The Washington herald., 1913-03-28
may
Go To FLOODED
DISTRICT TODAY
He viii Be Governed by Ad-
vice Of Secretary Of
War Garrison.
ADVISED AGAINST IT
Influence Of His Presence Only Good
He Could Do by Making

President Wilson may leave on a special
train today for the fiood-stricken districts
of Ohio.
He will be governed by the advice Of
Secretary of War Garrison. who 10 now
on the way to Chillicothe and who will
communicate with the White House from
the Ohio city about noon to-day. II Sec
retary Garrison considers that the pres
ence of the President among the terror
stricken people of the flood districts would
work benefit commensurate with the un-
dertaking OF his going there It is officially
announced that Mr.. Wilson will leave as
soon as arrangements for a Presidential
specil train can be made.
Close friends of the President believe.
however. that the probability is all on the
side OF his continuing in Washington. II
is understood that Secretary Garrison
advised him yesterday against the sug-
gestion made by Secretary Of the Interior
Lane that he go on the War Department
relief special which left yesterday after
noon.
The Presidents mission into Ohio, IL
he finally decides to go there, will be
to inspire courage in the hearts of tn,
flood sufferers. His hope yesterday when
he contemplated making the journey was
that his presence might hearten those
who have escaped. and encourage them
in the fight have begun to recover.
1t was only the anticipated moral ef-
feet of his proposed visit that caused him
to look with favor on the suggestion that
he put aside his duties here at the Cap
ital and turn his energies singiy to the
work of rescue and encouragement Ger
tain II is that at one time this morning
his mind was practically fixed on MAX
ing the trip. and persons at the White
House momentarily expected him to give
the order that arrangements for his de-
parture on the War Department special
be made. The more temperate view
prevailed finally, however, and he de-
cided to send the Secretary Of War hrst
and to follow later himself II develop
ments should establish the necessity Of
SO doing.
Secretary Lane Sees President.
The horrible extent of the tragedies
Of fire and storm was borne in upon
President Wilson yesterday by Secre-
tary Lane, who himself had passed
through the San Francisco earth
quake. Mr.. Lane, by virtue of his own
experience, was able to bring the
President TO a moro acute realization
ritory.
The Secretary of the Interior said
he knew from his experience in San
Francisco that the most pressing need
of the stricken people. under condi-
tions such as exist in Ohio. is to be
heartened into renewing the fight. He
declared that no one who had never
been through such events could i'm
agine the extent to which the sur
vivors are demoralized. 1t was Secre-
tary Lane who first made the sugges-
tion that the President himself go to
the flooded territory and take charge
of the rescue work. He argued that
the mere physical presence of the
President among the people who are
turning to the tests of courage that
await them would have tremendous
moral effect.
The President expects to hear from Sec
retary Garrison the first thing today.
Should the Secretary of War find II prac-
ticable for the President to enter the
food territory without serious danger
and at the same time be convinced that
the good which would result from such
4 visit would be considerable. he may
advise the President to follow.
The President gave his attention to tbs
flood situation almost solely YESTERDAY.
The larger part OF the day was occupied
by the conferences with Secretaries Lane
and Garrison regarding the relief work 10
be undertaken. He consumed consider
able time also in reading the press dis
patches on the disasters, which were
brought to him hourly.
He was In touch with Miss Mabel 7.
Boardman, chairman Of the relief COM
rittee of the Red Cross Society. several
times during the day.