The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-07-07
HARDING WANTS
To SEE alaska
PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE A LONG
VACATION, BUT PROBABLY
CONGRESS WON'T ADJOURN
IT is FOLLOWING PRECEDENT
only Once In Recent Years Has the
Chief Executive Been Able to
Get Away From Business for Any
Length Of Time.
BY EDWARD o. CLARK.

=
Washington. -rrcsldents, being hu-
man, like to take vacations. They
never have been able to do II unless
the different congresses agreed 10
take vacations with them. II looks to
day as II congress was going To keep
President Harding here through the
long summer season. and probably
through the equally long autumn sea-
son.
Une thing has been noted. even ny
persons not ordinarily quick -bserN'
crs. II the present President of tile
United States il able To get away
from Washington he probably VIII
make II real get away" II Is un-
dcrstood that he wants to go to Ans
ka. Alaska Is a long way OF and Il
is the distance, In part. which lends
enchantment e. the travel In view.
Any President at the end ~ his hrst
few months In office probably II glad
10 get away from the opportunities of
office seekers and their friends.
There are problems rearing their
Interrogation marks for solution In
Alaska at the present time. II Is said
that new Alaska legislation Is In pros
pect. but II may be- that u will he
postponed until either President
Imrdng ar Mr.. Fall. the secretary OF
the Interior. or Mr DENLY. the secre-
tnry Of the navy. has been able Ia
visit the northwestern territory.
There have been few summers. In
fact only one since the year 1907,
when President Of the United States
has been able 10 get away for any
length ~ time. knowing that congress
also was 10 be- absent from It's Capitol
I'M post. Every President In recent
years has been able 10 take something
Of vacation. but each one has been
cut short by the exigencles Of the leg
islative case
Not Much Vacation Time Recently.
on March 4, 1897. the short second
session 81 congress came Ia an end
A new congress had been elected. but
President Roosevelt did not call Il
into extraordinary session. So II wa
that he had some seven or eight
months leeway with no congress oG
his hands and he took advantage OF
the fact to make one or two rather
extended trips and To put In consid
ernble time M oyster Bay.
In 1905 there was the long session
~ the new congress, on March I
1909. Mr. Taft came into Office and
called congress together nj once for
the purpose Of enactlng new tarin
bill, and IL took long while to do the
work. In 1910 there was n regular
long session and In 1911 there came
the extraordinary session which gave
consideration 10 the Canadian reel
procity measure.
Congress was In session In the sum
mer Of 1912 when the Republican anC
Democratic parties held their conven
tions and remained In session for som'
time thereafter.
The history Of congressional ses
slons after Woodrow Wilson CANT
into office Is well remembered Their
was the first extraordinary session L
pass new tariff bill, and after tina
came sessions which were taken al
with war problems. and NIL excep
one of which were prolonged.
II must not be- supposed that wheI
Presidents get away from Washington
they are relieved from work. Unles
they go 10 Alaska. or 10 some othe
noncontiguous possession OF tn
United States, their summer resi-
dences are magnets to draw all kind
Of people. cabinet officers. senator
and representatives and other govern
ment officials on public business bent
| and the crowds Of the curious and oft
times selfseeking ones who have th
, money 10 make the pllgrimages.
Summer Capitals Busy Places.
President Roosevelt was only faii
" well alOOf from the multitude whe
he was at his summer home ON Saga
more Hlll. Mr.. Taft found thai hi
chosen place near Beverly, Mass
was OF easy access. lie had abOu
as much work 10 do at Beverly as h
did at Washington. or NJ any rate hi
time was about as fully taken u
there as at the capital.
Mr.. Wilson succeeded IN gettin
some real rest In the New Englan
hills, but later at Shadow Lawn, whic
was nearer at hand, officials on bus
ness intent and the curious and II
qulsltlye found means Of reaching hi
without undue trouble.
Going back some years In the pre-
ldentlal line, Grover Clevelands tim
il reached. lie was willing enoug
TO stay In Washington In summe
The white House a. that time was M
a particularly healthful place becaus
Of the undrained condition OF the =,