Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-10

w House In war time is not the place of gener-
Gus accessibility that it Newly wed
couples no longer stroll about it's shady grounds,
marvel at the impressive elegance of the blue
or wait about the door for glimpse of the presi-
dent. Informal receptions are no longer for the
benefit of the troops of school children who used
to visit the capital every spring, and always stop
ped In to shake hands with Mr.. Wilson.
Necessary precautions, and heavy demands upon
the presidents time have destroyed this atmos-
phere of democratic hospitality which was so long
associated with the executive mansion. Entrances
now are barred and the grounds guarded by
soldiers and policemen But there is gate,
the western side of the grounds the executive
othces, where anyone who can give good reason
for his desire may enter. He will be passed by
the guard and promptly received by the officials
who have charge of the presidents appointment
list
The statement is made by those who are famil-
lar with the presidents daily routine that any eiti
zen of the United States who has legitimate bust
ness with the chief executive obtain an inter-
view with him, and with less formalty and waste
of time than is involved in approaching some of
his cabinet officers. The president spends four
five hours each day in seeing callers, and this time
is divided among all applicants fairly may be.
Naturally, these hours very much in demand;
each must await his turn; and certain amount of
delay in reaching the president is inevitable But
when the appointment has been made, it is nearly
always kept by the president with perfect punct
uaty If the caller is not equally punctual he
simply loses his turn Each visitor is asked how
much of the presidents time he requires, and is
expected to finish his interview in that time When
the end of it has been reached the fact is indicated
by Mr.. Patrick McKenna, doorkeeper of the execu-
tive Offices, who opens the door, whereupon the
president rises, unless he wishes to proong the in
terview.
The president sometimes finds it necessary to
prolong interviews far beyond the stated time and
in that of course, it is necessary to disappoint
other callers. For example, not long ago Samuel
Gompers, president of the American Federation of
Labor, called with fifteen representatives of trade
unions from the Chicago stockyards district. The
gist of what the labor had to say that
unless the Chicago packers granted them certain
demands, they would strike. The president, hav-
ing heard this message, and realizing the gravity
of the impending situation, at once sent for Mr..
McKenna, and to the establishment of the official,
who has served as doorkeeper to three presidents,
actively aided him in fetching chairs for the Wis
itors The interview, which to have lasted
fifteen minutes, then went forward for three hours
and half AS everyone now knows, there was
no strike.
Mr. Wilson's time for receiving visitors is
tailed afternoon week by his meetings
with his war cabinet, which consists of Director
General of Railroads McAdoo, Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield, Chairman Baruch of the war indus
tries board, Chairman Hurley of the shipping
board. Chairman Mccormick of the war trade
board and Food Administrator Herbert Hoover.
In addition to this, he has two meetings week
with his regular cabinet.
Ordinarily the president does all of his private
desk work in the morning, but sometimes he finds
il necessary to spend part of his afternoons in
the study of matters in which he must make de-
cision This was true, for example, when the fed
eral trade commission studying the question
of a fair price for steel. The commission was in
its new and then unfinished quarters, where plas-
terers and carpenters still at work. The
president nevertheless attended its sessions for
several days, and with his coat off and handker-
chief stuffed into his collar ploughed through the
mass of evidence upon which this important de-
cisiOn based.
The president has been accused of attending to
details of the executive business which might be
left to subordinates and it is admitted by all that
he has a passion for being in touch with all parts
of his great task. Perhaps the best answer which
can be offered to the charge that he undertakes
too much is to point out that he shows none of
the SYMPTOMS of an overtaxed On the con-
trary his health is notably better than it was
when he entered the White House. and his physi-
cal condition has been described practically per-
feet Inasmuch as depends upon President
Wilson than upon any other one man in the world,
this may in itself be regarded something of an
achievement, and end for which some sacri-
fees in the way of demands upon the presidents
time ought willingly to be made.
The presidents excellent health is ascribed to
the rigid regularity of his habits and to the
cises which he takes under the supervision of Ad-
miral Grayson. He rises at o'clock breakfasts
at 1880, and whenever the weather permits Is