The Washington herald., 1913-07-04
STA TESMEN-REAL AND NEAR
By FRED c. KELLY

One of the things about President Will
son that appeals to the Washington cor
respondents is his admirable candor. At
the semi-yeekly conferences with the
men who write the news from the Capt.
tai. the President either answers aues-
not answer. He does one or the other.
but always he is candid. II it is some
thing that he feels he can discuss, he
talks as freely as If he We're in the
privacy of his own family. II he doesn't
care to talk about IL. he simply says:
Il cannot go into that" or perhaps he
turns the thing OFF with joke; but in
variably his intention is brought right out
into the open. He never attempts to in
suit the correspondents intelligence by
trying to make il appear that he has
answered a question when he has not
answered il. And that is the thing that
makes a whole lot of a hit with the
newspapermen. They appreciate being
treated as human kind. A man in the
Office of President of the United States
can do about as he pleases CONVERSE
tionally and one cannot talk back, or
press questions that he chooses to evade.
Hence the joy of having a President who
takes no mean advantage of his posi-
ton.
AS matter Of form. a White House
stenographer is present at the news
paper conferences. and takes down all the
questions that are put up TO the Presi-
dent and what he SAYS in reply. But
the stenographer is not there because
OF any fear that the President has Of
being misquoted or misrepresented. He
is simply there because II is felt that
when the President talks as freely as
he does at these meetings. there should
be some record Of his remarks.
For an instance of presidential frank
ness. one may cite a conversation in
statement about lobbyists published
broadcast some time ago.
The President CHANGED to remark in
the course of one OF tibet regular news
paper conferences that an iniquitous
lobby was acting in opposition to the
tariff bill, and that he wished the whole
country might know about it. He dis
cussed the situation at some length.
Mr.. President" suggested one Of the
IF you desire for the
to know about this lobby. why
not let us quote you verbatim on what
you have just said. Then, you may de-
pend upon II, the country will know"
II do not know what it was I did
say" smiled the President: Il talk so
unguardedly with you fellows that /
cannot always recall what I have said.
But I'll tell you what / will do: il you
don't mind waiting here little while.
I'll try to get time to dictate some |
thing for-you."
had offered the suggestion. That will
get to the country"
And it did.
Along came new member with his |
family last year from a hick town out
West where the night policeman begins |
to get drowsy about 9:45, and the only |
event Of moment for the people to look |
forward to Is the next number on the |
Star lecture course. Now, one Of the dis |
coveries made by this new member soon |
after his arrival here was that members |
Of Congress are not only entitled to |
draw all the books they want from the
Library, but that the Ii
brary people will deliver the books to |
the members place of residence. IT Is
one OF the many little courtesies the gov
eminent extends to its Congressional |
servants to keep them from getting dis |
contented and fretful. |
After the new members family had |
been a week, the eldest daughter,
right pretty young woman of nineteen, |
was having the works of George B. Nc
Cutcheon and Harold McGrath and Rob- |
srt w. Chambers delivered to their no.
tel five and six at a time. One Of the |
other hotel guests noticed this one day /
and remarked pleanantly enough:
"Ah, I never knew that the Library
delivered books to ones hotel"
'Oh. mercy. yes!' said the new men,
oer's daughter. languidly. do you sup
pose I would go way up to the Ii
orary every time I want book?"
And they do say that out in the little
own she halls from the Carnegie Ii
orary, with its 1000 volumes. Ii located
,ut beyond a swamp.
Representative Ben johnson Of Ken
lucky and friend Of his were riding
llong on the street car the other day.
Ind the friend noticed johnson staring
It q colored passenger two or three
,eats ahead. The man had an odd
'haped head, cut into two grand divi-
ions. fore and aft, by q little hollow
'unnins from temple to temple.
Notice that fellows headr' asked
Johnson.
Very unusual shape. isn't 1t" agreed
he friend.
Yes" went on johnson; land It sort
u fascinates me. can't think Of .