WEASEL WORDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19199, 16 June 1924, Page 10

WEASEL WORDS.

The death of .Dr Woodrow Wilson has (wrote Mr W. E. Bullock) given the United States newspapers occasion 10 revive or revivify some of the phrases (Theodore Ihxwcvelt called them weasel words ") which will always (when remembored) bo associated with his name. Thus wc have once more in print the famous “ Too proud to light," ‘ Make the world safe for democracy,” " Watchful waiting.” “ Pit'less publicity, and that most weasel of them all “Self-determina-tion.” Phrase-making is dear to the heart ot America, and Roosevelt, noblest Roman of them all, was not above it. For those who know their modern American politics, what a gallery of history, what a multiplicity of events arise at 'mention of Roosevelt’s own—“ Cih’nafication ”;“ My hat’s in the ring ; A second cup of coffee ” ; “ Speak softly, but carry a big stick ” ; “ Mature-tak-ing ” ; “ Pussyfooting ’’ ; “ The strenuous life," and “The man with the muckrake.” It was Roosevelt, too, who engraved for ever the portrait of Wilson in the two words, “ Byzantine Eogothete.” We all know the American “ Spellbinder.” But who first invented the word? Then there is their “ Steamroller,” as every committee room can testify, but what is its origin.' Mr W. J. Bryan’s “Cross of gold ” is coming once more into discussion, while “ Mugwumps ” and “ Mossbacks ” have gone "into what Grover Cleveland called “ Innocuous desuetude," and Matthew Quay's picturesque “ Shake the plum tree " has become the more truthful but brutal “Share the pork barrel. ' Docs England know the word “ cahoot’ ; ‘‘ln cahoots” means in partnership, but it wears its rue with a difference, as every American knows.