k between Mr. Harvey and Mr.
Wilson. The published correspondence gives a fairly accurate
picture of what happened at the Manhattan Club on the morning of
the parting. I do not believe that Mr. Wilson dropped Colonel
Harvey because he feared he was under Wall Street influence. The
Harvey version sounds more plausible. According to this the
erstwhile university professor had learned the technique of
political strategy. He no longer felt that he was in need of
guidance.
"I was not surprised at the excuse he gave a little later when the
break came," said Harvey. "I would not have been surprised at any
excuse he offered."
Mr. Harvey retired from the campaign. Harper's Weekly had been
wrecked, whether or not by the espousal of the Wilson cause, and he
sold it to Norman Hapgood who buried it in due course. George
Harvey might or might not have had visions of an appointment to the
Court of St. James at that time. It is at least certain that his
disappointment was keen, taking a form of vindictiveness which will
survive as a distinct blot upon his career. In the preconvention
campaign he aligned himself with the Champ Clark forces, but it was
too late to undo the work he had done.
This episode is necessary to an understanding of what happened
later. His transfer from the Democratic to the Republican party was
a characteristically bold move. How genuine his later allegiance
may be is a question which more than one Republican would like to
have answered, but there is no doubt of the success of his coup. He
is, at least where he wanted to be, occupying the post which he
considers, in point of importance, next to the presidency itself,
Mr. Hughes notwithstanding.
When the United States entered the war Harvey found himself in the
secluded position of editor of the North American Review. This did
not suit his disposition at all and he was very unhappy. He was too
old to fight and it was not likely that he would be invited to
Washington. In the meantime stories of mismanagement in the conduct
of the war began to trickle out of the capital in devious
undercurrents. The press, in a passive spirit of patriotism, was
silent. Here was the opportunity.
In January, 1918, the first edition of the "North American Review
War Weekly" appeared. Its editor announced that its purpose was to
help win the war by telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth. He defied the Creels, the Daniels, and the
Burlesons, adopting
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