The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-09-13

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.
 Washington betrays every symptom of having at last awakened to a sense of interest in the president of the United States. The average Wash tngtonian formerly stared languidly after the presidential automobile. Now adays he froMns. He does not like to see the president take chances. Wash- ington is beginning to wish the presi- dent had 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 MT. 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 frowDed at him disapprovingly, but since America entered the world war the president has not even tried to go out alone. It is doubtful if he could slip away.
 In the first place, it is almost as grounds as it is to get in. Particu- larly is this true at night.
 At the west side of the White House 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 . telephone box at each one. Every po- Hceman 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 a new force of policemen goes on duty inside the gates and a detach- ment of United States regulars are thrown completely about the White House, where they stand guard until morning.
 Washingtonians occasionally gratify 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 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 a 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 He protested that he was attached to the White House and had been in the habit of using the east gate.
 You heard what I said," warned the guard.
 "Yes, 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 ihe west gate, and made haste to do so.
 Of course, these precautions are all that Washington can see on the sur f: e. It knows nothing of the intri- ;.:,te inner system of White House de fcnse, organized on an electric basis and backed by the entire police force If the city. The nature of this real defense system is mystery and no good American would write about it if he knew.
 Tranks are no longer much trouble ni ou. the White House, thanks to the r-iG guard system there, but they .;n vastly trouble other government | offices about town. Most of them are i .I,n of unsOund mind who have been worked into a high pitch of excite | Eienr 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 a 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.