Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-10
RUM0RS PRESIDENT
HAD RELAPSE GAIN
BY HIS AL0OFNESS
Giving Up Auto Rides and
Failure to Call Cabinet
Excite Wonder.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Wilson isn't as much in
evidence nowadays to pedestrians in the
National Capital as he was fortnight
ago, and consequently fresh series Of
rumors has begun to go the rounds.
The automobile rides which had become
a daily occurrence have been discon-
tinued. This probably started gossip
anew, but the story that MI. Wilson has
suffered a relapse is given more credence
in Washington than perhaps Ia justified
because the White House policy OF au-
thorizfng vague and fragmentary de-
scriptions of the Presidents health,
coupled with an occasional statement
from some attending physician COM
pletely confirming rumors that were
previously current, has bred many skep-
tics.
Explanations Contradict.
The discontinuance of the automo-
lille rides of the President is explained
in contradictory ways. One story
emanating from the White House is to
has been too busy with public affairs
to get his accustomed outing. On the
other hand. it is a fact that members
of the cabinet are wondering whether
the President considers them neces-
sary at all. for no cabinet meeting has
two cabinet members feel that they
ought to have the benefit of the ad-
vice and counsel and even instruction
OF their chief in these days of pressing
governmental business.
Another story also given with a
tfnge Of White House authority Is to
the effect that the President was un-
der too great a nervous tension while
motoring. People in the streets
stared at him curiously. wondering If
all the gossip they had heard about
his health were true. Unquestionably
photographs Of the President didn't
do him any good. for they stirred up
morbid curiosity. The first plan of
having a carefully posed. picture Of
the President probably would have
were taken that in some cases the ef-
feet of Mr.. Wilson's illness was gross
ly exaggerated.
The President did appear thin, but
his countenance seemed to possess q
ruddiness Of color, due no doubt to the
| long afternoons Of exposure in the
White House grounds.
No Indication Given.
If Mr.. Wilson has suffered a re-
outward behavior OF White House Of
| hcials that gives the slightest confir-
nation Of it. Preparations are going
forward for the moving of the execu-
tive offices to Woods Hole. Mass. in
the middle of next month. 1t is quite
possible that there may be one ses-
sion of the cabinet before Mr.. Wilson
goes away for the summer. though no
word has gone forth to that effect
There have been reports current that
the cabinet members felt somewhat
slighted by the Presidents indiffer-
ence. The other day, incidentally,
Mrs. Wilson had all the wives Of the
abinet members to tea. 1t was the
first social function of it's kind for
many months and no doubt had the
effect Of preserving happiness in the
| official family.
The slow recovery of the President
Is discouraging to his many friends
who had hoped the spring months
would see hm, going about with his
| accustomed vigor. His detachment
more pronounced than any one dream
ed would be the case. Not only has
the President failed to see his own
cabinet, but several foreign ambas-
sadors accredited to the United states
have also been waiting for months to
gain an audience with Mr.. Wilson.
Quiet as to Treaty.
The President is keeping his own
counsel. too. None of his cabinet
knows what he intends doing about
| the peace treaty. and it is seriously
doubted on Capitol Hill whether Sem
ator Hitchcock knows Mr.. Wilson'S
There was a recurrence, too, dur
ing the Senate debate on Friday of
the feeling that Mr.. Wilson is unable
to function as President because of
his physical weakness. This insinu-
alton, however. SO often has been in
jected in the partisan warfare that
it has heretofore been discounted, and
| friends Of the President like Senators
Overman and Williams have openly
charged the republicans with con-
spring to give the country that i'm
preston.
On the other hand. the failure of
the President to appoint a railroad
labor board as provided under leeis-
lation passed more than month ago
has given concrete excuse for the re-
newed argument that Mr.. Wilson
ought to delegate some Of his au-
| thority. The White House explana-
| tion is that the President has had
difficulty getting men to serve on the
labor board. Mr.. Wilson has had his
troubles continuously with appoint.