Evening star., 1918-07-16
AID TO PRESIDENT
ISG0|NG TO WAR
stenographer Swem Finally
Obtains Nj. Wilson's Assent
to His Enlistment.
TUMULN LOSES HELPER
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
0'''1'f''' ''''i fo:s z ooSpsss. -''- '''
President Wilson and Secretary
Tumulty today set an example to busi-
ness men who have been clamoring to
have their stenographers and secreta-
ries exempted from military service.
They parted with the two men who
have handled their personal CORE
spondence for more than five years.
Charles Swem, the Presidents per-
sonal stenographer. and Warren john
son, private secretary to Mr.. Tumulty.
have been trying ever since the war
began to get permission to enlist, but
on one occasion the President himself
denied Mr.. Swem's request and even
wrote to the local draft board asking
that he be exempted. and on another
occasion Mr.. johnson, against his
will. was placed in . deferred classi-
fication-
The two young men, however. kept
mn their plea for an opportunity to
get into active military service, and
their petition was finally granted to-
day.
Loath to Part With Them.
The President and Mr.. Tumulty
were both loath to part with their per-
sonal assistants. as the latter were
familiar with correspondence extend
ing back to the days Of Mr.. Wilson's
term as Governor OF New Jersey. In
fact, since ne has been President Mr..
Wilson has dictated regularly only to
Mr.. Swem, known as one Of the most
rapid shorthand writer's in the world.
I He was runner-up for one worlds
i championship and finished third in an
| other. It was OF considerable help
| to the President to have Mr.. Swem
around. for he has remarkable record
for accuracy. He also has taken the
Presidents speeches for many years
and the President has always insisted
when more than one stenographer was
present that tho Swem transcript be
made offlcial.
Mr.. Swem is married and has child.
but he has been ,eager to become an
aviator. OF splendid physique, alert
ness and intelligence, less than twenty
| I'VE years of age, his qualifications for
| the aviation service are exactly those
desired by the Army.
Joined STAR in 1918.
Mr.. johnson was personal stenog-
rapher to Secretary Tumulty when he
was with Gov. Wilson, and has been
on the white House stan. as private
secretary to the Presidents secretary
since 1913. He. too, will enlist In the
Army August /.
Neither OF these men wanted any de-
| ferred classification or exemption, and
tried to persuade their sup6riors
against such . course, but the Presi-
dent and Secretary Tumu1ty wouldn't
think of 1t at drst on account Of their
value to each. But both Mr.. Swem
and Mr.. johnson didn't believe they
were a. useful In their present posi-
ttions aS they could be on the fighting
line and their persistent requests
finally were granted.
Throughout tho country many busi-
| ness men and even many high ofiicialc
have sought to have their personal
stenoxraphere exempted or placed in
deferred classidcations, arguing that
| the latter were Indispensable. There
ifa no question that both Messrs,
Swem and johnson are Indispensable
| In every sense Of the word, and had
they acQuiesced thoy could have re.
msinsd IN their pressnt posts.
Wants 10 ny insTrancs.
Il might have besn argued that ;ths
inconyenience to the president IA re-;
DIaciuR III. 8Weu1. In whom ha had