The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-02-22
BY THEODORE FILLER.
lin New York SUM-

tant visitors, increased the work OF
the president and his staff fully so 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 entirely thing. War
has merely accumulated the normal enforced iso-
lation Of the chief executive. President Taft
spoke of such isolation day in 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
planned the jovial Mr.. Taft.
This story of Il wartime president will reveal
how few, even by engagement, come to the White
House nowadays, and why President Wilson has
become near recluse because of
Also 1t 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
now transacted in his study the White House.
Except on cabinet days" he does not use the
executive Offices These offices 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 of the
the breach with Germany when seemed but
question of weeks 1t 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 five names Before the
war, rather before the international situation
demanded so much Of his time 1t not uncom-
mon to md n dozen to twenty names the
gagement sheet that lies his desk
off,
and citizens of prominence were able to get to
the president during peace. He found time to
see the newspaper correspondents occasionally
to greet the Daughters of the American Revou-
ton on their annual visit to Washington, to shake
hands with delegations Of schoolgirls and boys
corn clubs and to exchange pleasantries with
bashful constituents presented by members Of
congress.
War has changed all this. The president can
but few senators and representatives
and his visitors from Capitol Hill almost ex-
clusivey 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
sees the president two three times a week
Time was when Mr.. Tumulty "the Governor
-Tumulty still calls him that-a dozen times a
day To save the time of the president
muncation 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 written by Tumulty and
sent direct to the president by special messen-
ger. To important papers attached red cards
marked special or 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 complaint about
patronage. The president, engaged in the
duct of great war cannot well give half
hours time to the settlement of dispute over a
dictatorship. Secretary Tumulty gets all the
facts, dictates memorandum and the president
is advised about follows:
Dear Governor: Senator Blank called and
desired to you. He wants to protest against
the reported approaching appointment of John
Doe collector Of the port at He
CARDS Doe untitled for the place and wants to
give his reasons. l suggest that you write the
senator saying the appointment has not been
made and you will be glad to have a letter from
him advising you confidentially in the premises"
This sort of memorandum Is not infrequently
followed by presidential action Of the kind sug
gested
The president has been saved the trouble Of
listening to the complaint Of the senator after
verbal recitation of 1t to Secretary Tumulty. II
Secretary Tumulty had gone personally to see
the president the latter would have been obliged
to make written memorandum substantially
ike that briefed for his consideration by the sec
retary-for the president cannot carry everything
In his head.
1ects, minor and major. pass between the desks
Of president and secretary daily. there Is q
asvp story or an editorisl which Tumulty feels