Evening journal., 1915-09-22
PRESIDENT AGAIN Gets
Time TO SEE THINGS
Between Diplomatic Moves
Executive Enjoys Base
ball and the Theatre
WANTS TO HEAR THE
OTHER FELLOWS IDEA
By GEORGE 2. WEST


United Press STAFF Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Sept 92.-Through
sweltering days Of international crises
Ohe word is stale in Washington
President Wilson again has demon
strated his marvellous ability to sit
tight and to think through to a de-
cision without seeing advisors and
without a furry in White House
routine.
So far as visible signs go, President
Wilson in these perilous days might
be a quiet scholar leading a singularly
uneventful and retired life in the big
honey old mansion among the trees
During the most critical days of the
Arabic -Hesperian- Dumha Incidents he
saw Secretary Of State Lansing for
brief 40 minutes. ate luncheon at his
own table with son-in-law McAdoo
once. and in the course of a week re-
ceived formal calls lasting fifteen
minutes from not a half dozen others.
all persons of no importance TO whom
international affairs are Greek.
Not once did the President sit
across the table from an official OF
personal advisor and enjoy one Of
l
that average citizens crave when CON
! fronted by problems infinitely less alb
sorbing and momentOus. One after
noon he sat through a ball game with
the rotund form Of Secretary of the
Interior Lane beside him, but the
Presidents shaking shoulders showed
that their conversation led far away
from submarines and diplomatic con-
spiracies.
All that policemen on the White
House lawn and White House corre-
spondents saw during these days was
the leisurely White House routine Of
golfng in the morning and motoring
in the afternoon. At the executive
offices assistant secretaries read
newspapers and talked tennis OF base
ball. The appointment book was
nearly blank.
This does not mean that President
Wilson hasn't his finger on the pulse
of the nation. He has imagination,
for one thing, and it is declared 1t is
Just because he wants TO listen to the
voice of all the people that he refuses
to listen TO a handful who may or may
not represent the ninety millions.
The President has resumed theatre
going for the first time since the death
/ Of Mrs. Wilson. In his first week he
saw stock company in one of the old
popular favOrites and a vaudeville
show.
There is nothing high-brow in his
pleasures. No gum-chewing girl with
her STEADY" beside her could be more
appreciative when a sleep-stick ar
tist' falls into the footlight trough
or reaches over and gives the orches-
ira. leader q resounding smack.
DR.. Gary Grayson, White House
physician on special detail from the
Navy, is the Presidents constant COM
panion at golf. motoring and the the
atre. DR.. Grayson has a reputation
as good story teller and at the
White House he gets lots of practice.
The President loves a good story and
laughs like a boy.
Washington doesn't like the Presi-
dents seclusion. II likes the search
light on the Washington monument
at night and the Marine band. 1t likes
fuss and feathers, and it likes White
! House occupants who are good sub
jects for endless anecdotes. But even
10 Washington the thought occurs
| thdh pNiudpo tue IItSlQeuI is ElNlnE
so much TO the country partly be-
cause. he gives so little to Washington.
The presidency is such a big job these
| days that the man who fills il must
neglect few little details like sup
plying Washington with subjects for
social gossip and giving the glad hand
to a stream Of leading citizens from
Spoon River. Silver Springs and way
points.
Those who know the President we'll
say he avoids numerous personal in
terviews not because he does not like
companionship, but because he likes
it too we'll When he opens his mind
to caller he gives and takes too
many impressions. II taxes his
strength and interferes with the or
derly course of his thought. And so.
Just because he is so very human. he
must give to some the impression that
he is cold-blooded thinking machine.
|