The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-07-21
WILSON IS FIRST
PRESIDENTIAL FAN

Washington, July 21.--Pres. Wood
and, as such, he is making a strong
appeal to the multitude OF fans in
this city. He has attended every game
but n played on the home grounds
this season and 1t Is understood that
1t Is his plan to maintain this record,
If the public business will permit. And
not only does he attend the games. but
he enjoys them. He stands up regu-
larly in the seventh inning for luck
with the other enthusiasts and, when
ever the crowd rises at other times to
cheer and throw up hats, the presi-
dent gets up too, and cheers as loudly
as anybody. " -%EEE
No other president has been as pop
ular with the Washington people as
Wilson appears destined to be and
largely because of his great interest in
the national game, which has brought
him nearer to the hearts of the local
people HI the goline Of Mr.. Taft or
the tennis playing of Mr.. Roosevelt.
These latter are exclusive games and
the general public does not enthuse
over them, but baseball is a game for
all the people, and when a president
attends regularly, roots for the HON
team, shows that he knows the fine
points of the game and understands its
traditions, he cannot fail to be popu-
lar-in Washington.
Washington Used to Presidents.
The city has been accustomed to
presidents from the beginning. but It
has not always Deer so Fortunate as to
see much of them out of official har-
ness. There have been some notable
instances of free presidential Journey
lngs about town, but not many, and
now comes President Wilson, through
his great enthusiasm for baseball. to
take a place lat the head of the list.
Lincoln strolled about the streets a
good deal, wearing his tall ~stovepipe
nat, and, in Indictment weather, having
g shawl thrown about his shoulders,
Tor shawls were much affected by men
in those days.
Before Lincoln, Andrew jackson, al
ways prid1ng himself in being one Of
the plain people, took pleasure in his
informal Journeys about the city. A
story still survives of how he sat down
beside a laborer on a. pile of building
material n day and, for half an hour,
swapped yarns with him and borrowed
enough tobacco to fill an ancient pipe.
Grant was seen so frequently on the
streets that his coming and going ex-
cited no comment and little notice. His
accustomed walks were through the
"~~A~Sb SSSNASAAo u GO"I1V dlOIlE the
most frequented streets, and at hours
When many people were. stirring. Har-
lson was also a famous walker: and
his trips through the suburbs are still
remembered by many citizens, Har-
rison, however, was not a good mixer
n he left Washington at the end of
his term, with the local people know
ng little more about him than they
knew before he came. y.
or the later presidents, Cleveland
and Mckinley seldom left the white
house to appear upon the streets.
Neither was fond of walking. w .
Roosevelt Revived Practice.
Roosevelt returned slam bang to the
Grant practice, and spent hours daily
in walks and drives, but, unlike Grant.
he favored the suburbs and not the
doWnstown' sections of town. Few men
were able to keep up with him on
these famous jaunts, and fewer cared
to try. 1t is recalled how Seth Bull
lock, Of South Dakota, an intimate
friend of Roosevelt's, walked with him
n afternoon and early evening, hour
after hour, until he could hardly drag
n foot after the other. Suddenly in
the dusk, coming to the brow of q
hill overlooking the city from the far
northwest, Roosevelt remarked that.
he capital was spread out before
them, and Bullock replied that he
had supposed it was Baltimore or
Philadelphia that he saw.
On another occasion Roosevelt took
Secretary Root; of the state depart
ment, for a walk from Alexandra.
va, by way of Arlington and Fort
Myer, and across the river through
Rock Greek park, going up and down
he steep banks of ravines until Root
called out that he had had enough.
But Roosevelt was not fond of base
ball. He enjoyed things that he could
participate in personally, and base
ball therefore lacked interest for him.
The people saw very little of him dur
ing these long tramps, and even less
while he was playing tennis on the
white house grounds.
Taft Was Noted Walker,
Taft, despite his bulk, was almost
as noted a walker asaRooseyelt. and
many persons recall meeting him on
the country roads seven and eight
miles north of the city, in Montgom-
cry county, Maryland, accompanied by
mis- military aide and one of the Sc
eret service men. Taft's speciality,
however, was golf, which, of course
did not bring him into personal touch
with the public. He attended several
ball games, but without becoming =
fan" or in any way showing that the
game made a strong appeal to him.
Then came Wilson, who, as set
forth has captured the hearts
of the sportsmen of the CITY by his
genuine and unaffected enjoyment Of
the national game. He takes the reg
ulation walks and drives over the
city and through it's suburbs, and Ne
is to play golf after awhile, it il said
but, in the meantime, he is giving
himself over without reserve to the
charm of baseball, to the great delipht5
of the baseball fans who are ready
to vote him on the spot the most pom
ular president the country yer has
had, SO far as the people of this CITY
are concerned.
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Philadelphia . 62 26 .703
Cleveland . AZ Ssl