The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-21
PRESIDENT TAFT
NOW A WRESTLER
Has Mat Bout With DR.. Barker
Daily at the Executive
Mansion.
BOXING ALSO ON PROGRAM
PRESIDENT WEIGHS TWICE AS
MUCH AS HIS TRAINER AND
HURLS HIM ABOUT THE ROOM
WHENEVER HE DESIRES.


most folks in Washington are fast
asleep blue eyed little man is wrest-
ling. boxing, and exercising with the
head of the most exclusive house in the
United States
The servants are still in their beds
and the other members of the family
are slumbering when the little man be-
gins his daily frolic with the big man.
Two hours of this and the small per-
son goes back to his hotel 10 rest and
the large one goes to his breakfast.
The White House is the home invad-
ed by the little man at : o'clock each
morning. He comes and goes as he
pleases in this home of the first citi-
zen of the United States, and by all
the attendants he is respectfully referr-
ed TO as DR. Barker"
DR.. Charles E. Barker is not the pres
ident's physician. and neither is he
the presidents trainer. He is COM
bination of both, and while he eXer-
| cises the chief magistrates muscles he
| also exercises discretion as to the pres
dental diet.
| President Authorizes Story.
DR.. Barker took charge of Mr.. Taft 5
body in 1903. Then his patient was
the secretary of war and patient in
the strictest sense OF the word. Now
it is different and the doctors patient
is the nations president. and the ma
ton is entitled to know how he is TAX
ing care of his charge.
IF the public is interested in my
mode of life they are entitled to be in
formed about it." says the president
and on this authority DR.. Barker ha:
given his story of training the presi
dent.
The training takes place every day
now, and big room on the third flooI
of the White House is the gymnasium
1t is equipped as most gymnasiums are
and the usual stock of dumbbells, In
dian clubs. weight lifts. boxing gloves
striking bags, and other paraphernali;
of the training quarters are there.
Brings Muscles Into Play.
Il go to his house every morning
and give him exercises that bring al
of the muscles of his body into use
and start good flow of perspiration,
said DR.. Barker. when | first be
gan to exercise with the president the
exercises were prudently moderate
and considerable time was spent il
resting.
They began after he had his sleel
of eight hours. My object in work
ing with him was to bring all of thu
muscles in his body into play, as
have said, particularly those of thu
abdomen and chest AS the days wen
by we worked harder and spent les
time catching our breath.
AT the time | thought it right
engaged the president in boxing. W.
do not box furiously or fast. We d.
not try to hurt each other, and. while
there has been nothing said. there il
d tact agreement between us not t
go for the face.
1t might be possible to land ol
each others faces, but such blows a
we administer would do damage tina
could not be noticeable on other part
of the body. 1t would not look nic'
for the president to appear in tn,
white house with a black eye, woul,
it,
Task Ahead Of Doctor.
DIR. Barker weighs $50 pounds an,
the president 900. When the docto
gets a combination strangle. half Mel
son. scissors and hammer lock com
bined and a good toe hold besides, h.
might bulge the president an incl
and a quarter, but that's about tn
limit.
The president losses him around a
will, and the doctor good naturedl
begs for more.
Fresh air is another one of d.
Bankers ideas. but in that he has
firm supporter in Mr.. Taft. who sleep
with his window open, and when he i
in his office the temperature is ken
lower than in any other part of tn
: white house.