The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-06-19
Trials Of Popularity.

&OR some weeks we have been awaiting from
the spirited pen of McCuteheon. the Chica-
- goan. or Darling. the New Yorker, repre-
sentation in the nimitable style possessed by
either, of the White House "as u.s." with its
massed phalanxes of conferees, office-seekers,
sightseers, town delegations advancing upon the
ever-smiling President while front, rear, above and
below, photographers, still and movie, record the
shifting scenes for the newspapers and posterity.
Perhaps the empowering size Of the spectacle
has given these doughty caroonsts pause or perhaps
they feel that the public is being enough inflicted
upon the Chief Executive without their esfuly per-
petuatng his trials 1t is not in the spirit of jest
that the subject is touched upon here though GER
tanly the element of humor is predominant to
newspaperman, particularly one who has had ex-
perience with the second quadrennium OF the Wilson
reign.
Mr. Harding on the very night Of his naug-
uraton swung open the long-closed gates OF the
White House grounds which were promptly occu-
pied by all citizens not otherwise engaged for the
evening Apparently, their reliefs never will cease
to arrive. Then those chambers included in for
mer days in sightseeing itineraries were made
accessible to visitors. The natural sequence was
that the President found himself shaking hands
at a rate not exceeded by the oscillations OF
patent churn. -, e,
While this was going on, the photographers
depioyed from the weil-known transformation
they had been forced to MAINTAIN before the exec
utye Offices since Woodrow Wilson returned sick
from his, western trip in 1919 and commenced
skirmishing ON all sides of the stately structure.
The President good-naturedly and politically
ell-guded, consented to being snapped and
filmed with practically any delegation OF size or
with callers OF mote the north portico, on the
south lawns and at other points, depending upon
the position of the sun in the heavens. While
SOME Of the camera clan were engaged in this
work. others scaled the south portico and from
this and like coigns of vantage, inside and outside
secured coy views Of the Washington Monument
framed by immaculate pillars, Of the East Room,
Of the White House reflected in pools, OF the
executive walk between the residence and the
Offices, etc We may next expect them on the
upper floors or in the cellars. "a.
The first real social season the White House
has known in years will draw down next Deeem-
Der with the recovering Of Congress. 1t is to
be sincerely hoped that by this time President
Harding-and Mrs Harding, who by his side mas
bravey borne the press Of the electorate-whi
have formulated rules which will prevent i'm
promptu incursions and repeated mass PUSHES
The reaction from the bolt and bar regime I'M
posed under, Wilson has been most happy one
bit like most reactions it has gone too lar the
other way At present, the Chief Executive anu
the First Lady are placed under strain whose
existence they may most graciously deny, put
which observers in Washington know to be
t,ct nevertheless That the President continues
10 d;soateh vast amount Of business daily IS
high testimonial to his physical and mental powers,
U