New-York tribune., 1919-07-27
1k 4
- I -
ThePresiident
At Home
Again
TT re IMPRESSED. me as
~ - a simple, hospitable
Southern gentleman

of Virginia which he is.
Il had the feeling should mag
inc one of his students at Prince
ton might have when called into his
study to discuss an action which he
(the President) thought was not
wholly justified"
THE President likes to have WIS.,
itors, but he never realized it until
he went abroad, where congeniality
seems to have impressed him."
The President is human just like
the rest of US, and right now he
hungers for glimpse Of other minds
than his own"
These and similar impressions Of
Woodrow Wilson, President of the
United States, were gained by the
visitors at the White House during
the past two weeks of the existence
of the "open house" policy inau-
gurated by the President. The Sena-
tors who responded to the invitation
to confer with the President nave
all been glad Of the opportunity
after matching minds" with the
chief executive, and none has gone
away from the White House with
out feeling that the new attitude
of the President cannot but result
in a closer bond between the execu-
tive and the legislative body of the
nation.
The open house SYSTEM" said
one of the Presidents visitors, "is
new thing in the present admins
tration, but if it is continued, and
Woodrow Wilson consents to accept
the counsel that the President of the
United States should always have,
the nation will be all the better for
the experience.
His Eyes Opened
II believe that this two weeks Of
exchange of views with members Of
the Senate has opened his eyes to
the value of continued counsel with
the legislative branch Of the gov
ernment and that the open house
policy will not be discontinued with
the disposal of the treaty of peace
and the league of nations"
The Senators were received at the
White House proper and not in the
executive Offices of the President. A
colored doorman, stationed at the
main entrance to the building, was
the first to bow welcome to each
visitor. Relieved of his hat, the Sem
ator was then ushered into the green
parlor, one of the historic smaller
rooms Of the Executive Mansion,
just off the massive east room where
the annual Presidential receptions
are held
There the visitor waited but
moment until the President arrived,
preceded by the colored servant, who
with great dignity announced, 'the
President
Mr. Wilson Immediately dispelled
this air of seriousness by cordially
grasping the hand of his Senatorial
guest and bowling him to chair.
After the customary fo-malities Of
greeting were over. the President
launched into the subject at hand,
plying his visitor with question after
question, though interpola ting here
and there humorous incidents Of the
Paris conference which had the effect
Of taking off the edge of monoton-
GUS cross-examination
A Real Experience
While it Is not questioned that
the Presidents idea in inviting the
Republican Senators to the White
House to confer on the league Of
nations was with the hope Of win
ming some of the opposition, it was
suggested that his experience around
the peace table has opened his eyes
to the fact that the art of matching
minds could we'll be performed in
his own country.
5 President Wilson's open house pol
} icy recalls in a measure the days of
the Roosevelt administration, when
admission to the White House and
chats with the beloved Colonel were
refused to no oEe. The Colonel made
boon companions of the newspa pc,
men who covered" the Whit,
House; two hours every morning
were given over by Mr.. Roosevelt
= to greeting visitors, and it was no
infrequent for the President to per
nit an interruption during any hou
t of the day if some of his acquaint
b ances Of the Rough Rider days ap
a piled for an appointment.
White House attaches who hav