Creature From Jekyll Island by G. Edward полностью

afterwards. Morgan had a currency plan already formulatedand printed. We discussed it at some length. I suggested hehave it typewritten [so it would not seem too prearranged]

and sent to us today.

October 19, 1913. I saw Senator Reed of Missouri in the lateafternoon and discussed the currency question with him.

October 19,1913. Paul Warburg was my first caller, and he cameto discuss the currency measure.... Senator Murray Cranefollowed Warburg. He has been in touch with Senators

Weeks and Nelson of the Currency Committee.

November 17, 1913. Paul Warburg telephoned about his trip toWashington. He is much disturbed over the currency

situation and requested an interview, along with JacobSchiff and Cleveland H. Dodge.

January 21, 1914. After dinner we [Wilson and House] went tothe President's study as usual and^ began work on the

Federal Reserve Board appointments.

1. Viereck, pp. 4,35,37.

2. Seymour, Vol. I, pp. 161-68.

THE CREATURE SWALLOWS CONGRESS 459

As far as the banking issue was concerned, Colonel House wasthe President of the United States, and all interested parties knew it.

Wilson made no pretense at knowledge of banking theory. He said:

"The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been thatactive duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. Iseem almost obliged to form conclusions from impressions insteadof from study.... I wish that I had more knowledge, more thoroughacquaintance, with the matters involved."1 To which CharlesSeymour adds: "Colonel House was indefatigable in providing forthe President the knowledge that he sought.... The Colonel was theunseen guardian angel of the bill."2

DEATH OF THE ALDRICH PLAN

The first task for the Jekyll Island team was to hold a funeral forthe Aldrich Plan without actually burying it. Professor Laughlinhad come to agree with Warburg regarding the inadvisability ofhaving Aldrich's name attached to any banking bill, especially nowthat the Democrats were in control of both Congress and the WhiteHouse, and he was anxious to give it a new identity. Writing in theperiodical Banking Reform, which was the official publication of theNational Citizens' League, Laughlin said: "It is progress that theAldrich plan came and went. It is progress that the people havebeen aroused and interested." The League was now free, he said, to

"try to help in getting a proper bill adopted by the Democrats," abill that "in non-essentials ... could be made different from the oldplan."3