The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-12-15
BEING PRESIDENT.
The Strain and Isolation That
Come With the Office.
UNDER GUARD ALL THE TIME.
When the Chief Executive 10 In the
White House the Regular Police Are
on Watch, and When He Goes Abroad
Secret Service Men Shadow Him.

VI NNdESUg dUd NNNOst NtV 0ooo FNoEVo0
Secret Service Men Shadow Him.
It is a fierce light that beats upon tho
White HOuse-quite as fierce as any
that beats upon O throne. Until he is
relieved from it a president never real
ICES the unconscious strain that he has
to undergo. The joyousness that comes
after he has laid down the burden and
the contrast between the life succeed
ing that in the White House and the
life passed in it reveal to him the ma
turc of what he has gone through.
OF course it is pleasant to be treated
with consideration by every one; it is
human nature for the incumbent to en-
Joy the respect that is rendered to the
office. But there is an isolation for the
president that 1t is impossible to avoid.
He is the only person In the govern
ment service who has that kind of isO-
lation. Few see him except by special
appointment. The Office separates him
from society. There Is no neigbborly
dropping in; there is curtain between
him and that body of men with whom
he was accustomed to associate.
It is not true that that keeps him
from knowing what Is going on or that
it saves him from feeling the shafts of
criticism. The suggestion that ne hears
only the kindly view of what he does
from his cabinet and from those who
are near to him does not cover the
whole ground. He has candid friends,
and he reads the newspapers.
From congressman and from visitors
who frequently turn their steps to
Washington the president hears the
news from ali over the country. He
sees the newspaper men every few
days, and unless he is always using
them to give the public his view of
| pending questions he can learn much
from them. If he is open to informa-
tlon at all he can exercise very excel
lent judgment as to the state of the
public pulse
It is pleasant to dispense the hOspi-
tality Of the White House. because you
know that most of your guests will re-
member all their lives all the circum-
stances of their visit. The government
is generous with the president In sal
airy and in paying his expenses of liv-
| ing. He can save q substantial sum
each year and still not be niggardly In
his hospitality.
Three presidents of the United States
have been assassinated. and congress
I'm consequence has thought It wise to
enjoin upon the chief of the secret
service of the treasury department the
duty Of guarding the president against
assault Three or more experienced
men are assigned to that duty, and
they attend him wherever he goes.
OF course when he Is in the White
House the regular District policemen,
who watch the approaches, make the
presence Of the secret service men un-
necessary. Whenever the president
goes abroad, however, the secret serv-
Ice men are expected to be in his inme.
date neighborhood-in the vehicle in
which he Is riding or I'm another that
follows; whenever he makes a railway
journey they are I'm his private car.
These secret service men become
very slSillful I'm detecting the presence
of persons who are demented and who
in their excitement may become dan
gerOus OF course If man wished IL
kill the president and sacrifice his OWL
life for 1t the secret service precautions
might not prevent him from carrying
out his purpose, but there is creates
danger from demented persons thar
from deliberate murderers. .dy OWL
impression Is that If there had been as
great precaution taken when President
Mckinley was ut the exposition in Buf
falo as is taken today that tragedy
would not have occurred
The assassin in that case had hi
hand in his pocket, where he had con
cealed a revolver wrapped In a hand
, kerchief. IF it had happened today I
! secret service man would have seize(
| the assassin's hand in his pocket, foun'
the revolver and arrested him long be
fore the man had reached poin
where he could carry out his purpose
Although recognize the necessity o
such precautions l am bound to sa,
: that they are often irksome to the pres
ident. The secret service men are a
/. considerate as possible and are wei
s trained men, who mind their business
: but that constant dogging of the pres
d idents steps arouses in him the uncor
/ scious feeling of being under surver
y lance and guard himself rather tha
= of being protected.
% An impression has gone abroad tina
the president may not leave the cour
try. There Is no law that prevents hi
doing so, and there is no provision !
n the constitution that he'would violat
in leaving the national jurisdiction
D. There is constitutional direction tha
o the vice president shall act for tn
= president in case he is disabled.
II he went abroad in such a way as
a. prevent his directing affairs he migl
It well be held to have disabled himsel
10 and the vice president might act Il
n him in his absence.-William HOwar
u Taft In Youths Companion.