Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1996. [Vol. 3.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 23)

STUDIES - Tibor Giant: The Role of Calvinism in President Wilsotis Relationship to Hungary during World War 1

American press magnate William R. Hurst decided to back Champ Clark in the Primaries against Wilson and it was the Hurst papers, and not the immigrants, who picked out Wilson's earlier cited rather unfortunate remarks about Italian, Polish and Hungarians newcomers. In the crossfire of the attacks from the Hurst papers and the innumerable requests by immigrants to withdraw his condemnatory remarks,

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4 on 22 July 1912 Wilson finally issued the following press statement to the Hungarian-American journalist Géza Kende of the Amerikai Magyar Népszava: I believe in the reasonable restriction of immigration but not in any restriction which will exclude from the country honest and industrious peoples who are seeking what America has always offered, an asylum for those who seek a free field. The whole question is a very difficult one but, I think can be solved with justice and generosity. Any one who has the least knowledge of Hungarian history must feel that stock to have proved itself fit for liberty and opportunity.

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5 This statement would have settled the issue had Wilson not demonstrated his WASP superiority complex yet again in the September campaign address, which is cited in note 9. Nonetheless, Wilson's eventual victory in the election proved the effectiveness of his campaign manager, Frank McCombs, who later refused to be 'sent to darkest Austria' as ambassador,

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6 and the fact that domestic reform (the New Freedom) was the main issue at stake. Testifying to good political insight and excellent tactical skills, Wilson sought no revenge upon those involved in the campaign against 1

4 This aspect of the 1912 election campaign has largely been neglected. For discussion and the relevant documents see: Arthur Stanley link, Wilson: The Road to the White House. (Princeton, 1947): 380—90; WWPs 24: 226, 241—43, 269—70, 404—07, 548—49. 1

5 See the 23 July 1912 issue of the paper. The New York Times also covered the story on the very same day. 16 mVPs25: 614, and 27: 127. 41