The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-21
FRETS AND WORRIES OF OFFICE
Annoyed and Hampered by Too
Much Attention.
Would Like to Mask and Min
gle With the Crowd.

q frank, conversational way now nc
felt as president Of the United States.
how difficult it was for him to imagine
himself as the chief executive with
the formal amenities of the position
and how he has struggled to be as
free as the ordinary individual with
out the restraints of his office.
1t was an intimate picture of Wood
row Wilson, the man, drawn by him.
self on the occasion OF the house
warming at the press clubs new
quarters. The president did not in
tend to hive his remarks reported.
but later, at the request Of the club.
the unusual speech was made public.
1t was az follows:
Tho Presidents Speech.
IT was just thinking of my sense of
confusion OF identity sometimes when
I read articles about myself. I have
never read an article about myself in
which I recognized myself, and have
come to have the impression that
must be some kind Of q fraud. because
I think a great many OF these articles
are written in absolute good faith.
trembIe to think of the variety and
falseness in the impression I make
ana it il being borne in on me SO that
it may change my very disposition
that am a cold and removed person
who has q thinking machine inside
which he adjusts to the circumstances.
by any winds Of affection or emotion
OF any kind but turns like cold search
light on anything that is presented to
his attention and makes 1t work.
-'T am not aware of having any de-
tachable apparatus inside of me. On
the contrary If I were to interpret
myself I would say that my constant
embarrassment IL to restrain the emo
tions that are inside of me. You may
not believe it but sometimes feel
like a fire from an extinct volcano and
II the lava does not seem to spill over.
it il because you are not high enough
to see into the basin and see the cal
dron boil. Because, truly, gentlemen,
in the position which I occupy there Is
a sort of. I don't know how else to ex-
press 1t than to say. passionate sense
Of being connected with my fellOwmen
in a peculiar relationship Of RESPONSE
bility.
IT can hardly restrain now and again
from tipping the public the wink, as
much as to say It Is only me that Is
well that will have to get out pres
emily. know that then I will look
just my own proper size and that for
the time being the proportions are
ed to the eye by the large thing I
am inside of. for which I am tipping
you this wink
for example. take matters Of this
sort:
IT will not say whether it il wise or
unwise; simple or grave. but certain
presidents have been established that
in certain companies the president
must leave the room first, and people
must give way to him. They must not
sit down II he Is standing up. 1t il q
very uncomfortable thing to have to
think Of all the other people every
time I get up and sit down and all
that sort of thing. So that when
get guests in my own house and the
public is shut out. I adjourn being
president and take leave to be a gem
tleman. If they draw back and insist
upon my being something first. firm
ly decline.
Sometimes F'0rgcts.
There are blessed intervals when I
forget by one means or another that
am president OF the United States.
One means by which I forget is to get
a rafting good detective story, get
after some imaginary offender and
chase him all over-preferably any
continent but this-because the vari-
GUS parts of this continent are be-
coming painfully suggestive to me.
Tho postofices and many other things
which stir "reminiscences have 'sicklied
them DER with q pale cast Of thought
There are postoffices to which would
not think of mailing q letter which
can't think OF without trembling with
the knowledge Of the heart burnings
OF the struggles there was in connec-
ton with getting somebody installed
az postmaster.
Now II I were free would come
not infrequently up to these rooms.
You know never was in Washington
but very few times and but a very
I never expect to see the inside of the
public buildings in Washington until
my term Is over. The minute I turn
up anywhere. I am personally con-
Quoted to beat the band. The curator.
the assistant curator and other bloom
ing officials turn up and they show
me 20 much attention that don't see
the building. I would have to say
stand aside and let me see what you
are showing me-
"Some day after am through with
this Office am going to come back
to Washington and see 1t. In the
meantime I am in the same category
as the national museum, the monu-
ment. the Smithsonian institution or
the congressional library and every
thing that comes down here has to be
shown the president.
IF / only knew an exhibition ,ap-
pearance to assume-apparently can
assume other appearances that do not
show what II going on inside would
like to have it pointed out. 90 that
could practice It before the looking
glass and see IL could not look like
the MISUNDERSTANDING regarded as q
national exhibit would be much sim
pier than being shaken hands with by
the whole United States
II He Could Go In Disguise.
III could resort to any delightful
quarter. to any place in Washington
that chose. have sometimes
thought of going to some costumers-
some theatrical costumerp-and buy
and color1ng and All the human means
Of Disgusting myself II It were moi
aeAtp6t the law. You see. have q
scruple ~ president against breaking
the law and dtsguising ones self ID
against the law. but II could disEuis<