Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-03-22

president Ii has closed the White
" House to all the really mpor-
tant visitors. increased the work of
the president and his staff fully 80 per cent and
imposed upon Woodrow Wilson responsibilities
and tasks heavier than those resting any
crowned head.
The comparative isolation of the In the
White House is not an entirely thing. War
has merely accentuated the normal enforced iSo-
latiOn of the chief executive President Taft
spoke of such isolation one day in a rather plain
tive little speech before the Washington newspa-
per correspondents More than three years ago.
before Europe went TO war, President Wilson,
addressing these same correspondents. spoke of
the stately restraints of the office of president.
Mr.. Taft regretted that nobody drops in" at
the White House. He missed neighborly visits,
chats. Everybody comes by engagement COM
planned the jovial Mr.. Taft.
This story of wartime president will reveal
how few, even by engagement come to the White
House nowadays, and why President Wilson has
become a near recluSe because of war
Also II should show how Secretary Tumulty
and his assistants. Rudolph Forster and tom"
Brahany, are striving harder each day to keep
little worries from the president and to his
strength and judgment for vital things.
Practically all business with the president is
transacted in his study at the White House.
Except on cabinet days he does use the
executive Offices These offices were built by
direction of Theodore Roosevelt that the White
House proper might be used only for living and
social purposes
President Wilson began the steady use of the
White House library and study about the time of
the breach with Germany. when war seemed but
a question of weeks. 1t was then that the presi-
dent began to tighten up on his engagements and
to conserve his energy for the major problems of
armed neutrality and impending war;
The engagement list of the president nowadays
will average three to five names. Before the
war, or rather before the international situation
demanded much of his time it was not uncOm-
mon to find dozen to twenty names the
gagement sheet that lies his desk.
Senators and representatives, public officials
and citizens Of prominence were able to get to
the president during peace. He found time to
the newspaper correspondents occasionally,
to greet the Daughters Of the American RevOlu-
ton on their annual visit to Washington to shake
hands with delegations of schoolgirls and boys
corn clubs and to exchange peasantres with
bashfu constituents presented by members Of
congress.
War has changed all this The president
but few senators and representatives
and his visitors from Capitol Hill almost ex-
clusively men interested in important legislation
Immediately before the congress. Secretary
Tumulty is, and must be- the buffer between the
president and the legislator who wants to air a
pet theory or present patronage matter.
Under the stress Secretary Tumulty himself
the president two three times week.
Time when Mr. Tumulty saw "the Governor"
-Tumuty still calls him that-a dozen times a
day. To the time Of the president COM
municaton between the executive offices and Mr..
Wilson's desk is today largely made by memOran-
da. The secretary finds that the written note
presents matter concisely. requires less of the
presidents attention and Obviates extended con-
versatiOns.
These memoranda are written by Tumulty and
sent direct to the president by special messen-
ger. To important papers are attached red cards
marked special" Immediate" and the pres
ident knows upon receipt that something requires
his prompt attention.
Suppose that senator calls and seeks to pour
into the presidents ear some complaint about
patronage The president. engaged in the con-
duct Of great war, cannot well give half
hours time to the settlement of dispute over
collectorship. Secretary Tumulty gets all the
facts, dictates a memorandum and the president
is advised about follows:
"Dear Governor: Senator Blank called and
desired to see you. He wants to protest against
the reported approaching appointment of John
Doe as collector of the port ut -. He re-
CARDS Doe untitled for the place and wants to
give his reasons | suggest that you write the
senator saying the appointment has not been
made and you will be glad to have letter from
him advising you confidentaly in the premises.
This sort of n memorandum is not infrequently
followed by presidential action of the kind sug-
gested.
The president has been saved the trouble of
listening IN the complaint of the senator after
verbal recitation of ii To Secretary Tumulty. If
Secretary Tumulty had gone personally Ia see
the president the latter would have been obliged
10 make written memorandum substantially
like that brefed for his consideration by the
retary-for the president cannot carry everything
in his head.
Memoranda relating TO great variety of sub
jects. minor and ma or pass between the desks
of president and secretary daily. If there is
news story or an editorial which Tumulty feels