Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28
A SENATOR'S TROUBLES.
The Presidents Trip Enough to Drive
Him Crazy

This business of arranging presidential
stops in a state is worse than getting re-
elected to the Senate or hunting jobs for
importunate constituents" said a United
States senator at the White House the
other day, after he had made his twelfth
visit in connection with the coming tour Of
President Roosevelt through the west. II
have never been so harassed In all my life.
and I suppose 1 have made more enemies
than in any undertaking of my political
career. Every town on the railroad line is
wiring and writing me to arrange a stop
of the President. and IL am unable to do
So as will be the case in most of the re-
quests, 1 naturally. in the estimation Of
my constituents, haven't any influence at
the White House and the President doesn't
care the rap of his finger for me. Why, one
of my towns wants the President to make a
stop and speech at 1 O'Clock in the morn
ing. and the people there seem offended
that the matter cannot be arranged.
Then there are the local committees in
the towns and cities where the President is
going to stop. They want just little more
time than the schedule allows and they
must have it, If possible. They want to
drive the President out some new avenue
and let him see that part of the town. The
time they have at hand will not permit him
to drive around that avenue, and one of the
leading members Of the local reception COM
mittee lives the avenue and wants to
show the people how easily he can arrange
to have things go. Then there are the ban
quets and the speeches in the various towns
of my district. The committees don't seem
able to settle these matters themselves and
they wire to me to know IL a banquet at the
Boiver House will suit the President, or il
he would prefer to sup his soup and eat
his fish at the Grand New Palace. Can't I
arrange with the President for sufficient
extra time to enable him to visit tn Enter
prise manufacturing works? The proprie-
tor Is contributor to all the campaigns
and would feel sighted If the President
could not visit his institution and thereby
give him big advertisement.
THE majority OF the members Of the
committee in Topmast City want to take
the President a long drive over the town in
the short time he is there and wind up with
an informal luncheon just before he takes
his train again. The other members want
him to go to Browns Hall and make an
address to the people and be served with a
President prefer or which would i advise?
Suppose 1 write them to cut out the town
hall and take the drive will ever receive
the support the town hall faction again?
Then at Jimtown the President can stop
only one hour. Colonel Benjamin, the
chairman of the entertainment committee
and one of the leading citizens, wants to ar
range to have the President driven out to
his house for a light luncheon and to meet
Colonel Benjamin'S personal friends The
most OF the members Of the committee want
IDENTIFY trying to monopolize the President.
Can't / have the time extended at Jim-
town so that Colonel Benjamin and every.
body else will be satisfied Oh. It's some.
thing awful and my nerves are geftin1
weaker right along.