Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-03
STAGGERING BLOW STRUCK
At LOCAL PREcEDENTs
Friends Of Wilson Declare Action
Was to Fortify Himself Against Un-
duo Infiuene. Of Certain Washington
: Business Men With Selfish Interests
Especial correspondence.l

!, ship of the Chevy Chase Club.
! The president-clect would have done
/. nothing mere surprising If he had sent
J on word that he would decline to re-
ccive individual senators at the White
House. as Madison did. In theory and
/; in fact every door in Washington is
open to the president and in extending
TO DR.. Wilson the customary invitation
to become an honorary member, the
|! Chevy Chase Club merely took con-
crete action. The university club has
q clause in it's bylaws making the
! president Of the United States an hon
orary member, and DR.. Wilson can not
avoid this honor except by positive
defamation to be so regarded.
What most surprises Washington is
that the president elect. should have
assigned as his reason for declining
the Chevy Chase honor that he intends
| to give all his time to public affairs.
1t is pointed out that the mere accept
arce OF a courtesy membership would
have taken no more time to write than
a declination and that he need not have
visited the club at all had he preferred
to remain at home.
Eager friends Of the president elect
serve notice upon social Washington
that he would no. place himself in any
position where he would be subject to
the undue influence Of certain WASH
ington business men who have no other
use for a president than to exploit their
own social prestige. control patronage
in the District of Columbia and secure
the presidents ready ear in the inter-
re tel
their own end THIS argument. how
ever, fails to take into account that 1t
is the invariable rule Of the Chevy
Chase Club to regard the president as
a visitor to be respected but let alone.
President Taft as golfer has made
use Of the club and it's grounds several
days week ever since he has been IN
office. He is assigned special dress
ing room in the cottage" and it is the
unwritten rule Of the club house that
he shall play mis- game without espion-
age or remark. He comes and goes In
his own motor car escorted by police
officers on motor cycles and he never
is addressed with more than respect
full salution at the club unless he in
dicates himself that he desires to talk
with someone he meets. If the pres
ident desires to meet anyone in Wash
ington informally and to discuss bus
mess affairs, he invites the person to
his office or possibly to luncheon.
Roosevelt made great use Of his din
ing table but Taft has not, except that
casionally when congressional bus
mess Is unusually pressing he saves
the time Of all concerned by inviting
senators and representatives to break
fast. The general rule of Taft Is. how
ever, that the table is not the place to
talk business.
Vice President-Elect Marshall al
ready had accepted an honorary mem
bership in the Chevy Chase Club and
nothing would have been thought OF 1t
had not the president-e elect declined the
same courtesy. The Metropolitan Club,
which is near the White House invar-
iably offers an honorary membership
to the president and even admits the
secretary to the president to it's ex-
elusive roll. These memberships are
conveniences occasionally but neither
official spend any appreciate amount
OF his time in the club house.
A Popular Club.
President Wilson's declination may
prove of more Inconvenience to his
family than to himself. for the Chevy
Chase Club, like the Columbia Country
Club just beyond, Is patronized as
mach in summer by women as by men.
Both clubs offer superior facilities for
luncheon and dinner parties and 1t is
quite the thing for the young ladies
and matrons Of the White House and
the congressional set to entertain each
other In these delightful country re-
treats. They are only about five miles
from the White House. over perfect
roads, and they offer the only semi
private facilities anywhere for enter
tanning away from the heat OF the
Washington pavements. President
Elect Wilson's action undoubtedly will
cause every other club in Washington
to withhold it's courtesies until
clearer Understanding is had of his at
titude toward clubs and social life gen.
orally.
A popular magazine makes public
story which has been in quiet circu-
iation here for some time that Presi7
dent Wilson intends to make use Of
the presidents room at the capitol
whenever he pleases and thus keep
himself in personal touch with the
senate and to assist in directing its at
fairs A roar of wrath has gone up
over this announcement and it is freely
predicted by senators of the old regime
that the president never will carry out
his unparalleled intention. He will
do it for just one day and no more"
said prominent senator, on hearing
,of the Wilson novelty. His place is
at the white House and it is his priv
ilege to summon there any member OF
congress he may care to see. The SEN
ate chamber is ours and 1t is our
privilege to transact our business in
our own way, without interference
from the outside. If President Wilson
thinks he can gain anything for his
administration by such an extreme use
Of the big stick as this would be, he is
mistaken"
Move Would Be Popular.
Nevertheless, this latest report re-
garding the incoming president, fol-
lowing on the heels Of good many
rumors that he intends to upset prec-
edent In many directions. has had an