The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-04-19
GUARD PRESIDENT
AS never BEFORE
White House Surrounded by In
tricate Protective System.
SECRET SERVICE on WATCH
President Cannot Dodge His Guards
Almost as Hard to Get Out of
White House Grounds as to Get Into
Them--When Night Comes Guard Of
Soldiers is Thrown Around the
Grounds.


Soldiers is Thrown Around the
Grounds.
Washington betrays every symptom
Of having at last awakened to sense
of interest in the president of the
United States. The average Wash
ingtonian formerly stared languidly
after the presidential automobile. Now
adays he frowns. He does not like to
see the president take chances. Wash
ington is beginning to wish the presi-
dent had Il more secluded spot in
which to play golf than the Country
club.
The president is quite aware of the
changed sentiment of Washington and
the country at large on presidential
escapades, and not since war was de-
clared has Mr.. Wilson attempted to
evade the White House bodyguard.
Back in his first administration he
once slipped off and got as far as his
bank, several blocks away, before the
secret service men caught him and
frowned at him disapprovingly, but
since America entered the world war
the president has not even tried to go
out alone. 1t is doubtful if he could
slip away. 3.
In the first place, it is almost as
hard to get out of the White House
grounds as it Is to get in. Particu-
larry is this true at night.
4 ~ a; 10 nf II
grounds one gate is left open to admit
visitors to the executive offices, but
one must enter the executive offices or
stay out. Once inside the executive
offices one walks straight into the
arms of two large policemen, who in
quire concerning his business and pass
him along to the proper officials.
Telephone Alarm System.
In addition to the guards on the
White House gates, an inspection of
the gate police stations will disclose a
telephone box at each one. Every po-
liceman in the grounds has telephone
at his elbow and he can call for help
or notify the White House guardroom
of any emergency. When night comes
on new force of policemen goes on
duty inside the gates and detach-
ment of United States regulars are
thrown completely about the White
House, where they stand guard until
morning.
Neutrality-suspicious. occasionally crafty
their sense of curiosity by walking up
close to these soldier guards, just to
see how the soldiers will behave. The
men in uniform patrol their beats
with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles
and as a pedestrian approaches each
guard always manages either to stop
and face the pedestrian or to be walk
ing toward him.
The whole city was laughing not
long ago at the story of White
House attache who tried to use the
east gate of the White House one
night after the military guard went
on duty. The soldier who was sta
toned in front of the east gate had
orders to let nobody enter and he be-
lieved in carrying out his orders. The
civilian who applied for admittance
was firmly told to keep on walking.
He protested that he was attached to
the White House and had been in the
habit of using the east gate.
"You heard what l said" warned
the guard.
Eyes, l heard you." replied the man,
"but I'm going in this gate"
Changed His Mind.
The next thing the civilian knew
was a sharp pain in the back of his
thigh, where the sentry had inserted
the point of his bayonet and was
pushing the pedestrian rapidly toward
the curb. The man in khaki calmly
waited the attaches next move. That
gentleman decided he had better use
the west gate, and made haste TO do
so.
OF course, these precautions are all
that Washington can see on the sur
face. 1t knows nothing of the intri-
cate inner system of White House de-
tense, organized on an electric basis
and backed by the entire police force
of the city. The nature of this real
defense system is a mystery and no
good American would write about 1t
if he knew.
Cranks are no longer much trouble
about the White House, thanks to the
rigid guard system there, but they
do vastly trouble other government
Offices about town. Most of them are
men Of unsound mind who have been
worked into a high pitch Of excite
ment by Americas participation in
the war, and they all have the idea
that they must tell their troubles to
the government.
The police in Washington strain
out" a large number of the worst
types Of cranks by placing nut
squad" at the railway entrance to
the city, and here a corps of men is
constantly on duty, watching for the
gentleman who must get his story of
his chest. Usually the policemen man
age to get the story ana the Washing
ton Asylum hospital gets the visitor.