Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-04
UNCLE SAM, ESQ.
GUARDING A PRESIDENT.
By Oliver Owen Kuhn.
Copyright. 1851

Hi By Oliver Owen Kuhn.
Copyright. 1881
Cranks with their lima Ginations stir
red by the trend of American events
or occurrences abroad. and those whose
minds may have been undermined from
purely personal causes, seem to turn
instinctively toward the President OF
the United States as the nations prln-
cipal source of power, in order that
their cures" for economic conditions
| may be applied or that the chief eX-
ecutive may effectively settle their
private difficulties. Some of those an
noying-rather, seeking to annoy-the
President by freakish requests are
really dangerous. AS the result of this
there has been thrown about the
President of the United States the
strictest safeguards and seldom if ever
! by word of mouth or letter do the
plants or acts of this class reach the
Presidents personal attention.
| For a number of years Presidents
have been protected by secret service
| gents detailed from the force main
| tanned by the Treasury Department.
! AL intervals since the outbreak or war
| in Europe, however, this force mas beeh
materially increased, and their vigil
lance redoubled They have recognized
the PSYCHOLOGICAL fact that in abnor-
NAL days when the world is stirred pg
| excitement men usually normal are
more apt to do unusual things.
Protected Every Moment.
Presidents, when in Washington. are
protected every waking moment by
members of his secret service guard,
and at night by policemen detailed to
| the White House. When he is travel
ing, or visiting away from Washing
| ton, secret service operatives do SEN
| tinel duty outside his bedroom door as
he sleeps Every care that can be
| taken in a democratic country "here
a military guard would be unpopular
| is exercised
| Even in ordinary times there is an
almost unbelievably large number OF
| people in the United States that think
the President and he alone can heip
them out of difficulties. There is an
| other group, not as large, but more an =
moving, who have delusions that the
| President is responsible for the troubles
| of the world. Therefore they write him
letters or seek to call on him person
ally.
| The White House secret guard is
| composed of a group of alert. muscu-
| lar. intelligent young men. Usually
| they have made q record for daring or
| keenness before they are detailed to
guard the President They keep them
| selves in perfect physical condition by
| constant exercise. All are expert re-
| yolver shots who practice shooting reg
ularly.
| "Joe" Murphy Is Chief.
The present chief of the force is Zoe"
Murphy. who succeeded Jimmy" Sloan
after President Wilson came into office.
Murphy is the Presidents shadow.
| Walking or riding President Wilson
| seldom loses him. He is also the Presi-
dents friend, for Mr.. Wilson has come
to recognize the untirng vigilance ana
| unassuming WEAKNESS of this small
but wiry secret service agent. Mur-
phys home is in Columbus, Ohio.
| 1t is Murphy's duty and II has been
| the duty of all his predecessors to IN
| vestigate the many crank letters re-
ceived at the White House. His mind
is a card index of most of the known
dangerous cranks of the country. And
| with his other qualities he combines
those of a diplomat. He is an adept IN
arguing the most deluded, but not dan
| eerous people out of the idea that they
must see the President. The danger
Gus ones are dealt with more harshly. .
Are Sent to Asylum.
Murphy can tell almost at a glance
whether a doubtful letter received at
the White House is from a sane or
weak minded person. If threats are
made an investigation is Immediately
set on foot and II possible trouble is
scented an arrest Is immediately made
Most of the people detained by the Sc
cret service men are sent to an asylum
for a test of their mental condition
| Hardly a week passes but that at leas
one crank makes his or her way 70 the
White House and insists on seeing the
| President Frequently they are noticed
Immediately by Pat" Mckenna, Mr.
Wilson'S doorkeeper. who quickly turns
them over for conversation to one o.
the secret service guard. In most case'
the secret service men decide the man Of
woman is not dangerous and seek t.
persuade them to go quietly home.
Worst Recent Scare.
The worst scare President Wilson.
guards have had since the big war BROKE
out was following the shooting OF ]. P
: Morgan and the attempted blowing vi
Of the Capitol building in Washington
1 last summer At the time the Presiden
and his family were at the ''summe
White House" at Cornish, n. II. Re
|
3 to be made on the life of the President.
l | Acting quickly but quietly. the Treas
ury Department detailed an extra fore,
> OF operatives to. Cornish. all incomin,
trains were carefully watched, stranger
+ in the vicinity were scrutiniZed unit
their business was learned and precau
. | tons were taken to make certain tina
people who approached Mr.. Wilson,
| home were known. At night the wood
surrounding the house were patrolled b,
;, details of keen-eyed secret service nten.
+ Members OF the Presidents party VIII
: were at. Cornish tell Of one Of the secre
. service men, very much on the alert, VIII
: was kept constantly on the go by hear
Y ing deer and other animals in the woods
Telephones were installed for the specia
: use of Mr.. Wilson'S guardians, so tina
d they could communicate with the hous
e from different parts Of the surrounding
: woods.
r Guards Are Necessary.
NJ md tr,,a to oil ~