The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-05
EX-SENATOR CHANDLER PLEADS
EARNESTLY THAT ROOSEVELT
START REFORMS
sPOILs OF OFFICE A BANE
CIaim Advanced That Presidents
Time and Strength Is Frittered
Away in UnraveIing Trivial
Tangles of Politics
HE SHOULD BE LET ALONE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The Washing
ton Post will print tomorrow an inter-
esting ana important article by eX-Sena-
tor William E. Chandler, the president
of the Spanish claims commission. en-
titled Wanted, by the United States, q
president"
Tie article is a strong argument for
q reform in the present methods Of con-
Quoting executive business. Mr.. Chanoler
asserts that a president has now only
three objects in life-frst to see 20,OOO
people a year; second, to accomplish 2,UO0
little things, and third, to try to do 2OU
great things In the seeing of so many
thousand people about trivial matters
and in giving his attention to the thou
sands of little things, the president, Mr.
Chandler insists, is worn out, and be-
comes physically unable to grapple with
the great problems to which he ought
to give his undivided attention.
Great Strain Kills Presidents.
Mr.. Chandler cites from personal knowl-
edge the cases of presidents who have
almost succUmbed under the strain. in
stancing particularly President Arthur,
in whose cabinet he was secretary Of
the navy, and President Mckinley, to
whose impaired health Mr.. Chandler at
tributes inability to recover from the
shock of the assassin's bullet.
Mr.. Chandler expresses his regret that
President Roosevelt, ''even with his quick
ness, his acuteness and his present un-
tiring industry and unbOunded energy,
has given cOuntenance to the idea that
he viii do all the appointing himself and
hear all that anyone has to say concern
ing any appointment.
He 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.
President Mustn't Be Pestered.
''What is wanted in the person of Mr..
Roosevelt says Mr.. Chandler, "and in
every other person whom the twentieth
century may see in the White house, is
a 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, un-
hindered by the pressure upon him Of
so many 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 impairing
their physical health and overstraining
their mental powers.
The time has come when access to
the president at pubic receptions should
be limited t0 the cabinet ministers. SEN
ators, representatives ana ambassadors,
and to such other persons onlv as are
given interviews for public purposes aft
er written applications have been receiv-
ed and carefully considered.
Would Abolish Receptions.
1.-The public receptions of the president
should be few, and lhere should be no
intrusions upon his social life. and no
person should take offense because not
invited to his presence or find fault with
his selection of his company whatever
be its race or color.
This needed change of custom viii at
first no doubt, be unpopular 1t will
be condemned as unrepublican exclusive
ness. 1t will require, to begin the new
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 convictions and fearless in his ac-
tions. Is not Mr.. Roosevelt such a presi-
dent? VIII he inaugurate the reform pa