The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-05-22
home, there to make their pleas fol-
unemployment by the people.
Historic Room In White House.

throughout Tic country, JuuSlnS AIOu
what visitors to the capital say
that the East Room Of the White
House is the historic chamber"
Of the old building. The general run
Of sight-seers is likely to think on
events Of social importance as fixing
the fame of spot.
1t is true that the weddings of
Presidents daughters have taken
place In the East Room, and that
there great receptions have been
held; and also, lest it be forgotten.
that there a great wrestling match
took place, presided over by Presi'
dent of the United States and looked
on more or less admiringly by cabinet
officers, foreign ambassadors and min
isters-but on such doings as these
the East Rooms celebrity must hang.
At the head Of the main fight Of the
White House Stairs Is room which
is historic. In it the Monroe doctrine
was formulated; in it Andrew Jackson
prepared for his attack on the Ma.
tional bank, and in 1t he made up his
mind what to do If notification
should be attempted in South Caro-
lima.
In this room overlooking the rear
grounds of the White House beyond
which lies the Potomac, Buchanan
thought on the approach Of civil war.
and there struggled with himself on
the question of duty. There he met
Jefferson Davis and other southern
statesmen, until that time loyal to the
flag of the Union. In the room Pres
ident Lincoln drafted his emancipa'
ton proclamation, and in 1t Presiden,
Mckinley spent the entire night fol-
lowing the destruction Of. the Maine
in Havana harbor thinking on the aw-
fulness of war and withstanding the
urgings that it should begin at once.
Now Used az Study.
This room on the second floor has
been used largely as a study and
library by Presidents since the time
that Theodore Roosevelt entered the
White House.. Most of the recent
messages which have been sent to con-
gress on minor and major subjects
were written in tie second-story OF
the executive mansion proper. 1t was
the room in the old days in which for
eign ambassadors were received BY
the President when charged with mes
sages of moment. There Lincoln and
his secretary Of state and the British
Ambassador passed twelve hours OF
one day and twelve hours of another
in consultation, and ut times In con-
ytroversy, following the receipt OF the
news that the Confederate commits
;sloners Mason and Slidell had been
taken from the British ship Trent on
1.-THE high seas and had been made pris,
,,oners of the United States.
When the office wing Of the White
House was built the study and office
room became study only. 1t Is there
that the President passes his evenings.
and it is there that he receives callers
whose errands are Of such nature
that they do not care to go publicly In
the daylight hours to the room adjoin'
ing the cabinet room in the office an
mex. The books on the shelves have
changed with each incoming admin
istration, and they have revealed the
reading proclivities Of the incumbent
of Office. The oldest employee OF the
White House says that Lincoln had
many books of poetry on the shelves;
that Grant had few books, but that
those which he had were OF the best.
Arthur cared little for books. Cleve-
land had them in numbers, and read
much more than he has been given
credit for reading.
Roosevelt's Circulating Library.
When President Roosevelt was in
the White House the study was In na-
ture that OF a circulating library. He
had books upon all kinds of subjects,
although nature books and hunting
books predomlnated. It Is said, how
ever. that there was not book on
fishing in the whole collection, for
Mr.. Roosevelt liked every other kind
of outdoor sport, but never went fish
inc. fact which has been some
what resented by the followers Of the
sport.
If Presidents of the United States
chose to receive gifts they could fill
the east room, the study, the blue
room, the green room and rooms Of
other colors. The presents, however,
which Presidents are allowed to take
are few. Certain gifts have come from
the powerful ones Of the earth, foreign
monarchs whose offerings could not be
declined without giving offense, but
as most of them have been articles
of an innocuous kind they have been
taken in the spirit In which they were
given. King Meneliks gift was innoc-
uous as long rs it was kept behind
bars. 1t consisted of two lions which
his majesty was pleased to have Mr..
Roosevelt accept some years ago. The
beasts are now in cage In the
geological garden in Rock Creek park.
The East Room IS the great social
gathering place, but the little room
upstairs is the place where succeeding
men have sought through study the
solutions for national and world prob
lens.
OF Course John Was Spoohn0.
v>k, po~uS ~ n