The Washington times., 1917-11-29
PRESIDENT BUSY
DURING THE DAY
ON HIS MESSAGE
BY BILL PRICE

President Wilson's custom "a
ing into seclusion and denying him-
self to all callers while preparing
annual and other addresses to Con-
gress or Important State papers gen
orally is Interesting in comparison
with the habits Of other Presidents
All Presidents lave had to deny
themselves to visitors for brief per-
iods while working upon messages 70
Congress or other papers, buSnone OF
them since Lincoln ever went into
practical seclusiOn from the time the
messages were started until finished
President Wilson shut himself up
several days ago and began operat-
ing his own type Sriter In transfer
ring to paper his thoughts on the
needs of the natiCn. For q month
or several weeks the President has
made stenographtc notes OF the sub
jecta he thinks Congress should have
his advice and recommendation upon
next Tuesday. He Is now developing
these thoughts upon his typewriter.
When he has completed the message
he will send II to the public printer
and unwrap himself from seclusion
for q short dm%
No Holiday for President.
The President again worked on the
message today 30 that it may be
ready for the newspapers at the
earliest possible moment There Is
always pressure from press associa-
tions and newspapers to get Presiden-
tfal messages or speeches in advance
30 that the telegraph wires, already
loaded down with war and other
news, may not be congested to .
danger point The press associations
continually urge secretaries to Presi-
dents to give them copies OF mes
sagss at least ive days in advance,
no that they may be mailed to papers
as far as the Pacific coast, thereby
obviating the use OF wires
Occasionally Mr.. Wilson has been
able to oblige the press associations,
but his present message will have to
be carried to far points by wire
Mr.. Wilson Is hsbitually q man Of
seclusion when working on important
papers or considering big matters. He
has practically ceased to use the
Executive offices, where Roosevelt
and Taft worked. and retires to his
private office in the residence portion
of the White House He gives orders
to the chief usher against Interrupt
tion of any kind unless of great mo-
ment. and every subordinate under
him obeys these orders
Roosevelt Worked In AdV1neN
Roosevelt was the best advance
worker on Presidential messages ever
in the White House. His messages
and documents of nearly all kinds
were almost Invariably handed to the
press associations and newspapers
Iar in advance, giving them every
opportunity to prepare for the fullest
publication, with the least trouble.
That to q large extent, accounted
for the fact that his official actions
received widespread attention at the
hands Of the press. He began work
on his annual messages a month In
advance, disposing OF one subject
after another, reserving the most i'm
portant for the last He dictated
everything to his stenographer. His
annual message covered q wide field.
President Wilson communicates with
Congress loftener than did Roosevelt
or Taft, and his addresses are shorter.
He prefers to deal with one important
question at q time when possible to
do so. and to press before Congress
one thing at a time, rather than half
half a dozen irons in the fire at once.
Taft Neglected Press.
President Tsft's habits In debating
his messages were procrastinatory, As
he often admitted He cared little
for the advantages of publicity. His
secretaries found him a hard customer
to deal with when they suggested ad-
vance preparation. Occasionally he
had these documents ready in ad-
vance, and at other times they were
not ready until the last minute
President Roosevelt holds the rec
ord for advance wording of speeches
IN that he wrote his famous address
to the French Sarbonne soon after he
left Africa, more than q year In ad-
vance, and placed II in the hands Of
the press associations. He had plan
ned his African hunt before leaving
the White House, and had accepted in
vitatio1s for certain addresses in Eu-
rope at the conclusion OF his trip
through the African jungles. He dicta-
ted the Sarbonne address, which was
on international subjects. before he
closed HE term in the White House,
and Il was in the hands Of the most
remote newspapers OF the Far East
long in advance.
Roosevelt hurried away from Wash
ington Immediately after Taft took