Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-04
NEWS FROM WHITE HOUSE
How the President Meets the Men
Who Write for Press.
MK1NLEY SET A PRECEDENT
murdered President Always Easy 60
reach, T. "a. Courteous and
saEucious, Taft Reticent
and Wilson Ready.

The great white light Of publicity which
ali statesmen and politicians cry for ana
Few really want, has made immense head
way at the White House under the wilson
h administration. and there are not 50 many
secrets around the executive offices as
many suppose.
Patronage rows and disaffections; lack
OF party harmony, national or local; per-
sonal jealousies and chickering's among
leaders, most Of which eventually find
their way to President Wilson OF Secre-
tary Tumulty; Secretary Bryans foreign
policies and hosts Of other minor matters
are often kept bottled up on the general
principle that their publication would do
nobody any good. but there il real wide
open publicity around President Wilson
and his Immediate assistants on momen-
tous national questions in which the peo-
Die are directly and vitality interested.
IS. All Of which leads TO a story OF the
gradual development of pitiless publicity
IN and by the White House and OF the
methods and channels by whrh the peo-
pic-plain and fancy-obtain their infor-
nation OF the doings and movements OF
presidents.
Corps of Recent Origin.
Until twelve years ago no regular ac-
commodations had been granted news
papermen in the daily life OF the execu-
i've offices When the white House was
; rehAbiiitated in 1902 and the president
given offices at the wast end OF the re-
constructed building room was set aside
for reporters and CORRESPONDENTS. Their
ranks have Increased so fast that they
Aow have a regular organization Of. SINH
lar nature TO the Correspondents at tho
HApitol, and this ORGANIZATION IL recognized
By the presideht and his assistants. ~.
Prior 20 the time OF President Mcf1in-
Sy reporting the White House had not
. become an organized daily and hourly
business as IL Is now. Up TO 1907 tho Of
hces OF presidents were in the main
White House. Five comparatively small
rooms on the east end OF the second floor
! Of the white House belonged 10 presi-
tents, their secretaries. stenographers,a Ind
clerks, and there the executive business
" the nation was conducted. What IL
now the private entrance for the families
OF presid6nts was then the main entrance
for all purposes, social. political and per
sonal. Catering to the people through
the newspapers and magazines had not
become the art v now Is. Newspaper men
made occasional trips 10 the White House
to inquire of private secretaries about APP
pointments or other subjects upon which
their newspapers wanted enlightenment,
but there we're no regular assignments 10
, cover the White House as in late years.
Presidential visitors were not held up"
and asked TO tell about their business
with the president. They would have
been Mortified at such proceeding.
Presidents He'd 20 ne Traiped.
tad or an issue. Presidents Were not
trained OF educated in the art Of slapping
this psychological stuff 70 the people be-
fore the opposition could get there.
Private secretaries understood that their
principal duty was to prevent newspaper
callers getting anything OF what was
going on. Presidents talked to intimate
Newspaper friends in a strictly confiden-
HAL manner not for publication. Presl-
dents who wanted to get their views to
tho public did so through messages 70
congress or an occasional letter publica-
tion OF which was permitted. IT was con.
pldered undlgnified TO be fighting the OPP
position through some of the modern day
methods. Gruff but honest Grover Cleve-
land paid little attention 20 tho news
papers and President Harrison used the
press very little 70 put out his Views
Neither resorted 20 travelling among tho
people as a means OF ais seminating their
views Cleveland went q shing and hunt
ing, but not forsvotes, Hla was fond Of the
whir az rod and the flash of game
q y fish at the end OF the line, while duck
shooting was tho height OF his Joy.
Mckinley was the firat chief executive
To begin going among tie people In re-
Spouse 20 invitations 10 attend functions
here and there. He enjoyed circulating
among the voters and he made many
trips. Mrs Mckinley and members OF his
cabinet generally accom- panied him and
Ne insisted that liberal provision should
Dc made for newspaper Representatives.
Cine car and sometimes two cars would
Be set aside for the press and Mr.. Nc
Kinley considered the correspondents AZ
part OF his party. sharing In all the
honors and entertainments provided by
citizens and railroads. Those were in
the good old days" when the railroad,
handed out freefpasses with lavish hard
The presidential trains cost nobody on
board anything and were stocked with
the finest things TO eat and drink 10 be
found in the land. Even with that the
railroads found the undertaking protit.
able. as big crowds were drawn to place.
along their lines whore the president
stopped.
Mckinley and the Reporters.
MeKinley's loyalty to the press wal
shown on one OF his trips through the
south. His itinerary In a certain south.
B srn city included driving through ths
estate Of a man OF Immense wealth. tn,
superintendent OF the estate sent WORD
that newspaper men were not expected Il
& Be with the president Then j will no
accept the invitation" Mr. McFanIe,
sent word back through his secretary
That promptly settled the matter Mr.
MclAinley's kindly. thoughtful disposition
vas shown in a number OF instances
when correspondents travelling with hin
became in He personally looked out fol
item and sent delicacies and flowers
The beginning OF the Mckinley admin
istration saw the establishment OF IN,
present system OF reporting the Whit.
q House. A reporter OF The Star who wa
sent there began writing a daily column
Of events including interviews with Wis
itors, items about their business, fact
aud gossip about the days work ans
movements OF the president: everythinl
he could gather was legitimate. Othe
papers and press associations foliowe,
the plan. and II has been effective eve
FL since, Mr.. McKinley's announcement a