Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-13

TOTHING that President Wilson
~ has done since he came into Of
~ fee. or since he was elected
chief magistrate. has caused SO
much discussion as his plan to
drop in upon Congress in its home on
Capitol Hill more frequently than has
been the custom of our previous Presi-
dents. The new occupant of the White
House has. both in his private capacity
and in his official role. done number OF
things that have provoked comment since
he grasped the reins of government, but
this scheme to spend more or less time at
the Capitol in order to keep in touch with
our lawmakers has overshadowed every
thing else.
Such evidences of individuality as per-
sisting in wearing a soft hat instead of
the traditional silk Tile. receiving visitors
when clad in a sack or business suit,
lodging crowds at fashionable church
by patronizing a small one. cutting out
the frills and the playing of the Star
Spangled Banner when he goes to the
theater demanding nine hours sleep each
night, and getting to work like a real
business man at half-past o'clock In the
morning. have caused more or less of a
futter in Washington. but none of the
innovations has been patch on this
Capitol scheme. for causing the devotees
of conventionality to sit up and take
notice.
i
You see this plan TO set up presiden-
f.al business office at the legislative head
quarters of the government has this sig
nifcance-it is an official action rather
70 RI ia
generally recognized that the President
of the United States. in his capacity as
the first citizen of the land. has a right
to indulge his personal preferences. Con-
seouently. if he chooses to prove himself
truly democratic by evidence such as
that above cited. even the hde-bound
conservatives cannot say too much But
when Il newcomer goes to upSetting the
customs that. because of long usage. are
supposed to govern official conduct in
high Office. that is quite another matter.
President Wilson, though, has heen no
more diSmayed in this quarter than he
has been by our antiquated presidential
FASHIONS In dress and department. His
mandate that office seekers must see the
respective cabinet members instead Of i'm
portuning the President betokened his
emancipa tion and now IL seems he Is to
burn behind him the most important of
all the bridges of precedent by maintain
ing a branch office" at the big white
iomed building. II is not an occasional
visit that the new President is contem-
plating. but regular daily call whenever
Congress is in session. Indeed. il is said
10 be in the Presidents mind to keep
office hours at the Capitol just as he does
at the executive office building under the
shadow OF the White House.
OF course. this reputed plan OF the new
President to get more closely in touch
with Congress has provoked some re-
sentiment in Congress as we'll as outside.
That was to be expected-the whole plan
is go new. and there are always plenty OF
people who are against any new scheme
IL for no other reason than that II is
new. Moreover, II has been tradition
in Washington for 10 these many years
that our forefathers placed the White
House distant from the Capitol full
mile "a much longer distance then than
In these days of automobiles, for the
express purpose of preventing undue Eek
ecutive interference with legislation.