Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
kDERWATcHFUL EYES
Visitors to the White House
Are Closely Scrutinized.
POLICE PROTECTION
FORCE OF FoRTY-FIvE GUARDS
BUILDING AND GROUNDS.
Cranks Stand Little Chance of Getting
Beyond the Doors At
Public Receptions.
POLICE PROTECTION

Written for The Evening Star.
The enlargement of the White House has
gone far toward solving the crank prob
lem. Easy may rest the heads of all
future chief servants Of the people
who may abide within the walls of
the big white-winged edifice. for a complete
police station is numbered among its many
adjuncts. This new headquarters of the
finest of the nations finest occupies the
| southeast end of the new east terrace. 1t
replaces the shabby little frame guard
house" which formerly sheltered the White
House squad.
A new electric service connects directly
with District headquarters. The White
House grounds are divided into four SUBJ
precincts, which are patrolled regularly. So
strict is the discipline that every step Of
the patrol must be retraced each half hour,
day and night. Distributed throughout the
grounds are electric buttons which drop an
nunciators at headquarters. And If any
annunciator fails to annunc.ate on the
minute the copper" on the beat Is searched
for.
The Greater White House demands fif-
teen more policemen than guarded the old
mansion. The total squad now numbers
forty-five, divided into three beats of eight
hours. Each beat is in command of a SER
geant who hobs up unexpectedly here and
there and keeps his eagle eye on his
charges A dozen officers are now detailed
inside the building, but these are In charge
lions from Colonel Bingham, the Presidents
military aid. These inside men" are
posted at the now numerous doors. An
outside man" guards each gate and an
other ratrols the path in front of the new
office annex. During presidential recep-
tons sixty additional policemen guard the
house and surrounding streets
Watching Reception Guests.
A detail of secret service men is added
to this force. These are all 'plain-clothes'
detectives, belonging to the federal estab
lishment. One Of them sits in the reception
room of the new executive office building
and scans each newcomer. Whenever the
President walks about the streets one of
these unsupported guardians strolls behind
him at a respectful distance. If the Pres
ident drives, secret service man is in an
unpretentious vehicle behind. Mr.. Roose-
welt himself seldom knows Of the where
about of these protectors. He often re-
sents their espionage, but they are under
orders from the silent John E. Wilkie, their
chief.
The enlarged White House is a perfect
trap for that peculiar species of crank or
criminal which choose heads of state for
their victims The long corridors of the new
east terrace, where the public now enters,
shape the arriving and departing guests
during public receptions into long lines,
which, after undergoing the inspection
of the uniformed police, pass slowly
in review of secret service men scat
tered along the line of march. In
corner of the red parlor, just alongside the
door leading into the blue parlor-where the
President receives-Chief Wilkie himself has
posted himself during this winters recep-
lions. He takes the last look at the pass
ing throng, but the stranger does not sus-
pect his purpose. He poses as a servant
of the household and instructs each guest,
"Give your name to Col. Bingham"
Recently a crank did try to worm his
way into White House reception. He had
first come into notice by logging the steps
Of an attache accredited to one of the en-
bassies. 1t was his purpose either to pro-
cure work from this diplomat or to do
harm. At any rate he donned his dress
suit and attempted to enter the reception
as member of the embassy suite, but was
prevented. A day or two later he attempt
ed suicide by jumping from one of the
bridges spanning the river. He was re-
suscitated. found to be mentally unbalanced
and sent to st. E1zabeth's.
The legal process Of disposing of White
House cranks is a quick and sure one. The
Washington authorities now have it down to
fine points. To begin with Washington's
policemen are mostly ex-soldiers and ex-
sailors, carefully picked, the former being
preferred. They enter the force by strict
civil service examination and never feel the
influence of a political pull"
Sitting Strangers.
A stranger passes through a thorough
sitting process before he can reach the
President. Through Simmons, the colored
doorkeeper, he first presents his card Then
he obtains an appointment with the secre-
tary and states to him his business. The
Presidents Office, in the southeast corner
of the new western annex, is accessible
from the private portion of the White
House. The President passes to and from
his home by covered way, which shields
him from whatsoever may be waiting outside.
There are now four doors to the enlarged
building. Three Of them are utilized by the
chief executive. and no one knows through
which one he will emerge. No stranger can
remain long In the vicinity Of any Of these