Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-12-09
President Turns SightSeer and
Walks From White House
Through Streets as Inter
eSted Tourist,
BECOMES CONFUSED IN
R0TUNDA OF BUILDING
Jaunt Is Taken Informally.
Solely for Purposes Of Ex,
erciSe and to Breathe Fresh
Air.

fnY MORNING ioursAL srtciAl tfAsrn wia6i
washington, Dec. S.-Presldcnt
Wilson went to the capitol today nos
Co deliver a message or confer per
sonally with members OF congress, as
has been his custom since he took of
flee and began breaking century-old
preccdents, but Go gaze, after the
fashion of the tourist and slghtseer'
at the nations executive hall
The presidents visit was as uneX-
pected as % was odd. He had slipped
into the capitol unohservcd, climbed
the fatiguing ascent of numbcrless
steps az the west entrance and was
one of group of sightseers In the
rotunda before word spread through
the halls that the president was in the
building. The president was accom-
panied only hy his physician, Dr. Cary
A. Grayson, T.. =, a., and capitol
guides, not knowing whether or not
the distinguished visitor cared for
their attention. stood In awe-struck
hesitation at . distanc
There's the president Of the United
States" announced some OF The guides
to the groups they were leading about
80 don't believe it-he's al The
White House. said one woman. She
stopped 60 make sure. met the gaze
OF Mr.. Wilson and In her embarrass
ment shook hands. Others came up,
but soon the president Slipped through
the crowd to statuary hail, whore
some states have placed statues of
two of their most famous citizens
The president looked at each statue
and then walked on to the house side
Just as he reached the end of one
corridor he stopped suddenly
ooh. MS on the other side, he re-
and hysanders knew he
meant the presidents room and that
he had lost his bearings. ON his way
back toward the side of the building
the president paused for a moment
before the statue Of Thomas Jeffer-
SON Passing on, he went by the SUI
preme court, which was In session
He met Senator Hughes, of New Jcr-
sey. and in answer To the senator's
inquiry. explained that he
was merely taking a stroll" Sena
tor Hollis, of New Hampshire hap
pened along with a packet of docu-
about the presidents health and re-
marked that he was ON his way 30
currency deliberations.
That's good" laughed the presl-
dent and passed on He shook hands
with Senators ShvelX Chamberlain
md others ana finally arrived at the
room
A moment later Senator Ashurst,
some feminine constituents
about said.
And here we come to the presi- (
dents room, the most valuably fur
nished room in the building" Some +
one stepped up with the information
that the president was inside.
"Oh IT surely is the most yaluably F
room now he said laugh
ngly Senators don't go in when the
Is there unless he sends for
hem. he added
The president found a crowd of
iightseers in his room. They filed out
quickly behind the professional guides
Mr. Wilson stopped only a moment To
hat with Secretary James NJ Baker,
If the senate. and Senator MARITIME, Of
Iew Jersey and then left the buld-
ng Both houses Of congress were in
iesson, but the president entered
leither chamber
The president swung out into the
.apitol grounds. continuing his long
Walk. lie wore no overcoat and one
woman he passed remarked audibly 70
mother, He should not be out With
mt an overcoat."
The president was warmly clothed,
iowcver. IN heavy wooden sweater
est He wore q salt and pepper suit
nd brown fedora and attracted little
ttcntion as he swung his cane
through the crowded streets He took
he walk on the advice Of his physl-
ian, who thought the president need
d the fresh air, after his long con
inement though he had counseled
i'm against going anywhere indoors !
here the air might be close as at q
hurch or thcater