The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-22
UNUSUAL MAN,
JUDGE lands
Came All Way to Washington
to See President
Wilson.
FOUND HIM VERY BUSY
So Transacted His Affair With
Someone Else and Went
Away Satisfied.
(By David Lawrence.)

Copyright, 1913 by New York Evening
Post Company
Washington, Feb. 22.--Somcthing
very unusual happened at the White
House yesterday. 1t was so out of the
ordinary that one had to scrape ths
memory to recall when anything of the
same kind occurred before. For the
strange fact isC that a man who came
all the way from Chicago to see Presi-
dent Wilson found that he could trans
act his business with subordinate
and promptly cancelled the engage
ment with Mr.. Wilson.
The man was United States Judge
Kenesaw NJ. Lands. who came into
prominence a few years ago by fining
the Standard Oil company S29000,000
He telegraphed q few days ago, asking
for only few minutes with the Pres
ident. The request was granted.
When he arrived in Washington,
instead of waiting the hour for his
appointment, hc hurried about to
see il he could get his business
done without seeing Mr.. Wilson.
This he did. And he then went to
the White House and asked that
the engagement be taken from the
lists, thus saving the presidents
time.
Men have in a few cases before found
that cabinet officers or assistant sec
retaries. the very men to whom the
president himself might have to refer
cases brought to his attention, could
give them the Information or take the
action desired and have not pressed
their requests for engagements with
the president.
But as a rule even these persons
have dropped in ito pay their respects"
which means chatting a few minutes
with the president and telling him they
found Mr.. SO and SO could do what |
they came for just as well, and they
would not take his time-but they do ]
1t. just the same.
Judge Lands didn't even intrude
himself to the exten Of paying his
respects which gives him a distinc-
ton among the many who do 9TH
erwise every day. Not that the
president wouldn't like to have a
lot Of people 'psy their respects"
especially his friends, but his bur- I
den is Unprecedented, and every
second is valuable.
1t isn't that Mr.. Wilson must work
1t 100 per cent. speed. but it is the in
corruption of relatively unimportant
matters and engagements that take his
mind from the tasks that require pro-
onged deliberation and freedom from
bother.
The president this week has been
read over heels at work on three
hings-the labor problem, which is by
10 means adjusted as yet, even though
here are no new developments to
chronicle; the legislation pending in
he senate for consolidation of govern
nent bureaus, especially those in the
var department and the general ques-
ion of reorganization occasioned by
he resignation of Daniel Willard as
hartman of the war industries board.
When Mr.. Wilson picks a chair
man he undoubtedly will give him
virtually all the powers which
minister of munitions would have.
II is thought possible that the pres
ident is waiting for the passage of
the bill before instituting his plan
Of reorganization, though in some
quarters the suggestion is made
that announcement of the prospec
tive plan would help materially to
push the measure through senate
and house.
Judging by the leisurely way in
hich congress is acting. the latter
purse may become necessary any day. I
is now more than two weeks since
le president first requested the legis-
tion to enable him to cut red tape and I
coordinate speculative bureaus.
The bill has yet to pass the senate
Id 1t has not even been reported from
house committee.
Mr.. Wilson is meeting members OF
'ngress every day in an effort TO get .
;tion. Besides that. he. Of course, is ! I,
atching events in Russia and Europe \
.nerally. He is concerned. too. over ol
e labor question and the shipping
ogram. Ia
That is why Judge Kenessw h
Lands deserves conspicuous mem q
tion. He didn't bother the presi- n
dent, because he found il abso- v
lutely unnecessary. " only hum W
dreds of others would do likewise, s
Mr.. Wilson would be helped i'm tol
measurablX c