Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-09-27
President Works Behind The Lines.

President Works Behind The Lines.
European rulers have appreciated the
wisdom OF appearing at the battle front
and stimulating their troops. President
Wilson can't 60 TO France, but he can
drive the war machine here in person so
that American troops and the forces Of
the entente allies are well supported be-
hind the lines, says the New York Even
ing Post.
The President lately has set himself
new means OF directing Americas war
program. He receives as usual at the
White House department executives and
administrators, members OF Congress and
others who have urgent business with
him, but he also spends much time in Wis
iting the office OF his subordinates. No
one knows when the President is coming.
He just drops in. And the interesting
part OF it has been that on nearly every
occasion thus far the men on whom the
President has called have not been at
their offices. SO Mr.. Wilson has waited
patiently while private secretaries or
clerks telephoned frantically TO other de-
partments or buildings TO locate their
chiefs. The other day the President went
TO the Munsey building, where the Coun-
Gil OF National Defense has its offices.
He wanted 10 see Judge Lovett. Ayoung
man was talking on a telephone. His
back was TO the door as the President en-
tered. He only half turned as a voice
asked, as Judge Lovett in ?"
"No, he's gone TO New York on the
230 train," answered the young man as
he still kept the receiver to his ear with
out turning. The individual at the door
paused. The young man at the tele-
phone finally swiveled around.
"ls this-iS this the President ?" he
stammered. and the telephone receiver
went Gathering to the floor.
The President went TO find Herbert
Hoover, climbed five stories OF the Hotel
Gordon, wound his way through maze
OF corridors and finally discovered that
Mr.. Hoover was at another department.
But the food administrator came back in
few minutes in response TO hurry call.
Mr.. Wilson drops in early and late. He
found the Secretary OF War at his desk at
7 o'clock last Saturday night and remain
ed there nearly hall hour. He visited
al nearly o'clock one afternoon recently
the Federal Trade Commission and talked
about the cost OF coal production. The
commission had'moved all its furniture TO
another building. And there were just
enough chairs 10 give the President seat
with the commission.
The President calls in often at the de-
partment OF justice also at the State, War
and Navy building 10 keep IN touch with
! the work OF the army and navy. Some
OF the cabinet secretaries have way Of
leaving their offices on Saturday after
Moons, also early or week days. Mr..
Wilson serves no notice IN advance, nor
does he say anything if he finds his SUBJ
ordinates not at their desks. But if an
itinerant boss is about employees usually
find it good thing 10 be around. That's
the effect of Mr.. Wilson's latest innova-
ton. He's going TO keep it up because
he thinks il is gong TO be time saving
device.
When cabinet officer or member Of
the numerous commissions now working
on the war program is called 10 the
White House he can't bring an office full
of papers He can't call on SubordlnateS
for information then ard there, whereas
if Mr.. Wilson goes TO the navy depart
ment, for instance, and wants TO find out
what progress has been made on certain
phases OF the navy program, Secretary
Daniels can touch button and get the
naval officer in charge OF that particular
task The President in that way gets
into personal touch instar tIy with the
numerous tasks for the execution OF which
he is responsible.
The Federal Trade Commission, too,
had all its data in the department of COM
merce building. While the conference
with the President was on, the members
Of the commission frequently sent out TO
their clerks in adjacent rooms for papers
and documents. The PreSi Ient found
when he began visiting the capitol that
he could save The Senators much time by
seeing them in his room behind the Sen
ate chamber instead OF sumnloning them
to the White House. Similarly Mr.. Will
son is now finding il worth his while TO
visit the department at the executive end
OF the national capitol. But he will pro-
badly save himself much time by tele-
phoning in advance, because inter-de
partmental conferences take the cabinet
officers away from their desks a good
deal these days.
To Washington, however, the Presi-
dents way OF experimenting his army OF
subordinates is novelty. No other
President did it Which is probably one
OF the reasons why MIR. Wilson does it.
But precedent and custom are being
broken right and left nowadays to wage
effective warfare, and Mr.. Wilson has
long ceased to stand on ceremony.
Flight of 900 Miles.