The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-29

Cor. New York Mail and Express.
Washington. June lo.-Eyerybody Ia
barred from the White House.
during many years as to cause criticism
and disappointment This is because
many people come to Washington who
hold as the eliminating purpose of their
journey an entrance into the house Of
the President OF the United States. Tho
insistence of these tourists Is wholly pa
triotio, and every President has aooeded
to this wish, not because of a desire for
personal adulation from visiting deiega-
lions, but because Of an ambition to
spread. so far as possible through the
United States, individual impressions Of
the executive center Of the national gov
eminent.
The reason why the White House will
be closed to these thousands of visitors
during the summer Is that the entire in
terror of the structure Is to be remodeled
But 1t should be understood that state
ments published as to the destruction Of
historical relics, and the entire change Of
plan of the building, in violation of all
tradition. are incorrect. On the contra
ry. it is the idea of President Roosevelt
to make the new White House conform
as exactly as possible to the old White
House. as 1t was originally designed by
the first president, George Washington.
Traditions Sacred.
A great deal of alarm has been caused
by an incident so comparatively insigni-
he al Hast
Room of the executive mansion of the
old portraits of Gen. Washington. Mar
tina Washington and Dollie Madison
paintings have been admired by many
thousands of people during a very long
time. 1t has been suggested that the
strenuous President intends to alter
the historic mansion and ali Its adorn-
ments in most radical way. This 10
entirely incorrect.
1t Is the purpose Of the President, as
soon as the money needed for the purpose
Is granted by Congress, to make the
White House, as he chooses to call the
Presidents house. dwelling fitted to
the dignity of the chief executive of a
government that has grown to be one Of
the greatest powers of the world. 1t will
retain all its historic features. Every
mirror and every panel that has ASSOC
citation with any feature Of the social
SlQe OK the administrators. siCe stue
time of the first President, will be scrup-
uiously- restored. .e
The present dismantling of the White
House does not mean its Disagreement
1t will be modernized only so far as to
make It more accessible to the public
and to emphasize all Of its most at
tractive features.
New OFFICE Building.
In the alterations Of the house there
will be nothing to shock the feelings of
the most devout adherent to tradition.
In fact all the plans of change are based
upon the recorded ideas approved by
George washington himself Their pur-
pose will be, in general terms. to make
the White House actually residence
for the chief executive, instead Of a oom-
bination Of private house and business
offices.
There will be erected as quickly as
artisans can perform the work. an office
building west of the present conserva-
tory connected with the White House.
This building will be directly opposite
the. huge edifce of the State. War and
Navy building.
It will be a comparatively humble
structure, one story high, built Of brick.
painted white, in order to be In harmony
with the prevailing color Of the White
House But this building viii be far
more convenient to the President himself