The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-09
1.-THE TENNIS CABINET. !"
he Men With Whom the President De-
lights 10 Relax in Athletic Exercise
College Ckums Ills FayCrites at Ten-
nis-Eis Riding ard Waking Com-
laniens.

laniens.
The White House tennis court is now
taking its place in the activities of the
Administration of President Theocore
Roosevelt Altho the Spring has been
backward the leaves are now o. me
trees, the grass in the White H"Us-
grounds is green, and every afternoon
there are scores OF young ana athieuc
officials scattered turnout the many
Departments of the Government who
are anxious for a summons from the
Neutrality-suspicious. ii comes by teie-
phone, sometimes by messenger-to De
over on the tennis court about 4:30
p. III.
1t is. of course, a matter of distinc-
ton to belong to the Tennis Cabinet
There has never been more than doZ-
en- members, and the President invites
in nnw men rather charity. During
the pres. Mt Spring there have been two
initiates-PJ Postmaster General Won L.
Meyer. of Massachusetts, and Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Beekman
Winthrop until recently, Governor OF
Porto Rico. Whether they Will become
-"steadirs'' i yet TO be determined. Mr.
Meyer was invited to play soon after
he entered the Cabinet, but has not
been heard from much since. Whether
or not h" played a game that met with
the Pt1st eiIt's approval Is not KNOWN
:. FcncEiaut for Harvard Graduates.
The President has shown quite a
-wcaI,ness for Harvard graduates in his
Tennis Cabinet, as he has, as matter
of fact, in his real Cabinet and in other
important Government positions. a
young and athletic Harvard graduate
coming 10 Washington is pretty sure 10
be tried OUT on the big court right AT
the rear of the White House offices.
Won L. Meyer and Winthrop are Har-
ward graduates. as is First Assistant
Secretary. of state Robert Bacon, who
YVES the Presidents classmate. Bacon
is one of the men often invited to the
tennis court, and, in fact, is very much
of a persona! fav6rite with the Presi-
dent. Their families visit much back
and forth. Facoa is probably the best
athlete of all those who play on the
tennis court He has strength enough
and a physique powerful enough TO
knock tennis ball over against the
Washington Monument, quarter of
milc away.
Secretary of the Interior James r.
Garfield and Assistant Secretary of
Commerce and Labor Lawrence ..
Murray used to be asked to the tennis
court almost daily when the President
Clifford Pirchot. Garfield used TO be
Commissioner of Corporations, and he
and Murray were colleagues in the
same Department. None OF these three
has been seen very much on the tennis
court this season, but that may not
signify anything. The Washington
weather this Spring has been htful,
and only on occasional days has it been
possible to have game. For while
al hnrCahacly rid
ing when it is raining hard, and often
goes tramping in the country when the
weather is anything but agreeable, he
ventures out on the tennis court only
when the temperature is really COM
Portable for playing.
1t has been rumored around Wash
ington that the President has become
a little weary of Secretary Garfieid's
frequent visits to the White House Of
fees The cartoonists have been draw
ing pictures of Garfield and his null
titudinous boot tracks White House
ward, and some are saying that the
President is not so enthusiastic about
the presence of the Secretary of the
Interior and son OF former President
as he used to be. However. 1t may be
that Jimmie will he playing on the
tennis court as usual now that the
warm days have come. Hitherto the
Departr-ent of Commerce and Labor
has been more favored than any other
Department in the number of tennis
PLAYERS who vie with the President.
For besides Garfield, as Commissioner
of Corporations, and Murray, Herbert
knox Smith, a young man who sue
ceeded to the chair vacated by Mr..
Garfield when he became Secretary of
the Interior, has been often asked to
play tennis on the White House court.
Few Real Cabinet Officers in the Sport.
Real Cabinet officers have not shared
much in the Presidents tennis sport.
Justice Moody, when Secretary of the
Navy and later when Acknowledgement,
was invited over for an occasional
game, but ne did not take very kindly
to the strenuous work with racquet. As
a Harvard student Mr. Moody used TO
be a good baseball player, but Mr..
Roosevelt, of course, cannot play base
ball Secretary of the Navy Metcalf,
formerly Secretary of Commerce. and
Labor and a Yale athlete in his col
lege days, WAS invited over to the ten
mis- court once or twice, but did not
continue that form of Presidential ex-
ercise, whether of his own choice or
of the Presidents choice is not told.
About the only member of the Diplo-
matte Corps who has been much upon
the tennis court is ambassador JUS
black whiskers and black eyes, who,
altho well into middle life. is remark
ably nimble in stopping swift curves.
Naturally, there is rivalry among
Government officials and among mem
bers Of the Diplomatic Corps to par
ticipate in the Presidents athletic
sports. The German ambassador, Speck
Won Sternberg. is one Of the Presidents
favorites, but has not figured much
with the tennis racquet. He occasion
ally goes riding with the President
however, and, before his recent depart
ure for the FatbeTland, frequently rode
out into the country with the President
and the Roosevelt boys, who are learn
ing to jump high fences on horseback
Their instructor in this was The Embas-
sador, who is light of weight and az
excellent horseman.
The Younger Rooseveits.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.. has beer
occupying the White House tennis cour
in recent days more than his father
The lad has been home from Harvard
on a vacation, and almost every after
noon for time. invited in some of hi
young friends here in the city for ;
game. Miss Hagner, who is Mrs
Roosevelts social secretary, has alst
had possession of the court on occa
sional afternoon, and has given som'
strenuous exhibitions of tennis.
The court is kept in the best of con
dition, of course, and is CAREFUL.
screened from the pablo eye. II is lai,
out close to the White House office