The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-07
URGES A NEW REFORM
Arthur and Mckinley Worn Out With
Trivial Matters.
SHOULD CoNSlDERGREATPRoBLt ONLY
Would Turn Over Patronage TO Cabinet Min
isters and Let No One lntrude on the
Presi eft. Views Of Sarcastic
FY-SenatOr.
Ex-senator.
(By the Associated PreSs.)

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Washington
Post will print tomorrow an interesting
and important article by ex-senator Will
liam E. Chandler, the President Of the
Spanish Claims Commission, entitled,
WANTED by the United States, a Presi-
dent" The article is a strong argument
for a reform in the present methods of
conducting executive business.
Mr.. Chandler asserts that a president
has now only three objects in life:
First, to see 20, 900 people a year; second,
to accomplish two thousand little things,
and third, to try to do 200 great things.
In the seeing of SO many thousand people
about trivial affairs and in 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 at
%tention. Mr.. Chandler cites from per-
Sonal knowledge the cases Of Presidents
who have almost succumbed under the
strain, instancing particularly President
Arthur, in whose Cabinet he was Secre-
tary Of the Navy, and President McKin-
ley, to whose impaired health Mr.. Chand-
Ter attributes inability to recover from
the shock Of the assaSsin's bullet. Mr..
Chandler expresses his regret that Presi-
dent Roosevelt. even with his ~quickness.
his acuteness, and his present untiring
industry and unbounded energy, has given
countenance to the idea that he will do
all the appointing himself, and hear all
that any one has to say concerning any
appointments"
Mr.. Chandler thinks that the great
weight Of the pressure for office ought
to fall upon the Cabinet 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 twentieth
century may see in the White House is
q President who will be allowed to serve
the whole people with all his heart and
strength, with all his mind and body, in
the discharge of his official duties, I'M
hlndered by the pressure upon him of
so nan thousands of his countrymen
as have in recent years encroached upon
the time and patience Of our Presidents
and kept them from their public work,
or compelled them to do it by imCairing
their physical health and over-straininG
their mental powers. The time has on
when access to the President except at
public receptions, should be limited to the
Cabinet ministers, Senator'S, Representa-
tives and ambassadors, and to such othCr
persons only as are given interviews for
puOilc purpose after written applications
have been received and carefully con
sldered. The public receptions of the
President should be few, and there should
be no lntruSlOns upon his social life,
which he should be allowed to regulate
according 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 u~nrepubIican exclusivenoss.
1T Will require, to begin the now rule. a
President who has been a 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 con-
victiOns and fearless in his actions. is
not Mr.. Roosevelt such a President?
Will he ~inaugurate the reform?'