Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-20
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS

Washing gton, April 19.-Many rumors are afloat that the presidents condition grows more serious daily. There is a good deal of speculation here over the l reports sent out from the White House after the brief cabinet meeting few days ago. It was the first to be held for nearly ten months. yet the onlys ac- counts given to the public were that ''the president thoroughly enjoyed it, told funny stories and laughed hearti- ly." Not a word of the presidents real condition or the work accomplished at the meeting. Tn fact it was treated of ficially as if the meeting had been of every day occurrence instead of hav- ing lapsed for going on a year. That the silence and making light of it has directed public attention to the lack of actual knowledge far more then true account would have done, Is the opinion of officials here. Moreover who heard the laughter and knew what hap pened? The meeting was held in the residence portion of the White House. not the offices. and that section of the White House is as completely secluded as guards can make it. Only the cab inet. and Dr. Grayson were present
 And the cabinet declined to make a single comment. The only things made known was that the president was seat ed behind q table and wore a grey suit, and laughed.
 The fact that all automobile rides have been discontinued; that the pres ident failed to keep his appointment to 1 see personally the men called to the White House on the labor question and the cancelling of the Crane estate 1 plans for 8 summer home, have reused Washington to the belief that the pres l ident is in a far more serious condi- 1A faI a1{ svI, 1 his complete seelusior makes a positive | statement impossible. These rumors | gain in strength and the fact that the ! waiting diplomats are still waiting to l function as they have been for the past seven months-for lack of recognition, is
 again bringing to life the presidential | disability resolution.
 l Congress has given much thought to l the question of teaching the aliens and
 is now turning it's attention to teaching | the American children Representative Fess, iof Ohio, chairman of the house
 committee on education and himself 3 formed college president is working with great zeal to bring the importance o1 the matte- to public attention and Sc, cure congressional action. In recent | address in the house Mir. Tess said the statements of New England official: showed that section of the country wa.
 not good. but still was better than ir other sections. He referred to the fac that Connecticut's normal school enroll
 rnent had shrunk fifty per cent. in twt
 years. and that Massa acflusetts had form
 ed commission to look into the matte in that state. He called attention to tn
 fact that in less flliclxly. settled portion of the country conditions were far
 worse, and added that he got his in
 formation from state superintendents 0 schools and not from hearsay or secon hand evidence. And said Mir Fess
 "I have received information direct fror
 every state superintendent in the Unite ? States"
 ], He added that the reports from Ne, 5 England were about as good as any h
 had received yet, called attention to tn
 fact that in Connecticut-which make comparatively good showing-the stat superintendent wrote. 'No schools ar without teachers except from casual va eancies Seventy-two per cent of tn
 teachers are either college CT norma
 graduates. Tn most disturbing pal . of the outlook for the future is the CT s rolinient in the normal school. It hs s shrtInk 50 per cent. in two years" NJ
 Fess pointed out that with 1s.0oo schoo
 in the country already closed on accour
 of teacher shortage, and the shrinkas in normal school attendance spelled q disastrous dearth of teachers in the nes d future unless some decisive steps wei
 taken to remedy the situation.