unsuccessfully contested Plymouth in the Liberal interest in 1898 and served in S. Africa with the Dorsetshire yeomanry in 1900. In 1900 he was elected for Plymouth, holding the seat until 1906, and from 1906 to 1010 sat for Cardiff. In 1910 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ashby St. Ledgers and sworn of the privy council, while from 1910 to 1912 he was paymaster-general. He became Lord-in- waiting to King George V. in 1913, and in 1914 succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Wimborne. In 1915 he became lord lieu- tenant of Ireland, but resigned in May 1916, after the Irish rebellion. He was, however, reappointed in Aug. 1916, and remained in Ireland till May 1918, when he was on his retire- ment created a viscount. He was well known as an enthusiastic sportsman and polo player, and to him was due the organiza- tion of the polo team which defeated the U.S.A. in the inter- national match at Meadowbrook, Long Island, in June 1914.


WINCHESTER, England (see 28.704). The pop. increased from 23,378 in 1911 to 23,791 in 1912. In 1912 the necessary work for preserving the cathedral by underpinning the walls and laying new foundations (undertaken in 1905) was completed, and on July 15 of that year the King and Queen attended a great Thanksgiving Service at the cathedral. The total cost of restoration was 113,000, raised by voluntary subscriptions. As much of the work had to be carried out under water varying in depth from 6 to 20 ft., a diver was employed continuously f r 5i years to lay down cement concrete at the base of the new foundations. The work was carried out by Sir Thomas Jackson and Sir Francis Fox. During 1919-21 a large part of the ancient stained glass in the cathedral was also restored.

In 1918 a find of iron currency bars of the early iron age was made on Worthy Down, near Winchester, and, in excavations near the same spot in 1920, some " pit dwellings " were located, the area appearing to be the site of a settlement of that age. The objects found were placed in the city museum. A number ofother objects of archaeological interest have been unearthed, including a portion of a stone column with its capital and dedication stone to Carinus (A.D. 283-4), the only inscription to that Emperor as yet found in Great Britain. In 1919 the valuable Dale collection of prehistoric and Ro- man antiquities was purchased and placed in the museum, and the Rosehill collection of prehistoric remains was transferred to the Tudor House museum at Southampton. A map of ancient Winches- ter, indicating all existing ancient and historic buildings and the sites of those no longer in existence, was issued by the Ordnance Survey in 1920.

A site of 100 ac. in the St. Cross district of the city has been planned on self-contained garden city lines, on which 560 houses were in course of erection in 1921. New county council offices for the county of Hampshire, on Castle Hill, were opened in 1911. The guildhall was extended in 1914, and the old Tudor Guildhall restored in 1915. A chamber of commerce was established in 1919. During the World War Winchester was a prominent military centre, and some 50,000 troops, including Canadians and Americans, were continually in training there.