Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-01
BUSY AS A BEE HIVE
AT THE WHITE HOUSE

The year was one Of great activity at
the White House. political and otherwise.
From the early part until near the middle
the President was in close conference
with republican, leaders in the Senate and
House as to legislation of the kind recon-
mended and desired by him. His activi-
ties were so great that for the first time
he began to show fatigue and went to his
Oyster Bay home June Il, the earliest OF
any time in his administration. Runors
OF falling health were circulated, but
thNt>>>w who came in contact with the
Pr&ideRt knew that he was simply worn
outl WITH the important work he had been
doingS Through the winter season and that
a quie& summer would set him all right
Hn-addition TO his efforts for antitrust
legislation and action in the courts,
Through the Department of Justice, spe-
Cial commissions and otherwise the
President found himself confronted with
the Broynsvile and Japanese school
. QuesttapG fights over grazing and forest
bands in the west and other questions. 1t
was January IA when his special message
on his action in dismissing negro SOL
<ifrs for participation in the Brownsville
riAts was sent to Congress. During the
sGBne month he sent to Congress a special
message on ship subsidy and other ques-
tons In February the Japanese school
question in San Francisco had become
acute and the President had frequent
conferences with California senator's and
representatives. He sent for and talked
with Mayor Schmitz and members of the
sciinpl board of San Francisco. using his
inffuence to have Japanese school chill
dren of school &c admitted to the Pubic
schools of the city without discrimina-
ton. The school authorities finally COM
piled with the Presidents request and
Japan was tempo rarily satisfied. The
question OF excluding japanese laborers
from this country is still under consid-
Grafton by the administration. An ar
rangement was made in February by
which Japanese in Hawaii were not to be
admitted to this country.
In February also the President took up
with Saint Gaudens. the sculptor, who died
a few months ago. the matter of changing
the gold coins of the country. The Presi-
dent considered that the designs on the
then existing coins were not artistic and
decided that there should be change.
Gold coins are now being turned out from
the designs mde by Saint Gaudens and
approved by the President These coins
caused sensation throughout the coun-
try because the motto. I'm God We
Trust" was omitted from them. Upon
being attacked for leaving this motto
off the coins the President last fall de-
Tended himself. The coins, in various
denominations. are still being issued
minus the motto.
Early In April the President had a
turned out some hot shot for Mr.. Harri-
man. whom he roundly denounced. About
the same time the President let 1t leak
out from the White House that a great
conspiracy had been formed to defeat his
policies. 1t was declared that Wall street
magnates. presumably headed by E ii.
Hartman, had contributed SJOOO,0O0 as
a fund to oppose his plans, political and
otherwise.
The Presidents controversies We're con-
tinued in May. when DIR. W. j. Long, the
naturalist. replied in hot style to the ac-
was a nature faker DIR. Long pointed
out a good many things In the Presidents
supposed knowledge of animals that made
interesting reading.
, May . the President made public a long
report b. James B. Reynolds as to the
of Columbia. Mr.. Reynolds had much to
say about matters in the District that
caused comment.
In May the President pardoned J. Will
liam January. a Kansas City man. jan
uary had once been in prison. but es-
capped and settled in Kansas City, Mo.
He became one of the solid business men
OF his city. married and had family.
An old pal in prison discovered him ana
told on him. He was arrested and the
whole story was brought out. The Presi-
dent considered that January had lived
down his past life and pardoncd him.
In June the President appointed a COM
mittee to report upon a readtustment OF
departmental salaries.
After spending quiet summer at
oyster Bay the President returned here
September %. A few days later he en-
tcrtained the Bishop OF London as his
guest and played tennis match with the
distinguished English divine. A story
WIS circulated that the bishop defeated
the President, but it was ascertained that