Arizona republican., 1907-12-09
FOR IMPROVEMENT OF WHITE
 HOUSE.

Congress at it's next session should add a commodious and we'll lighted amusement hall to the White House. At present it suffers from the limita- tions of the East room. Venerators of tradition who remember how that apartment has been used'for weddings. receptions and other semi-official functions are rather scandalized when
 the East room is used for any sport
 more robust than pingpong. Their lscruples must be respected. But al-
 though it may be true, as they aver, that Mir. Jefferson never had tumb- lers and acrobats in the White House and John Quincy Adams is not known
 to have invited opponents of the art of self defense to entertain him there, the proclivities of presidents who pat ronize sports and statesmanship i'm lpartially should receive consideration. The suggestion that stadium and
 gymnasium be attached to the White House, with stands and galleries for ' friends of the president to witness such sports as shall be ordered by
 him. may be dismissed as too ambi
 tious and expensive. A hall large enough for the reception of celebri | ties distinguished for excellence in
 games of strength and skill would
 meet the eXigencies of the case. There should be 6 movable platform for boxing and wrestling, and beneath it tank for swimming. deep enough for fancy diving and long enough for wat CT polo. A gallery at each end with a wais for the president would provide saafinO apcoropnd tinpS for hiS ipvif
 ed guests. and the gallery being above the arena the floor might be thrown open for rough riding or hurdle jump ing by removing the platform and boarding over the swimming pool.
 Basketball. hockey on roller skates and other winter sports by college teams might be added to the presiden- tial schedule of entertainment by the Master of the Revels. The floor could also be used for indoor tennis and squash. A walking track might be put in for constitutionals on rainy days.
 It will be allowed that great ath- letes and strong armed men would not have to be paid out of the annual ap- propriation for presidential sports; there would be honor and glory enough for them all, and they would profit by the advertisement of appearing be- fore the president, cabinet, diplomatic corps and invited guests. Attendance at receptions to Wrestlers, pugilists and sword swallowers in the East room is necessarily limited to tennis players. familiar diplomats. rough rid CTS and private secretaries. This ex- 'clusiveness, although unavoidable. looks like discrimination and engend- CTS jealousy and pique. If the presi- dent were provided with a Hall of Sports. which would obviously become a Hall of Fame in course of time, he could invite all his friends. admirers and satellites, including bishops, sOci- Ologists, cowboys, bear hunters, guides, naturalists and trust busters. As ad- mission might be by card. undesirable citizens" army and navy officers on the blacklist, and members of the An anias society could be excluded.
 To this plan of making the White House more attractive to presidents who are not milksops or mOllycoddles there can be no objection except the expense; and even in a time of re- trenchment and thrift that ought not to be regarded as insuperable.-New York Sun. {4f