The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

McCOMBS IN A PANIC

77

I talked to Governor Wilson, urging him also not to make
any promises. He says he has not, but he does not altogether trust McCombs in this direction....
'October 24: McCombs is in a panic, and believes there is a
chance of losing New York, Illinois, and Wisconsin...
'October 25: I went to Headquarters at eleven and met
McCombs as I was leaving.... He was countermanding
everybody's orders, without regard to authority.... McAdoo
tells me that the Governor thinks it best not to address
him [McAdoo] in future, and McAdoo asked him not to
consider him in any way. He said he would do the best he
could until the campaign was over, and then he wished to be
forgotten. I did not tell McAdoo that the Governor was
doing this at my suggestion and because I am afraid of an
open scandal between McCombs and himself....
'October 26: Very little is being done at Headquarters excepting routine work. I went over each department, after
seeing McAdoo at nine at his hotel. McCombs is in conference most of the time with old-style politicians. The whole
character of the callers has changed since he took charge, and
for the worse. I fear Governor Wilson will have trouble on
account of connections made at this time....
'October 31: McAdoo is not in evidence at all, and has
almost effaced himself to secure harmony.. '
VI
At the height of the campaign the country was shocked by
the news that a fanatic had shot Mr. Roosevelt, who was on
a speaking tour, and that, while he would recover from the
wound, his personal campaign was at an end.11 Colonel
House, in opposition to the members of the Democratic
1 Mr. Roosevelt, whose life was saved by the manuscript of his speech
and his glasses' case in his breast pocket, recovered so rapidly that he was
able to address an enthusiastic rally in Madison Square Garden just
before the election.