The Washington times., 1922-05-07
HARO|NGLENDS
EAR To SCORES
Of FPETTYPLEAS
Hears Burden-bearer and
Crouches as Well as leg'ti-
mate Protestants.
COURTESY ScHOOlHOUSe
Legislators Are Chief Offenders
In Taking Up Executives
Time With Troubles.
By WEBSTER X. NOLAN,
international News Service.


international News Service.
History fails to record in the
many volumes entitled Lives OF
the Presidents" one factor that
serves to make their "lives'
jumpy with annoyance. This fac
tor (he. 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 to lit
orally dump" their burden onto
the shoulders of the Chief Execu-
tive. More woes and petty griefs
are consigned to the President,
often by special delivery and more
often by personal delivery. than
fall to the lot of the most pestered
men of the nation.
Came From Everywhere.
They run in from all walks of life.
Many have legitimate burdens to an
load. Some appear 10 be under the
impression that the way In which to
win the Presidents immediate favor
is to permit him TO incline his ear
to personal griefs. The President
lends sympathetic ear to all and
seldom falls TO offer well -phrased
consolation or an assurance that
"pronto" consideration will be given
the complaint. The complaint. passes
out one door and then Pat Mckenna,
guardian angel without wings,
calls out Next and another
"wronged citizen" marches In 10 lay
before the President the collected
fragments of varied grievances long
endured.
Delegation SOothed.
Not long ago a New Jersey delega-
ton appeared at the White House
and presented a petition demanding
reinstatement of an official who h5d
been removed from lesser post in
official life on the ground that ne
was victim of politics. The delega-
ton was soothed and told that the
President was engaged at that mo-
Irent and that their petition would
lie presented to the President that
same day. Cnappeased by the suaNe
and kindly administering Of soft
words from the lips Of Pat Mckenna.
the delegation swore before the seven
gods of Tarquin and Horatius at the
Bridge that they would not leave
Washington until they had seen the
President in person and presented
their grievance in their own mimi
table way. They were still in town
at last reports.
A woman politician whose hobby in
life appears to .bo that OF collecting
and presenting petitions recently in
vaded the Executive precincts OF the
mansion on the west end OF the
evenue" and we'tknowing from eX-
perience. culled from years OF petit
tioa.preserting. that she wes going TO
encounter questioning and cross
examination if she tried 20 put her
petition through the regular channel.
chose instead to stand in the visitors
line and shove the petition into the
Presidents hand when il came her
turn to salute him. Secretary Chris
tian later suuinted at the petition.
sighed in the kew of low "D" and
sent the bulky document over TO the
Department of Justice. where II be-
longed.
Congressmen Are Offenders.
Congressmen are among the worst
offenders--jn fact. the majority CT
them are incorrigible. They are
more readily forgiven. however, for.
after all, IL is their task TO watch oct
for the welfare OF their constituents.
That is, if they intend. at the same
time, to watch out for themselves.
The imposing l'st of appointments
on the Presidents daily schedule
would suggest conferences with
many great personage.. But few are
fooled with the imposing list. 1t
usually is that some Senator finds II
,ncumben: upon himself TO present
I'm person to the President Mr. aud
Mrs. John Doe and the for little
Does, who have como all the way
from bonneville" 70 shake hands
with President Harding and 10 in
spect Government machinery as she
machinates in the National Capital.
In addition to special visitors pre-
sented by Senators and other high
Government officials. there IL the
"one o'clock army" which moblizes
in the Presidential ante-room every
day an hour or two ahead OF time,
and marks step III at ease until it ia
ordered to fall in and please do not
converse at length with the Presi-
dent because you will block the line"
President Harding takes his position
near the door of the Executive Office
and becomes for the period of fifteen
minutes the final word in courtesy.