El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-16

many matters Of interest to the country,
the white house regularly receives and
reads a large number Of newspapers
from all of the principal cities. Some
Of these are sent free of expense to
the government, others are subscribed
TO and paid for.
Clipping for the President.
One man on the staff Of the executive
office,-and a wonder he Is, too, at this
special wOrk-reads these newspapers
with unerring vision, marking articles,
para graphs, even a few sentences here
or there that he deems worthy of at
tention. All of these passages are
clipped from the papers and pasted on
sheets Of yellow paper. For example,
the clippings referring 10 the currency
measure are all pasted on sheets OF
paper, which are fastened together.
Clippings of articles concerning the ship
ping bill, or any other matter, are like
wise pasted and the sheets kept sepa-
rate from the rest.
When completed each day, thes vari-
Gus sheets make a pile approximately six
inches thick, and as a whole they are
known IN white house paTlance as The
Yellow Journal Sometimes 500 or 600
clippings VIII constitute a single num-
Der, and as soon as completed the
yellow Journal Is placed ON the desk
OF Mr. Iumulty, who reads it through
from beginning to end-reading care
fully, let it be said, and afterward call
ing the presidents attention to any
thing he thinks the president should see.
This Is the only way IN which Mr.. VII
son reads newspapers Time Is too
precious, and responsibilities too heavy,
for him to read them as men usually do.
The Presidents Staff
1t Is easily understood that the
president must have a staff Of assist
ants not surpassed for loyalty, integ-
rity. ability, by any corresponding
Office staff in the land. Yet almost
nothing is heard about that staff as a
whole, whose services are so responsible
that neither Mr.. Wilson nor any other
president could possibly carry on his
work without it.
The most important member Of presi-
dent Wilson's personal staff is, of
course. his official secretary, Joseph P.
Tumulty, whose first job Is to stand
between the president and the world at
large, relieving the president OF all de-
tails that can be attended to by a
trained, confidential assistant. And
right here may be said something about
the caliber OF the man chosen by one
president or another to fill the post at
present occupied by Mr. Tumulty.
The Presidential Secretary.
The secretary must be in intimate
touch and accord with the president
whom he serves, must fully understand
his theories Of government, his methods
OF work. his mental habits. and must
know the political and business advisers
Of the administration, no matter where
they live, OF how seldom they write to
n Of Hro rr-IrT~a hnrraa such L-unTH-|-
edge includes that of cabinet members.
heads Of departments and bureaus, in
fluential party leaders whether IN
office or private life, the ambassadors
and the ministers Of the United States
to foreign countries, the cOnsuls general /
and many OF Uncle Sans minor repre- |
sentatives abroad. Also the secretary
has at least a personal acquaintance
with representatives OF foreign powers
who reside in Washington, senators and
in congress, he must |
know, governors Of states, officials of
great railways systems, leading bank |
ers, manufacturers, merchants, editors !
of important newspapers and maya
zines-in fact, a multitude Of men and I
women whose influence IS felt to greater /
or less extent throughout the country. /
Unless you are a highly credited cffi- /
cial in this or some other government |
and wish to see the president, you ar !
range to see him through the medium OF |
his secretary.
Permanent Fixtures"
When he was inaugIrated, Mr.. VII |
son found. among permanent members |
Of the white house staff. two assistant /
secretaries who have held over from |
one administration to another. The |
first is Rudolph Forster. who has been |
in the white house for IS or 19 years,