The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-15
GUARDED AS A CAR
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND IN MORTAL
TERROR OF ASSASSINATION.
No Attempt Ever IA ON His Life,
Yet He breads the 0Ae Chance I'm
Many that There May BE.

Washington Letter in New York Press.
President Cleveland and his family have
moved to Woodley, where they expect to
spend the next few months. Last spring
they were robbed of their home by the
Coxey army. This year there is no band OF
Coxeyites to fear, Congress is not in session
and the President will have ample oppor-
tunity to enjoy peace and quiet in his sub
urban retreat In June he will go to the
cottage on Buzzard's Bay to spend the very
hot weather. Last year he was compelled
much against his inclination to spend the
worst part of the summer in Washington to
attend to the business which Congress was
sending to him al the White House. Mrs.
Cleveland would have remained with him
the greater part Of the summer, or as long
as the children were in good health, but the
coming of Coxey filled the country around
Washington with tramps. and the home at
Woodley was not considered a safe place
for the President or his family.
The President is very much afraid of as
sassination, if his precautions are any index
to his feelings. His cautiousness is shown
particularly in his complete withdrawal
from the public. 1t is an extraordinary
fact that the people of Washington seldom
see the President of the United States. They
certainly see much less of him than visitors
do. So remarkable is his seclusion that
when he walked to the home of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, some six squares from the
White House, last week. the matter was
made subject of comment not alone in
Washington but all over the country. The
sight of the President which some people
him that they had had since the day of his
inauguration.
HARRISON WAS FEARLESS.
President Harrison-and in fact all of
Mr.. Clevelard's predecessors-was entirely
different. Mr.. Harrison was a devoted Pc
trio and y 70,
the streets of Washington. Sometimes
he walked in the afternoon accompanied
by his stenographer, Mr.. Tibbott. Some
times he took stroll at night in the
company of his private secretary, Mr.. Hal
ford. Occasionally he weht out accompanied
only by his little grandson. He was a
frequent visitor to the White Lot, or park,
just in front of the executive mansion.
On all of these excursions Mr.. Harrison
was entirely without protection. He was
not afraid of being assassinated and he
showed this very plainly when he came
a drunken man who had broken into the
White House. Mr.. Harrison was guarded,
pub at he White Hos
he asked no special protection when he
walked d. the streets Mr.; Cleveland, IN, not
in one of the White House carriages he
is under the protection of two detectives,
who follow in another vehicle.
The President of the United States is
more more carefully EAR guardsd as mater nat, OF fact
true in the time of any of the other Pres
idents of the United States. Mr.. Arthur
perhaps he had more reason to be afraid
of it than any other President, because
CARRIED and the nesponsbIity for the trae
edy was credited to him. Mr.. Hayes walked
about Washington without fear. and Gen;
Grants was very familiar figure on
street during the two Grant adminiStra-
lions.
In going to woodley the President has
not divorced himself from the public bust
ness, however. A mounted messenger from
the White House takes all papers which
country home. and the White House stenog-
rapher is a regular visitor there Besides,
Woodley and the White House, and at any
hour of the day or night the Presidents
cation with his chief. The President drives
in from the country very regularly. and
(and the President needs exercise pretty
badly, as the color of his skin shows
doubtless the fresh air will benefit him.
FEW VISITORS AT WOODLEY.
Those who see the Presidents at Woodley
are received much more informally than
those who call at the White House. His
visitors are however, chiefly the members
of his Cabinet. He has few intimacies out
side the Cabinet circle.
The drives about Woodley are very beau
tiful. There is only one drawback The
trolley cars. which have made so many
suburbs possible, come within hailing dis
lance Of the Presidents home. But in spite
of. the accessibility of the rural executive
mansion the President is not much an
noyed ,i by visitors His privacy is very
drive in the direction Of the President's
house go out in the electric cars.
President Cleveland's chief recreation at
his summer house is driving in the after
noon and quiet game or cards in the
good hand at pinochle. There have been
many efforts on the part of those having
the Presidents welfare at heart to induce
him to take up horseback exercise for his
health.
AT one time during his first administra-
ton is was said that he had been persuaded
to promise that he would mount horse
Riding was a great fad at that time in
man in the city was Secretary whitney
But Mr.. Cleveland resisted the appeals Of
his Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Cleveland
does not appear to advantage on
time nearly three hundred pounds. He
reached the three hundred marx later and
had to undergo treatment for reducing his
flesh. He brought himself down to $50
late again until it was necessary for
him to take another course of treatment
for obesity.
Those who knew the Presidents condition
say that he is suffering a good deal now
from the effects OF the sedentary life Le
led during the time Congress was on his
hands; but a sportsmans life at Buzzard's
Bay this summer may reduce his bulk to
healthy limits.
Thurlow Weed Knew Why the Dis