South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-08
PETTY PLEAS POUR
UPON HARDING FOR
AIRING GRIEVANCES
Office of Chief Executive Is
SchoolhOuse of Courte-
sizes 10 Hosts.

WASHINGTON May History
fails TO record in the many volumes
entitled "IlFo- OF the Presidents
one factor that serses 20 make their
lives jumpy with annoyance. This
factor Che she or IT,. as the case may
bel is that OF the burden bearers.
who daily. and often nightly. back
into the White House. there 10 liter
ailr dump their burden onto the
shoulders II The chief Executive.
More woes and petty griefs are con-
signed 90 the President. often by
special delivery and more often by
personal delivery. than fall TO the
lot OK the most pestered men OF the
nation
They run in from all walks of
l.fe Many have legitimate burdens
o. unload. Some appear 90 be un-
der The impression that the way i'm
which 90 win the Presidents imme-
diate favor is 90 permit him to in
cline his ear On personal grefs The
President lends sympathetic ear
90 all 6nd seldom fails 20 offer a
v-eI-phrased consolation or an as
surance that proHto' consideration
VIII Doe given The complaint The
complaint passes out one door and
then Pat McKenna. guardian angel
twithout Wings calls out Next"
and another "wronged citizen"
marches in 20 lay before the Presi-
dent the collected fragments Of var
led grievances long endured.
Delegation SOOthed.
Not long ago New jersey delega-
ton appeared at the White House
and presented a petition demanding
reinstatement OF an official who had
been removed from a lesser post IA
official life on the ground that he
was o victim Of politics The delega-
ton was soothed ard told that the
President was engaged at that mo-
ment and that their petition would
be presented 20 the President tina.
same day. Unappeased by the suave
and kindly administering OF soft
words from the lips OF Pat McKen-
ma the delegation swore before the
seven gods of Tarqulu and Horatius
az the Bridge that they would not
leave Washington until they had
seen the President I'm person and pre-
scented their grievance In their own
inimitable way They were still in
town at last reports.
A woman politician whose hobby
in life appears TO be that Of collect
ing and presenting petitions recently
invaded the Executive precincts Of
1.-THE mansion Of the west end Of the
avenue" and. well-knowing from ex-
perience. culled from years Of petit
ton presenting. that she was going
10 encounter questioning and cross
examination If she tried 10 put her
petition through the regular chan
MEL chose instead 20 stand in the
visitors line and shove the petition
I'm the Presidents hand when &c came
her turn TO salute him. Sec'y Chris
tian later squinted at the petition.
sighed in tho key of low 90" and
sent the bulky document over TO the
department of justice, where II be
longed.
congressman Are Offenders.
congressman are among the worst
ofenders-in fact, the majority OF
them are incorrigible. They are
more readily forgiven. however. for.
after ALL it is their task TO watch
cut for the welfare of their consi-
tucuts That is. if they intend. at
the same time 10 watch out for
themselves.
The imposing list OF appointments
on the Presidents daily schedule
would suggest conferences with
many great personages But few are
fooled with the imposing list 1t
usually is that some Senator finds IL
incumbent upon himself 20 present
in person to- the President Mr.. and
Mrs John Doe and the four little
Does who have come all the way
from bonneville" 20 shake hands
with Prest Harding and to inspect
government machinery as she ma
climates I'm the National Capital
In addition go special visitors pre-
scented 10y senators and other high
government officials there is the
cone o'clock army" which mobolizes
in the presidential ante-room every
dav an hour or two ahead Of time
and marks step IN at ease until Il is
ordered TO fall i'm and please do not
converse at length with the Presi-
dent because YOU viii block the
line Pres't Harding takes his pO-
siuon near the door of the Executive
Office and becomes for the period OF
Is minutes the final word i'm court
csy.
Everybody Happy.
AS g result every one leaves The
presidential presence filled with a
glow of good feeling. not TO mention
the smattering of patriotism thai
somehow. despite the rush and
crush Of business that envelops the
White House Executive office. per