The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-21
Roar of Pie Hunters
Heard Over the Land
Continued From Page One.

ing, and some times wonder if it is
worth the powder.
Mr.. Wilson is certainly making a
reputation smashing several of the
official presidents of the past With
one fell swoop he knocked into a
cooked hat the time-honored custom
of permitting officeseekers to contis-
cate valuable time belonging to the
people and the public business. When
he thinks it necessary, he does not
hesitate to overturn 81 few of the
social conventions either. Take the
matter of the proper garb of the
president Now the oldest einploye
of the White House does not remem-
Der a president ever appearing at
his offices in a gray sack suit. But
that is inst what Mr.. Wilson did
the other day. Report has it that he
intends 10 continue the practice, even
though Washington society expert
enced somewhat of n shock. They
say tradition and all that sort of
thing calls for a frock coat and
trousers to match. They tell you
that Cleveland, Harrison and McKin-
ley NOl q llOth to6lio ct an IliIito,
while Roosevelt and Taft only oc-
casionally departed from the custom.
But not so with the present occupant
of the White House. Why just the
other day the members of the SUI
preme court called at the White
House to pay President Wilson lit
tie visit of respect. Mr.. Wilson
wore his gray sack suit and received
his dignified and distinguished visi.
tors as a plain American citizen.
Springs Surprises Daily.
Yes, the president is springing sur
prises every day. Here is another
example of the manner in which he
is exhibiting his independence 1t
has been the custom for many years
back for theatre managers to accord
to the president and his family the
free use of the best located box in
the playhouse Wilson wished to go
to the theatre the other evening,
but instead of accepting the usual
courtesy he promptly planked down
81 in the coin of the realm, the price
any other person would have had to
pay. TO say that the manager was
surprised, is to put it mildly.
Apparently the simple life that
President Wilson proposes to follow
is contagious. A friend of mine (not
an officeseeker) happened in one of
the down town lunch rooms last Sun
day to get a bite" when who should
come in but William J. Bryan, secre-
tary of state and chief adviser of the
new administration. In true demo-
cratic simplicity he partook of a
ham sandwich, a piece of apple pie
and cup of coffee. The commoner
had just dropped in from his hotel
across the street for light lunch
before going TO Y. NJ. G.. A. meet
ing.
Several southern senators made not
Il little hubbub when President Will
son sent to the senate his nomina.
ton OF Charles p Neill for reap
pointment as commissioner of labor
Everybody knows that Neil has been
one of the most faithful and efficient
men in the government service.
Some of his Investigations into fac.
tory conditions have turned the light
into dark places and have done lots
Of good. Some time ago he made
q report on conditions in the south
ern cotton mills, and / suppose be-
cause he told the plain, unvarnished
truth about things there, Senator
Tillman and Senator Overman of
South Carolina got up on their ears
and said they would oppose Neill's
reappointment. 1t might have been
different if Neill had sprayed altar
of roses or violet water on some of
the industrial stencil places of the
south.-JeTy.
p. S.-There will be free govern
ment seeds after all. Members of
the house couldn't see the matter in
the same light as senators. If you
are thinking of starting a wood
pecker farm | am sure the depart
ment of agriculture will be glad to
helm Won