The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-02-22
GUARDING WHITE HOUSE
WAR Time APPEARANCE
PUBLIC EXCLUDED FROM STATE,
WAR AND NAVY DEPART
MENT BUILDINGS.

WAR AND NAVY DEPART
MENT BUILDINGS.
Washington city has taken on more
Of a wartime aspect since the sever
ance OF diplomatic relations with Ger
many than prevailed in the national
capital at any time during the Spanish
war This is true from the White
House down through the departments
and into the capitol. Not that there
Is any undue or unusual military dis
play for both troops and sailors are
by reason of their alb
sence. 1t rather is in the precaution-
airy measures taken to protect public
men and public buildings.
The. White House grounds were
closed within few hours after the
president announced to congress that
Ambassador Won Bernstorff had been
handed his papers, and Ambassador
Gerard had been recalled, and from
that time to this the public has been
barred not only from the White House
and the White House offices, but from
the White House grounds. The big
gates in front remained closed and
locked, barring all vehicles, and even
the gates at the pathways leading to
the White House remain barred and
locked So that pedestrians also are
kept at more than safe distance from
the presidents home and Office.
Suffragists on Duty.
A somewhat ludicrous picture is
presented at the White House gates
these days, for on duty there, in addi
ton to the ever-present detail of blue
coated policemen are the suffrage
pickets, with their yellow and purple
banners There are more suffragettes
than policemen, but the bearers of the
banners are quite as solemn about
their vigil as are the sturdy police
men, and take their task quite as
much to heart.
So rigid is the rule at the White
House that public men having appoint
ments with the president experience
great difficulty in gaining access to the
White House grounds and early in the
vigil Senator Simmons of North Caro-
lima, chairman of the appropriations
committee, was forced to pace up and
down in biting wind for Is minutes
while he was being identified and that,
Notwithstanding he called at the
White House on the presidents invi-
tation,
Passes Are Necessary.
At no time during the Spanish wal
was the great state, war and navy de-
partment buildings closed to the pub
lie: today it is barred to all save those
hearing passes, and each one of thC
several thousand employees has to car
~ an Identification card and pass "
order to reach his or her desk eacl
morning and during the lunch hour.
Here, again, senator's and represen
tatives are barred along with the gen
eral public, and much indignation ha'
burst forth on Capitol hill because thu
national law makers have been hell
up at the doors of the state, war ant
navy building when they have sough
to enter on government business. Ever
the newspaper correspondents, havini
daily business in this big building
have been forced to secure passes
though they are well known to tn
guards at the various entrances.
The other government department
are less rigidly guarded thus far al
though in practically every publ
building in Washington many of tn
entrances have been closed and tn
number of watchmen on duty at tn
open doors has been Increased. Thi
is true at the capitol building, as wei
as at the departments, and in none o
these buildings can stranger, bearing
la package of any kind, gain admis
sion. He must first deposit his pack
age with the watchman-check it, il
fact-before he can enter The latte
precaution is taken to guard agains
fanatics for the national capitol ha
been somewhat timid about stranger
with bundles under their arms eve
since a crank set off bomb in tn
senate wing Of the capitol.
President Carefully Guarded.
When President Wilson appears II
public these days he is followed by {
double number of secret service mel
who formerly accompanied him, ant
Unusual precautions are taken t.
guard him against cranks. This NOV,
was made by the secret service. whicl
Is entrusted with the task of protect
ing the president at any and al
times. BY reason of these change'
conditions the president is much NOR
confined now than before the breal
with Germany and is necessarily un
able to enjoy all the liberties tina
were safely his in the days before tn
break.
But while all this care is taken t.
protect the president and the official
of the state, war and navy depart
ments, no unusual precautions hav
been taken to protect the other mem