Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-08
Round the Clock With Baker
Secretary of War is ono of the busiest men in America. No other
mar In like position ever had g responsible a place t. mi.

There he goes now" remarked one
Of the Office force who sit working in
the room outside Secretary Bakers
office. There he goes, in his Palm
Beach suit, with that little old soft
hat on his head. Just as friendly and
natural. Nothing pompous about
him. I should say not. Just as easy
and democratic as an old shoe!"
1t is a good, sign when a man IS
ter when he is ~unaffectedly respected
by the men who work for him. And
the Secretary Of War has, In ar un-
usual degree, the genuine and sincere
esteem Of everyone connected with his
organization.
Secretary Baker is one Of the
busiest men in the whole world. No
other Secretary Of Wa has ever had
so big a job. Stanton, the Secretary
under Lincoln, is his closest rival. But
the size of this war makes it even a
greater administrative task than the
Each night a stenogfapher packs a
brief case full of letters to be an
swered and documents requiring ac-
ton. This package represents the
overflow of work-work which is I'M
finished because the conferences OF the
day left nc time for 1t.
In TON.
Next morning. at an unknown meet
ing place outside the State, War, and
Navy building. Mr.. Baker meets n
plunge into this sea of papers. In
former days, they used to do this at
an early hour in the Secretary's office
in the War building. But 500 1t be-
came known that the Secretary could
be found in~his private room at that
time of day, and his %seclusion was in
vaded. The only way to achieve alb
solute concentration was to range
for another place Of for~egathering
telephones would not ring, and the
knock of the bright-and-early visitor
would not be heard upon the door.
Mr.. Baker goes through this session
with the thoroughness which marks
everything he does. When the last
long letter has been read and an an
swer dictated, he rises from the lit
tered desk. About 10 o'clock. he
walks into his Office in the State, War.
serene as IL he had not already finish
ed the equivalent Of a days work.
Unlike the President, Secretary
Baker does not begin his day with q
round Of golf or some other variety Of
exercise. Some months ago. Walter
Camp came down to Washington with
a mind full Of anxiety for the health
Of the Cabinet officers. He went
around to Mr.. Baker and tried to en-
tice- him into e class in gymnastics.
He explained the perils of ill-health,
and the patriotic duty of a public ofi-
cial to swing clubs and pull chest
weights. Mr.. Baker listened politely,
but he was not enttced.
A Stationary Engine.
"1've been a stationary engine for
AZ years. he told Camp. II don't
think, at this time Of life. you'll be
able to make a locomotive out OF me.
From 10 until 1, the secretary is
available for all his regular appoint
ments. He makes 1t q rule to gee
everyone who has legitimate business,
no matter who he may be. Practtc-
ally every day he receives delegattons
scores Of subjects. He listens courte-
ously and always impresses people
with his sincere interest in what they
have to say. He uses the same tone
in talking with the mother of a pri-
vate that he uses with an ambassador.
In his conferences with the newspa-
per men, which he holds daily. he
treats all the correspondents alike,
talks with them frankly. listens to
their opinions, and tries to cooper
ate with them in the important work
of telling the people what is going
on in the military circles. both here.
and abroad.
The first callers OF the day are usu-
ally congressman. who come in be-
tween 10 affd 1880. The sessions on
Capitol Hill convene at noon, and the
senator's and Representatives are
obliged to be back In their respective
4 halls at that time. Following the leg
islators come the civilians and bust-
ness men in private life. frequently
there are go many callers that2it
seems probable that some Of them
will have to be sighted. In such
cases the secretary comes ont o. his
private once. through the steno-
graphic room, into the outer reception
room about IL O'Clock. There he
finds his guests seated about on the
brown d~avenports that line the walls.
He makes q complete tour OF the
room, listening to every story. and
giving to each q succinct and judicial
ansver. He has : rars faculty %
thinking clearly under all circum-
stances. When he speaks he selects
his words carefully, shadink his
meaning 10 40 to a exactly what he
wants to say IN the precise way he
wants 1t to be underwood. He "
never a~rnbiEuous,; People leave him
with q definite idea OF what he thinks
about the subject they have Just pre-
~ ~ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.