The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-11-29
OPEN DOOR FOR
PUBLIC, IS
POLICY
PreSident-elect Believes Public
Is Entitled to Know Its
Own Business.
REVIVAL OF THE BICYCLE
Westinghouse Can See Coming
of the Safety Back
Into Fashion.
REVIVAL OF THE BICYCLE
BY Ernest G. Walker.
(Mail Special to The Advertiser)

(Mail Special to The Advertiser)
WASHINGTON, November Is
"When President elect Wilson comes to
town. is now tavorite theme in many
chronicles. How soon will he and the
President meet7 many inquisitive men
are asking with pen in hand. They were
in New York for time the other after
noon and what a time lot of people
had Would the President-elect call
upon the President and would the Presi-
dent take any pains to meet his sue
cessor in Officer
Small things, these, although of ire
mendous interest to the rank and file.
They demonstrate how keenly the PEG.
pie follow those who occupy the highest
office within popular gift. 1t will be re-
called that one of the incidents of the
presidential campaign, most widely ex-
plotted, was che meeting of Candidate
Wilson and Candidate Taft in Boston.
The former sought out the latter. There
was a handshake, few words of pleas
antry and the two separated to continue
their struggles for the tenancy of the
White House. And yet another Incl
dent of the campaign out of which very
much was made was Candidate Wilson 8
personal tribute to President Taft,
when speaking on the stump in the
West
That little tribute at time when
another presidential candidate was fill.
ing the air with villifi"ation and accuse.
ton encouraged the friendliness of the
Taft workers for Candidate Wilson very
materially and was not entirely lost
upon the President himself. Indeed,
some of these things have stuck in the
President g mind SO that he is now talk
ing about an invitation from himself
and Mrs. Taft to President-elect anG
Mrs. Wilson to come over to dinner
some time during the winter and have a
look around the White House. 1t seems
to be decided that the invitation will
be extended and there is probably no
doubt it will be accepted.
Breaking Traditions.
All this would be going quite counter
to some traditions as to when Presi-
dent-elect and the mistress of his es-
Establishment first cross the threshold of
the White House. But there is reason
in giving the future occupants an OPP
portunity to look around the place and
decide what they will want for their
own comfort and convenience. A visit
such as the President proposes viii
serve to establish the entente between
a predecessor and a successor and to
encourage the amenities between men
who have been rivals for big office.
If President elect Wilson comes to
town under such an arrangement on a
short visit and a stay overnight at the
White House, he will have n chance to
look inside the White House Offices
where he is to do vast deal of his
work and where, according to advices
from Princeton, he proposes to install
the practice of "open door to the pub
lic." Washington has been much in
terested in that announcement, because
Washington is distinctly the habitat of
"the messenger on the door," Few
subalterns in the government service
fail to avail themselves of the seclu-
sion which this arrangement secures
There is no cabinet official, whose door
is not thus guarded. Besides the mes
senger there is the ever watchful pri-
vate secretary, without whose approval
access can not be had. Assistant cab.
met officials are little less seclusive
although high barriers are placed be.
tween them and the public and so it
goes through long list of bureau
chiefs.
Not Too Extreme.
1t is almost unbelievable that, as
President, Mr.. Wilson can allow the
public to look in on every transaction
Involving the public business. He
would simply be overrun by curious
ones What would do for the Cover,
nor's Office at Trenton might not do at
all for the President 3 office at Wash
ington. Every Tom, Dick and Harry
hn al ha y 4
to walk into the White House Offices
There are senators and representatives
who insist upon having the pass to the
President There are other Official
visitors who likewise claim some priv.
ilege over the rank and file.
Full Publicity.
The doors will necessarily be guard.
ed, but nevertheless the policy of pub
LEFTY may be more generally enforced
than heretofore. The idea Of public
ity is what Governor Wilson has chief.
ly in mind. He objects TO the secret
conelaves on the score that the business
which public officials handle has TO do
with the public veal and therefore the
public has a right 10 know about il. In
that the new President can go far with.
out erriug. He can Danish the man Of
mystery in politics and do away with
the secret arrangements that result to
the profit of interested persons. Prob.
ably the now President will be unable
10 disclose the character OF All the busi
mess which comes before him from day
10 daV Much OF H., however, can Just
as well be made known fully 10 an the
world, Such policy would simplify
thlngs materially at Washington strip
certain small people Of self assumed Iul
porlance ana give the government bust
ne's dign'hrl simplicity
II should Boz borne iu mind that 4
President ohsrnng this policy, Will
Impose II upnu nnm uous suhafinaifs
The shhinri oiil,eSi fooi must be fpeu