The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-05-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
By CARL scHoFIHLD. Special corre-
spondent.


spondent.
William Howard Taft is president of
the United States, yet he is not mas
ter in his own house. His servants
will not carry out his orders. What
boots it, one may ask, to be president
and yet unable to rule under ones
own roof?
This does not mean that President
Taft is treated with disrespect by
White House servants. Only in one
particular do they ignore his requests.
The one thing about which personal
instructions from MIR. Taft are ignored
concern his personal movements. He
is never permitted to leave the White
House without secret service man
attending bin. If the president goes
out to Chevy Chase to play golf, to
MONDAY wedding or the theater at
night. you may be sure that one of
these guardians is near.
The Presidents 5odysuard.
The secret service men on duty at
the White House have one standing
order. 1t is never to let the president
get out of their sight beyond the lin
it's of the executive mansion. 1t is not
necessary for the president to send
word TO his guardians when he is
about to depart. Every doorkeeper,
maidservant and manservant in the
executive mansion is under the most
mandatory injunction to send word at
once to the secret service men when
the president is about to leave. He
may be in his living rooms late at
night and suddenly determine to take
a walk. When he reaches for his hat
the word is phoned to the executive
offices, and Chief Wilkes men are on
the alert
When an order is sent to the garage
or the stable for the Taft automobile
or carriage word goes at the same time
to the secret service men. The presi-
dent accepts the situation philosophi-
cally, it is said, and has never once
suggested that he did not desire the
attendance of a secret service man.
Probably he knows that it would be
useless for him to make such a re-
quest.
SIdeshoWs Barred.
Itinerant pugilists, champion leg
breakers. travelling fit throwers and
other freaks get little encouragement
at the White House these days. Presi-
dent Taft has little desire to study cir
Gus and vaudeville curiosities. The
professional contortionists and other
sideshow attractions which performed
before delighted audiences in the east
room under the Roosevelt regime are
now rigidly barred not only from that
historic apartment. but from the White
House generally.
The Canal Exposition.
All efforts Of Washington business
men to obtain the exposition in COM
memoration of the opening of the
Panama canal are now considered fu-
tile by officials of the chamber of COM
merce. President Taft, who has been
sounded, is still in favor Of New Or
leans, as he promised the Louisiana
delegation several weeks ago, and his
second choice is San Francisco. Con-
gressional leaders. it is stated, would
object to any appropriation for an ex-
position in Washington.
San Francisco, through the Spreck-
els financial interests, is already pre-
pairing a campaign for a $2,000,000
fund, of which one-half will be taken
up by the Spreckels interests them
selves. 1t is believed that New York
f1nanciers closely identified with the
Californians will share pro rata In un-
dertaking the financing of the exposi-
ton. AS the plans stand now, for
every 100000 of private capital the
government will be requested to con-
tribute half as much. This plan, 1t is
said, has the support of influential
members of the senate and house.
Washington Memorial Fund.
Business men of the capital have
practically pledged 100000 to the
George Washington Memorial associa-
ton in its purpose to erect an immense
auditorium to be used for inaugural
balls. international congresses and an
nual conventions of patriotic, scien-
tific, educational and other societies.
The association is striving TO raise $2,-
100000 with which to erect the build
| ing and provide an endowment fund.
Red Cross Protection.
Miss Mabel Boardman and Major
General George w. Davis made elo-
quent pleas before the committee on
foreign affairs for the protection of
the emblem of the American Nation
al Red Cross from designing adver-
tisers and others who are utilizing
the popularity of that institution to
promote the sale of their wares, Miss
Boardman said that no fewer than 1876
manufacturing concerns were now us
ing the name and emblem TO increase
the popularity Of their products. Rep
resentative DENLY has introduced q
bill seeking to protect the Red Cross
name and emblem from such use.
Long In the Service.