The Woodrow Wilson League
From The Wofford College Journal, December 1911.
The steps taken by the students of the University of South Carolina and the University of Virginia in forming what is known as “The Woodrow Wilson League of College Men,” is to be commended by all supporters of Governor Wilson. Its object is to promote the candidacy of Woodrow Wilson for President in 1912. It has met with the approval of many of Wilson’s friends, and they believe it a wise step for the college men to take who want Wilson for President.
We believe that this movement should be considered and
promoted in every college where it is practicable. Truly, Wilson is the college man’s candidate,
and such a step taken by the students of the country in their characteristic enthusiasm
will aid materially in bringing about the object of the movement.
His entrance into public life is hoped to be a beginning of a new era in the political world, namely, “the re-entrance into political life of the better elements of society.” This is bound to arouse greater interest among the people concerning our public affairs, and should not only make Wilson the college man’s candidate, but also the candidate of every true and all-round citizen.
The main significance that the league will have will be to
arouse among the student bodies of the land a greater degree of interest in
public things, and to cause them to bend their energies in the effort to
influence the public through the press, the platform, and even the stump.
Whatever its outcome, the students of the above-named institutions are, as we have already said, to be commended for starting such a movement, and we believe we are safe in saying that Wofford joins in to help advance the adopted slogan: “We Want Wilson.”
As President of
Princeton, Woodrow Wilson had spoken at Wofford as part of the College’s Lyceum, an early 20th century lecture series. Wilson, who was born in Virginia, grew up in
South Carolina and Georgia, remains the only president of the United States to
have earned a Ph.D. He served as
president of Princeton before being elected governor of New Jersey in
1910. Wilson proved popular with
Democrats in the South, but his strong college roots no doubt made him popular
with college students and alumni. Wilson’s
candidacy was probably not the first that Wofford students rallied behind, and
it certainly wasn’t the last.
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