Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-07-08
HARDING WANTS
To SEE ALASKA
PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE ALONG
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.
81 EpwARp 5. CLARK.

Nashlngton.-Presi being hui
man, like to take vacations. They
never have been able to do 1t unless
the different congresses agreed to
take vacations with them. 1t looks to-
day as if congress was going to Keep
President Harding here through the
long summer season, and probably
through the equally long autumn sea-
son.
One thing has been noted, even by
persons not ordinarily quick observ-
er If the present President of the
United States is able to get away
from Washington he probably will
make it a real "get away" Ii is IN
derstood that he wants to 20 to Alas
ka. Alaska is a long way off and it
is the distance, in part. which lends
enchantment to the travel In view.
Any President at the end of his first
few months in office probably is glad
to 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. 1t IS said
that new Alaska legislation is in pros
pect, but it may be that it will be
postponed until either President
Harding or Mr.. Fall, the secretary of
the interior, or Mr.. DENLY. the secre-
tary of the navy, has been able to
visit the northwestern territory.
There have been few summers, in
fact only one since the year 1907,
when a President of the United States
has been able to get away for any
length Of time, knowing that congress
also was to be absent FROM its Capitol
Hill post Every President in recent
years has been able to take something
of a vacation, but each one has been
cut short by the exigencies of the leg
islative case.
Not Much Vacation Time Recently.
On March Il; 1907, the short second
session of congress came to an end.
A new congress had been elected, but
President Roosevelt did not call 1t
into extraordinary session. SO it was
that he had some seven or eight
months leeway with no congress on
his hands and he took advantage of
the fact to make one or two rather
extended trips and to put in consid-
erable time at Oyster Bay.
In 1908 there was the long session
of the new congress. On March 4,
1909. Mr.. Taft came into office and
called congress together at once for
the purpose Of enacting a new tariff
bill, and it took long while to do the
work In 1910 there was a regular
long session and in 1911 there came
the extraordinary session which gave
consideration to the Canadian reei-
procity measure.
Congress was in session in the sum
nler of 1912 when the Republican and
democratic parties held their conven-
tions and remained in session for some
time thereafter.
The history of congressional ses-
sions after Woodrow Wilson came
into office is well remembered. There
was the first extraordinary session to
pass new tariff bin, and after that
came sessions which were taken up
with war problems, and all except
one of which were prolonged.
1t must not be supposed that when
Presidents get away from Washington
they are relieved from work. Un<ess
they go to Alaska. or to some other
noncontiguous possession of The
United States, their summer resi-
dences are magnets to draw all kinds
of people. cabinet officers, senator's
and representatives and other govern
ment officials on public business bent
and the crowds of the curious and oft
times self-seekipg ones who have the
money TO make the pilgrimages,
Summer Capitals Busy Places.
President Roosevelt was only fair
liz well aloof from the multitude when
he was at his summer home ON saga
more Hill. Mr.. Taft found hat his
chosen place near Beverly. Mass,
was Of easy access. lie had about
as much worl, to do at Beverly as he
did at Washington, or at any rate his
tina was about as fully taken up
there as mt the capital,
Mr.. Wilson succeeded in getting
some rent rest in the New England
hills, but later at Shadow Lawn. which
was nearer at hand, officials on bust
ness intent and the curious ANA in
quisitive found means of reaching him
without undue trouble.
Going back some years In the pres
idential line, Grover CleyelaRd's time
Is reached He was willing enough
to stay in Washington In summer.
The White House at that time was not
particularly healthful place because
of the undrained condition of the Pc
tonac flats, but Mr. Cleveland lived
comfortably at "Red Top" i'm The
suburb now called Cleveland Paris.
and also on another occasion SIT the
Soldiers home Presideur Cleveland
preferred TO take his Vacations in tie
shooting season, or in she later hSh-
Ing season.
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