The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-30
Grayson Denies
Report Of Relapse
Of the President

Joseph p Tumulty. the presidents
secretary, that the president was inn
proved In health, the impression pre-
vailed here tonight that his condition
gave cause for Increased anxiety
This impression was largely created
by the failure OF the White House to
make an appointment today for SEN
ate minority leader Hitchcock to sec.
the president and get his instructions
with respect to the treaty.
Senator Hitchcock returned to the
city this morning and through his
secretary made application for an ap-
pointment. The senator was notified
late this afternoon that the president
would be unable to see him.
At Sis o'clock tonight Sena tor
Hitchcock appeared at the executive
Offices and said he was there to see
Mr.. Tumulty The latter at the time
was at the White House. The sena-
tor waited thirty minutes. then went
home\ without seeing the president $
secretary.
When Mr.. Tun1ulty returned from
the White House he was asked to ex-
plain the situation created by Senator
Hitchcock's failure TO see the presf-
dent. and also the many runors that
were in circulation today concerning
the presidents illness.
Just as soon as the president is
in shape TO see Senator Hitchcock he
Will see him" was Mr. Tumuity's re-
ply. The president has made Won
derful improvement. When tele-
phoned over to the White House this
morning, Mrs. Wilson said that until
after the physicians saw the presi-
dent this afternoon she thought il
unwisa for him to hold long con-
ference with Mr. Hitchcock or any
one else. The president is better to-
day than he has been for montha
DR. Dercum said he was absolutely
surprised to see the Improvement IN
his condition. The only thing is it
was inadvisable to make the appoint
ment for today.
DIR. Graysnn tonight was persuaded
to issue an Sofhcial bulletin on the
condition of the president. It is as
fol les .,,. ,.
steadily continues He is Improving
slowly. He is considerably better
than he was several weeks ago"
! While Senator Hitchcock Was wait
ing for Mr.. Tumulty he told nerpa-
per correspondents that he really had
no appointment with the president
for today and that there was no rea
SON why he should see him in1me-
diately.s
The senator said that Mr.. Tun1ulty
told him over the telephone earlier in
the day that Aftey the conference Of
the physical MS 81 the White House he
wnuld inform h1n whether or not It
would be pdssihis fer the president
10 grant him an audience
Il tod Mr.. Tumulty would dron
In to see him anyway on my way
home, said the senator, Then Slanc-
ing at the clock. he said. Well it In
getting on 70 8 o'clock. I am tired
OF waiting
Early in the afternoon when infor-
nation from the capital was to the
effect THAI Senator Hitchcock was
waiting in his once for some. word
from the White House as TO whether
or not he could see the president, DR.
Graygon was sought for an expiana
ton The physician said that ne had
not heard Of the reported appoint
menn but that he considered the
president well enough to see the sena-
tor.
Or. Grayson denied the report that
the president had had relapse He
declared that he had left him AT the
White House only hfteen minutes be-
fore and that there were no signs Of
n relapse The doctor refused 70
-caynHsent srxtfas-r&pofts THAT tfir "nfest-
dent lower limbs were paralyzed and
that he was unable to walk 1t has
been his custom. however. TO refuse
To comTent on any reports of this
nature.
Since the president ieft his bed. he
has been seen only IN a. wheel chair
and this fact has given rise to the
story that his illness affected his legs
rends rtng them incapable of motion,
This story Is generally believed In
Washington. but there never has been
any confirmation OF it at the White
House.
The president. despire the fact thai
1t was cold and rainy was wheeled
out In the open this morning. Hts
chair was taken TO q sheltered colon.
made in the rear OF the White House
ana he sat in the open for about an
hour.
Several dsvs ago when the press--
den, was reported TO have been work
ing on his message 1t was said that
he was 80 weak that II required quite
an effort for him to prepare the mes
sage This report today gave rtsA to
the understanding that his neasa ge
would he vary brief whiI1 stfll an :
other report was to the erect thar
members of the cabinet were assist
inf in the preparation OF the mes
sage Attorney General Palmer was
said TO be the man bearing the chief
burden in eating thu message reads,
for congress- -
FRIENDLY RELATIONS
As regards SenaApr Hitcheock'e m :
pending visit 70 the White HAuse,
Tunnulsy tonight placed the greatest
emphaais In the stseement that only
the friendliest and warnnest relations
existed between Senator Hitchcock
and the president He said the ser.A :
tor would probably see the president
either Tomorrow Of Monday.
Before Senator Hitchcock went to
the white house and when II seemed
that his conferences with President
Wilson would have to be referred
because the president was not con-
sidered well enough TO tax himself
with further discussion OF the treaty
situation Mr. Hitchcock confidently