the motto, "To hell with the censors and
bureaucrats."

The journal was an instant success. Not only was it read with
avidity but the Washington politicians were flabbergasted at the
audacity of a man who dared to print what the press associations
and the dailies would not touch. I do not think there can be any
doubt of the genuineness of Harvey's motives at this time. His
journal was rigidly non-partisan. He spared no one whom he
considered as an encumbrance in the winning of the war.

The most striking evidence of his attitude toward the Republican
party at this time is found in the edition of the "Weekly" of March
9, 1918. Will H. Hays had just been elected chairman of the
Republican National Committee. He made a speech extolling the
virtues of his party. Of this Harvey made a stinging analysis
denouncing Hays for invoking partisan spirit at so perilous an
hour, concluding with this paragraph:

"As for Mr. Hays, with his insufferable claptrap about absolute
unity as a blanket under which to gather votes while the very
existence of the nation is threatened more ominously than anybody
west of the Alleghanies--or in Washington, for that matter,--seems
to realize, the sooner he goes home and takes his damned old party
with him, the better it will be for all creation."

Surely no uncertain language! One might have supposed that the
Chairman of the Republican Committee would have done nothing of the
kind, but he did. Again the Harvey method was effective. Hays
instead of resenting the denunciation wrote Harvey a rather abject
letter, expressing the fear that he might have made a mistake in
discussing politics during the war and asked for an interview.

Here another Harvey characteristic came into play. He did not
assume the lofty role of mentor or prophet; he very tactfully and
gently tucked the young Indianian under his wing. Thenceforth there
were no more oratorical blunders.

Mr. Hays began to exhibit some capacity for leadership; his
speeches improved. From that day until the election of 1920 he
never made one without George Harvey's counsel and approval.

This is as typical of Harvey as his audacity. He has a gentleness
and charm quite unexpected in so savage a commentator. He will
discuss and advise but he will not argue; and all of the time he
will probe with uncanny accuracy for the weaknesses of those with
whom he is dealing. It is rather by the weaknesses of others than
by his own strength that he trium