The Washington herald., 1921-04-01
WOULD SAVE OTHERS ANNOY


ANCE.
To the> Editor. The Washington Herald:
In Washington newspaper to-
day I read that the latch string Is
out at the White House. There may
be some readers aho will think that
means the doors are open. II / may
state my experience others mly be
spared what 1 went through.
/ had read that cards of admission
could be obtained of Senator's and
Representatives or at the Executive
Office. I called the Executive Office.
A man answered. I said: II am call
ing to learn if it is necessary to
have a card to admit me to the
White House?"
The White House is open 20 visi-
tors from 10 until g" he replied l
then said: The papers stated that
cards were required" He replied
emphatically. a don't know how the
papers got that, because the White
House is open tC the public from 10
until 2" l told him l was glad to
know this, as had planned - visit
the White House the following day
with my young son, and had meant
u So " SCHdloT anu Sel d so
that nothing would mar the pleasure
CT the day. He again assured me
that no card was needed. thanked
him and closed the conversation.
When We arrived at the White
House my boy said: Here is where
/ shall be thrilled" He was i'm
pressed that it was a privilege TO
enter our White, House which We.
the people of the United States, pro-
vide as fitting abode for the man
who represents us.
We appreciated all that is to be
seen in the lower halls. Next we
climbed the stairs to the East Room.
and were happy that we were at
last in a room so rich in real his
tory.
We were not here out of curiosity.
This was pilgrimage to a his
torical shrine. We spent most o.
our time thinking of its past.
Leaving the East Room we
stopped at a door marked Private
Parlors." where stood a guard. of
whom l inquired. May we see these
Parlors?' Your card, please" he
said. Il have no card" ! replied.
People are admitted to these rooms
ohIy w he u. Il tOl0 nj Y.
/ had called up the Executive Cffic.
and had received the information
cards were not required. otherwise
1 woud have provided myself with
one. He advised me to GO ~ the
Executive Office and relate the mat
ter to the man who issued ti,Eats
there. as It might be possible under
the circumstances he would give m,
card.
did as he told me. found the card
clerk and again told him 1 had been
Informed cards were not required" :"
and the White House is open to the
public from 10suntil q" Told him
there was no intention on my part
to ask for any favor, that others
card because I had been misin-
formed. / asked him if he could
issue me one. He said he could not.
He asked if knew the name of the
man who had misinformed me. I
did not know it. He told me to
telephone when 1 went home and
try to find out. I asked il I might
use a telephone in the office, as 1
would give him the information at
once. He instructed an officer to
tell me what telephone to usel and
| was directed to one in room
which later I learned was the press
room. .
I called Main 6. A man answered
I recognized the voice and asked. as
I had the previous day, Are cards
of admission necessary" He replied.
"The White House is open to the
public from 10 until 3" I repeated
what the newspapers had sad, and
he repeated, The White House is
open from 10 until q" said, 81 am
at the Executive ONCE. l cannot be
admitted to the White House except
the East Room and lower hall be-
cause I have no card. Your infor-
nation Is misleading.
There may be others who will ask
you IL cards are required You
should not misinforhl them. lam
here without a card because you told
me I wouldn't need one" He said.
We'll, ! meant the lower hall and
the East Room" asked his name.
He told me. then went to the card