4 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
Magnolia Summer Resident Silent Pow- 
er in Politics—Makes it a Hobby. 
Col. E. M. House of Austin, Texas, 
Very Close: to New Administration; 
Brought About Nomination of Three Governors, 
Says New York. Sun. 
Col. Edward M. House, well known 
in the Massachusetts North Shore 
colony, where he spends. a large part 
of each summer in Magnolia, who 
has suddenly leaped into national 
fame as the “power behind the throne”’ 
in the administration of President 
Woodrow Wilson, has been a: close 
student of politics, state and national, 
for more than 20 years. 
For nearly that length of time he 
has been the guiding star of the de- 
mocracy of Texas; not that he has 
ever attempted the role of political 
boss in the generally accepted sense of 
that word, but by suggestion and-per- 
suasion he has been-able to accomplish 
what no other man in this state ever 
has done. He is a puzzle to the 
masses of democrats in’ Texas. He has 
never been in the public eye so far 
as placing himself where he could be 
seen and heard is concerned. It is 
said that probably not 100 profession- 
al politicians in Texas know him even 
by sight, and those who have a speak- 
ing acquaintance with him number not 
many more than:a score. 
Yet it is known that. Mr. House 
brought about the nomination and 
election of three governors of the'state 
in succession. His rise to _ political 
power was in the second campaign of 
the late James S. Hogg for governor. 
Mr. House had a great deal to do in 
a quiet way with Mr. Hogg’s remark- 
able political success. With the wise 
discernment and accurate estimate of 
men that has always characterized 
him, Mr. House picked Charles A. 
Culberson for Hogg’s successor as 
governor. He is credited with placing 
Mr. Culberson in the chief executive’s 
chair, and of later accomplishing his 
elevation to the United States Senate. 
Following the administration of 
Goy. Culberson, Mr. House managed 
the campaign of Joseph D., Sayers for 
the governorship and again he succeed- 
ed against big odds. He next selected 
S. W. T. Lanham as the man who 
should be honored with the- office of 
chief executive of the:state. He won 
this fight easily in the face of the 
powerful opposition that confronted 
him in the beginning of the campaign. 
While Mr. House was recognized by 
the inner circle of democratic leaders 
as the one man who was directing 
these three campaigns he did not have 
the title of manager and seldom if 
ever did he visit the headquarters 
where the men of his own selection 
were conducting the details of the 
plans. 
With Mr. House politics is a game 
that affords him delightful recreation 
and at the same time he 1s able to per- 
form a great service to the people ac- 
cording to his conception of the de- 
sires and needs of the masses. 
It is a remarkable fact that so far 
as the recollection of any democrat in 
Texas goes Mr. House never attended 
a political convention in the state. He 
was never present at a political gath- 
ering of any kind. He was never 
seen about the capitol when the legis- 
lature was in session, although he has 
had a great deal to do with the shap- 
ing of the laws during the last 20 
years. 
About the only time he was ever 
seen in the big granite building where 
the seat of government is located was 
when Mr. Culberson was elected 
United: States Senator. Even on that 
momentous occasion he occupied an 
inconspicuous seat in the gallery and 
hurried away from the throng as soon 
as the formalities of the election were 
over. Notwithstanding his power in 
state politics and the fact that he was 
responsible more than any other one 
man or set of men for the election of 
three governors, he never visited 
them in their office-more*than once or 
twice. 
It has long been Mr. House’s cus- 
tom to spend the winters at his home 
in Austin. He has a beautiful resi- 
dence here, another in New York and 
he summers at Magnolia, Mass. He 
usually returns from the east at the 
beginning of cold weather and_ re- 
mains here until early spring. This 
season his duties connected with na- 
tional political affairs delayed his 
homecoming. 
He leads a quiet'life when in Aus- 
tin: To him there-is no greater com- 
fort. and pleasure than his own fire- 
side. He takes delight in gathering 
about him in his home a few congen- 
ial friends, men of business, of poli- 
tics and those who are identified with 
different professions. Whether in 
Austin, New York or Magnolia, these 
little social gatherings are made regu- 
lar and frequent events. As: a host 
on such occasions he has no superior. 
He is an entertaining conversationalist 
and his vast fund of information, 
covering many subjects, always makes 
the evening pleasant for all who may 
be present. 
Beyond giving them a general sup- 
ervision Mr. House has not devoted 
himself actively to his business affairs 
for many years. His wealth is con- 
servatively estimated at $1,500,000. 
He has no ambition for greater riches 
in the matter of worldly goods. His 
property consists chiefly of plantations 
and lands in Texas. His business of- 
fice is as unpretentious as he is him- 
self. On the door is tacked the only 
sign. It is a pasteboard visiting card, 
on which is printed in small letters 
“Mr. Edward M. House.” 
If Mr. House should give any pub- 
lic expression on the subject of his 
unofficial connection with the Wilson 
administration he would doubtless 
disclaim influence in the appointments 
to public office that have already been 
made or those that may be made. His 
close political friends here, however, 
give him credit'for the naming of Al- 
bert Sidney Burleson as Postmaster 
General, and of David F. Houston as 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
It is also asserted that Mr. House 
acted as intermediary between Col. 
William J. Bryan and President Wil- 
son, and it was through his efforts 
largely that Col. Bryan was induced 
to accept the state portfolio. Accord- 
ing to a well authenticated story, Col. 
Bryan at first positively declined to 
accept any office under the Wilson 
administration, and he held firmly to 
this resolve until the persuasive pow- 
ers of Mr. House over-came ‘his orig- 
inal decision. Col. Bryan and: Mr. 
House have been warm personal and 
political friends for 15 years. The 
former has been a frequent guest at 
Mr. House’s home here. 
Another appointment which Mr. 
House is said to have urged is that of 
Charles P. Neill for Commissioner of 
Labor. Mr. Neill grew to manhood 
in Austin and is numbered among Mr. 
House’s friends. 
Many years ago, when Capt. Bill 
McDonald was active: in the ranger 
force and was performing deeds of 
bravery and heroism in driving the 
bad men out of this state, Mr. House 
and he formed a warm friendship, 
which exists to this day. It was atthe 
instance of Mr. House: that Capt. Mc- 
Donald went east in the latter days 
