The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-06
Takes Up Official Duties in
Day Crowded With
Incidents
CABINET HOLDS
FIRST MEETING
New President Falls Into Work of
Predecessor With Little Cere-
mony-Will Not See
Office Seekers

Washington, March 5.-With the tin
bel and the military pomp, the cheers
of the multitude, the stirring music of
bands and the heavy tread OF march,
ing thousands. the fireworks and the
flmcliEht only n pleasant memory,
she Presidents chair as quietly and
with ss little ceremony probably as al
most any man who ever crossed the
threshold of the White House. His long
FILLED with the flavor of the power that
n a Presidents.
Almost his first act was to serve mo-
tice upon officeseekers that they will not
be welcome at the White House unless
they have been invited. Almost his last
tonight was to confer with Senator John
w Kern, today chosen as leader of the
democrats in the Senate. and reputed rep
resentative of the administration in the
Apper house.
In between he found time to shake
3 ands with close to 1000 persons. consult
th his new cabinet and with a few
lends in Congress- dictate letters and
enerauy launch his own speech of ad-
illustration.
Takes Up Work
In spite of the reports that Mr. Wilson
night be expected to change many of
ne precedents that have grown UP about
ne presidency. he bothered with none of
Importance today except that which per-
snitted the officeseeker to invade the
White House. He fitted in easily with
ne machinery of the executive offices,
i'd mostly what trained officials told him
hould be done and took up the routine
Il government with ease.
JosepIIP. Tumulty, Mr.. Wilson's secre-
airy, was just about as busy as his chief
lie talked half a dozen times to the
newspaper men stationed at the White
House, dictated many letters, received
! CONGRATULATIONS of scores OF friends from
I New Jersey and talked with many prom
inent democrats.
The President spent the morning in
lis office: the afternoon in the White
House, at luncheon and in the cast room
receiving delegations, and at o'clock
shut up shop and went out with Mrs
Wilson for his first automobile ride
hroughl Washington.
All theN~ legations received today came
~ appointment and the reported policy
4 the open door, was explained to be
IN open door only 10 those who came
lpon public business.
After luncheon. with his family and
Secretary Tumulty, MIR. Wilson learned
one of the uses of the east room. He
stood for 40 minutes and shook hands
with 114o persons. Mai. Thomas L.
ahoades, personal aid for year to for
ner President Taft. shot them by as
last as he could get their names and
he new President never Iiinched at the
ordeal.
Goes for Ride
With all the callers disposed of Mr.
Wilson called for one of the White House
automobiles used by Mr. Taft and started
out for spin around Washington. No
aid in uniform, such as accompanied
Mr.. Taft. went with him, but the two
motorcycle policemen assigned to guard
the President on such trips kept close
behind
After the President returned from his
automobile ride Lindey NJ Garrison. Sec
Ietary OF War, had a brief conference
with him.
Il told the President that thought
earned my salary today" said Secre-
tary Garrison, with laugh. I'm learn
ing the machinery of the department.
You can't go from an equity court to
Il government department in a day and
get Accustomed to it at once"
Mr.. Bryan, the Secretary of State, called
after Secretary Garrison left He brought
with him Huntington Wilson, former as
sistant secretary of state. and the heads
of various bureaus of the state depart
Inent presenting them to the President.
Secretary Bryan said there We're some
questions in the various bureaus which
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