The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-05
WANTED, A PRESIDENT"
William f. Chandler Tells How the
Presidential ONCE Is Hampered
and What should BE Done for the
Benefit of the Occupant.

william r.. CnandIer Tells HOW tine
Presidential once Is Hampered
and What should Be Done for the
Benefit of the Occupant.
Washington, Jan. 4.-The Washing
ton Post will print tomorrow an inter
esting and important article by ex-Sen-
ator William E. Chandler, the presi-
dent of the Spanish Claims Commits
sion. entitled, Wanted. by the United
States, President" The article is
strong argument for a reform in the
present methods of conducting execu-
| tive business. Mr.. Chandler asserts
| that a President has now only three
objects in life-first, to see 20,0 900 peo-
pie year; second, to accomplish 1000
little things, and, third, to try to do
200 great things. In the seeing of SO
many thousand people about trivial af-
fairs and giving his attention to the
thousand of little things, the President,
Mr.. Chandler insists, is worn out and
becomes physically unable to grapple
with the great problems to which he
ought to give his undivided attention.
Mr.. Chandler cites from personal
knowledge the cases of Presidents who
have almost succumbed under the
strain, instancing particularly Presi-
dent Arthur, in whose cabinet he was
Secretary of the Navy, and President
Mckinley, to whose impaired health
Mr.. Chandler attributes inability to re-
cover from the shock of the assassin's
bullet. Mr.. Chandler expresses his re-
greet that President Roosevelt even
with his quickness his acuteness and
his present untiring industry and I'M
bounded energy, has given counte-
nance to the idea that he will do all
the appointing himself and hear all
that any one has to say concerning any
appointment" Mr.. Chandler thinks
that the great weight of the pressure
for Office ought to fall upon the cabi-
net ministers and the President ought
to have more time for important things.
What is wanted in the person of Mr..
Roosevelt" says Mr.. Chandler, land
in every other person whom the TWEEN
tieth century may see in the White
House, is a President who will be al
lowed to serve the whole people with
all his heart and strength, with all his
mind and body, in the discharge of his
official duties, unhindered by the pres
sure upon him of so many thousands
Of his countrymen as have in recent
years encroached upon the time and
patience or our Presidents, and kept
them from their public work, or COM
PEELED them to do it by impairing their
physical health and over-straining
their mental powers. The time has
come when access to the President,
except at public receptions, should be
limited to the cabinet ministers. SEN
ators, representatives and ambassa-
doris. and to such other persons only
as are given interviews for public pur-
poses after written applications have
been received and carefully considered.
The public receptions of the President
should be few, and there should be no
intrusions upon his social life, which
he should be allowed to regulate ac-
cording to his own will and pleasure,
and no person should take offense be-
cause not invited to his presence or
find fault with his selection of his
company, whatever may be its race or
color.
This needed change of custom will
at first, no doubt. be unpopular. 1t
will be condemned as un-republicsh
exclusiveness. 1t will require, to be-
gin the new rule, a President who has
been man of the people, who is known
to be at heart thoroughly democratic
in all his ideas and ways, and who Is
also strong in his convictions and fear
less in his actions. Is not Mr. Roose-
welt such President? Will he inau-
gurate the REFORM"