The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1912-07-12
Gov. WILSON'S
THOROUCHNESS

Al dh Ivy SApeIieuCc VI tuo ueu
who have held the office of chief execu-
tive Of the state of New Jersey-and
my recollection extends back to the
time of Governor Joel Parker-I have
never known one who was such tre-
mendous worker or who executed the
duties of his office with such thorough
ness as Governor Wilson"
The speaker was an old time attache
of the statehouse at Trenton, whose
duties have brought him in constant
and intimate relation with every gov.
srnor for a generation past.
Nothing escapes his attention." he
went on, from the smallest routine de-
tail to the most important question af-
fecting the state"
Governor Wilson is always one Of the
earliest arrivals In the executive de-
partment. He enters with the brisk
stride of man twenty years his junior
and at once plunges into the work of
answering his mail. Unlike many men
In his position, he reads a very large
proportion Of the letters he receives,
taking the position that IL man Is
sufficiently interested in subject to
write to him he is entitled to personal
reply.
Shoals of Callers.
This task is not accomplished with
out many interruptions, for no COVER
nor of the state ever had so many
callers as Woodrow Wilson. His re-
markable gifts, the wonders he has &c.
complished in legislation for the good
of the people, the nation wide interest
in him daily bring to the executive Of
fee scores of visitors who want to
meet him and whose business could
Just as we'll be done with some other
official, but who feel that they must
see their admired governor.
And the "open door, policy which
was inaugurated by Woodrow Wilson
the first day he took Office aids them
In their ambition. although 1t adds
much to the burdens of the executive
Believing that there is nothing In the
business Of the state which should be
done In secret, nothing In which every
voter has not a personal interest and
therefore a perfect right to full knowl-
edge, Governor Wilson always keeps
wide open the door between his office
and the big waiting room so that all
may see what is going on within.
When the governor took Office he
| could not be said to be we'll known to
| the people of the state, True, they
had heard Of bis fight for Democracy
at Princeton university; they had read
his splendid speeches; they knew be
was accounted one OF the intellectual
giants OF the country, and consequently
they had q great admiration for him.
But 1t was admiration in the abstract
and 1t had no personal tinge.
Not "cIoistered' Student.
A mind picture Of person thus
| heard and read Of, but not intimately
known, is often faulty drawn. And
so 1t was with regard to the popular
conception Of the human side of Wood.
row Wilson. He was limned as one
who held himself more or less aloot
from his fellows as q cloistered student
whose heart had not been warmed by
contact with all sorts and conditions
of men. He was understood to be cold
of blood, an aristocrat by birth and en-
vironment.
In the popular mind 1t was felt the
governor would adorn the Office ant
would probably give good admins
tration, although there was little hops
that the people Of the state would de
rive much benefit but 1t was not fel
that he would become peoples gov
ernor, one who would enter whole soul
edly into the hopes and aspirations O
the struggling masses.
Old Time Theater Rowdies.
Rowdyism in London theaters was
common occurrence in the.old days, as
is shown by the following from the
london Post Of Oct. 27, 1798:
1.-TWO men In the pit at Drury Lane
theatef last night were so turbulen
and riotous during the last act o.
Henry " that the performance wal
interrupted upward of a quarter of al
hour. The audience at last assertet
their power and turned them disgrace
fully out OF the theater. This shoul'
always be done to crush the race o
disgusting puppies that are a con
slant nuisance at the playhouse ever
| night"