The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04
NEW WHITE HOUSE
Is PROPOSED NOW
tSouth American Republics
/ Have Better Official
i Homes.
SENTIMENT IS OPPOSED. I
AMERICAN PEOPLE LIKELY TO
|; pIsFAvoR CHANGE OWING
|. PATRIOTIC LOVE FOR Ts-
STRUCTURE.

Washington, Oct. Sin connection ;
with the proposition to issue billion
dollars worth of Washington improve
ment bonds. discussion has been re-
vived of the plan to erect new Of
fetal residence for the president and
his family. There is not a backyard
republic in South America, declare ad-
vocates of the new white house pro-
ject, which has not more imposing
palace" for its president than is the
residence of the American executive.
They declare this country should have
presidential palace commensurate
with its wealth and greatness. There
are literally hundreds of private resi-
dences more imposing that the official
residence of the American president.
The present white house has been
the home of every Anne rican president
except Washington. The seat of gov
eminent was moved to Washington
during the presidency of the first Adj
ans and 1t is related that his good
wife used to hang her Monday wash
in the then unfinished east room. It
was badly damaged once by fire. but
except for interior finishing IL was
practically the same when Mr.. Roose-
welt became president as 1t was when
John Adams moved In his household
goods. Every president from Adams
to Roosevelt had his offices and those
of his secretaries and clerks. and the
private family apartments were re-
OF. tote hot 81 ~
ond floor. Some of the presidents.
notably Hayes and Garfield. who had
large families of children were pre- tty
badly crowded, but there is no record
that any of them found the fnconven-
fence greater than they were willing
to endure.
Mr.. Roosevelt also had a large FAM
lily of children and as he had been
used to plenty of room all his life, the
crowding was distasteful TO him. So
he caused an Off &c building to be
erected west of the white house and
connected with 1t by coverage pas
sage. A similar passage was built out
toward the east gate and Is utilized as
public entrance, giving much more
| privacy for the presidents family than
| ever before was enjoyed. A lot OF
folks. especially members of congress,
poked fun at these white house addi-
tons, but they are not at all inartistic
and their usefulness cannot be denied.
Sentiment Opposes.
Promoters of the new executive
mansion project would have a much
less difficult road to travel we're 1t not
for the sentimental interest the Ameri-
can people have in the white house.
AS all the presidents except Washing
ton have lived there the average Am
erican can see no good reason why
future presidents cannot do so, and
he Is rather proud of the simplicity
which provides the American chief of
state with a handsome and dignified
mansion instead of an ostentatious pal
ace.
| When the white house was built
1t was the most imposing structure
in America designed for residential
purposes and was frequently referred
to by earlier writer's as the Palace.
Indeed, the first mistress of the white
house used the word In writing to a
friend. complaining that she felt lost
in this big and empty palace" AS
her previous life had been spent in a
very modest New England cottage no
doubt the residence provided for the
i president seemed much grander to her
than it does to its present mistress.
The name white house, always
has been famaliarly applied to the
presidential residence. though until
Mr.. Roosevelt became president IL was
CRITICALLY designated as the executive
mansion. Mr. Roosevelt decreed that
during his administration It should be
known officially by it's familiar name,
and all official stationary was printed
accordingly with the words white
House" instead of Executive Man.
sion.''
| For 100000 Structure.
Those who think the country needs
new white house want to spend
about five millions of dollars in build.
ing 1t. and they want 1T built upon a
hill The site most generally favored
is where Sixteenth street, leading di.
rectly north from the front door OF
the present white house. goes over the
crest of the hill more than a mile
away. Without regard to a new ex-
ecutive mansion 1t is proposed to
change the name of Sixteenth street
TO Avenue of the Presidents or some
other name conveying a like signifi.
canoe, and 1t Is argued that 1t would
be very fitting that the Avenue of the
Presidents should extend from the old
white house to the new one
i And they have an answer ready to
the query: What are you going to do
with the present white house? They
would concert 1t into public museum
OF the presidents. restoring such of the
historic furniture as could be recover
ed and filling it as nearly as possible
with relics of chief magistrates. Some
enthusiasts have even gone so far as
to decide that the great east room
shall be presidential picture gallery,
adorned with portraits In oil of past