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

100 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

'January 8, 1913: I told him [Wilson] he was now leaving
Texas out of the Cabinet. His reply was, "I want you to go
in the Cabinet."... He urged me not to give a definite
answer for the present and said he very much wished me to
be a member of his official family, that it seemed to coincide
with the fitness of things.
'He generously asked me what place I would like, evidently leaving me to choose. I regard this as a very high
compliment, for the reason that he has offered no one a place
in the Cabinet up to now excepting Mr. Bryan, whom we
agreed upon just after the election... as a political necessity. Of course, I shall not take any office, although I would
do much to oblige him and to be of service. My reasons are
that I am not strong enough to tie myself down to a Cabinet
department and, in addition, my general disinclination to
hold office. I very much prefer being a free lance, and to
advise with him regarding matters in general, and to have a
roving commission to serve wherever and whenever possible.'
To such reasons for remaining out of office should be added
one which Colonel House may not have definitely formulated, but which must have affected him at least subconsciously. His experience with the Texas Governors had
taught him that, however much in sympathy he might be
with their general policy, questions of detail must arise on
which his opinions would be at variance from theirs. He
believed that in essential matters he and Wilson would agree
in principle, but they might conceivably disagree as to
method. If he were in an official position such disagreement
would compel his resignation, unless he were to be placed in
the unpleasant position of carrying out a line of action which
he disapproved. So long as he remained in a private capacity,
he could give what advice he chose; and if the President did
not follow it, House could shrug his shoulders and turn his
attention to other matters in which Wilson might accept his