Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-07-24
Change Is Certain
At White House
Copyright, 1890. by The Washington
Star.)

49, 81
be Senator Harding or Governor Coz
that succeeds President Wilson As
chief executive of the nation, the
fourth day of next March is certain to
make a very noticeable change al
the White House. which, though one
OF the show places of the nation,
has been closed to the public for al
most four years.
Even before this nation entered the
European war the bitter passions of
that period caused extra safeguards
to be placed about high officials and
public buildings. and the declaration
of war was a signal for all the large
buildings in Washington, including
the galleries at the senate and House.
to be closed except to those who had
credentials from some responsible
person.
The iron gates of the White House
at that time were shut inexorably
against all those who did not have
some official business there, and they
have never been opened, though h
restrictions as to other places grad
| ually have been removed. Those who
20 to the White House now on
ordinary errands, such as the pre-
s~entation of memorials or petitions,
or TO ask executive aid or clemency
in some matter, u enter at the
small gate at the west end OF the
grounds just a few steps from the
executive Offices. and are not ad-
mitted to the grounds proper.
Only cabinet officers, diplomats, or
persons of special Importance are
allowed Il go in at the main
entrance. and even the White House
correspondents may not walk about
the lawns north of the big house,
where In other years the public used
to be admitted without question.
The reason for these restrictions Is
that about the time the heat of war
had begun TO cool and the other
buildings were being opened to the
public, President Wilson was taken
i'll, and 1t was thought advisable to
keep the public as far away from
him as possible. The plan was de-
sirable from the view OF the secret
service men, as II was an additional
safeguard against his being disturbed
by cranks and sensation seekers.
One needs to spend but little time
around the White House to realize
that to hundreds OF thousands of
Americans it is a shrine. hardly
second TO Mt. Vernon, the home of
George Washington, in the reverence
shown it. For many years the large
lawn south of the house has been
closed to the public, but the smaller
lawn on the north side, through
which the main driveway runs, was
always open until 1917.
Tourists from near and far found
this one of the most interesting
places in Washington and uncounted
thousands of photographs were taken
showing the bashful bride beside one
of the great white pillars. or little
Georgia standing half f~earfully by
the big policeman that guarded the
White House portals.
Now, however, the visitors to the
a be seen any hour of the
day pointing their cameras through
the iron picketS to get a picture of
the White House through the trees,
usually maneuvering to get some of
the famous Wilson sheep in the FORE
ground. Now and then a few sight
armed with a letter from some
member of congress appear at the
executive offices, where they may
be shown the cabinet room and the
Presidents Office. But no exception
Is made to the rule barring visitors
from the White House proper.
In the ante-war period all visitors
admitted to the White House
certain hours where guides con-
them through certain rooms.
Those included the big east room,
with its famous gold piano." rare
tapestries and its atmospere of high
state functions. The exhibits of gifts
from foreign officials, the collection
of Grant china" Roosevelt china"
and other household furnishings of
former presidents also might be
NiaVva6 hU anNnna and thnu have |
given many a school child his first
real glimpse of American history as
something more than a mere lessen
to be learned and recited.
While President Wilson was in
France, or on the speaking tour that
in his health being shattered, |
a letter of introducing would get
visitors the privilege of visiting the
basement and first floor of the White
House, but the doors have been
closed to all corners for the last year.
During the greater part of Presi-
dent Wilson's first administration
there were only minimum restric-
tons in force at the White House.
In the summer months It was the
practice to have the marine band
play on the lawn just south of the
house, and for a few hours the public
- - TAG oPdCAOuS 3 JULIUS
there, where they sat about and lis
tened to the music. Frequently the
President and the first Mrs. Wilson
would sit on the large south portico,
where the President now spends
most of his time, and would enjoy
the music with the public.
1t was also the time honored
custom to allow children on the south
lawn on Easter Monday to roll multi
colored eggs down it's grassy slopes,
and as no adults were admitted I'M
less they brought children with them,
1t was not unusual for those without
little mes 90 borrow" tots fo- the
occasion. This had not been done,
however. for several years.
The enforced seclusion of President
Wilson, coming on the heels Of the
restrictions 40 necessary during the
war, has thus made the White House
one of the dullest spots in Washing
ton, although in normal times It is
the center of official, political and
even recreational activity. Though
the President has largely recovered
from his illness, it is not Thought
that he will see fit to reopen partially
the White House during the re-
mainder of the summer, but the New
President. whoever he may be. is
expected to return to the practices
Of other days.