Evening star., 1922-12-24
Heard and Seen

PRESIDENT HARDING Is d kooi puoi
ness man.
If any one had any doubts on that
score. they would have been dispelled
had he accompanied the President
on the personal tour Of inspection
made by the latter last week OF the
proposed sites for the Arlington
memorial bridge.
right at the start.
The site for the proposed bridge
at New York avenue. the site for the
proposed bridge across from the
Lincoln Memorial, both were viewed
by him from the larger standpoint
1t was the picture" which Presi-
dent Harding wanted to see turn out
right, and he always kept this in
| view.
How would the whole thing look?
That seemed to be the question in
| his mind, as far as those who were
privileged to be in the party were
| able to tell.
| 1t was this idea, apparently. that
led him to select the site leading
! across the river from the Lincoln
Memorial. and to propose the building
Of a rondpoint on Columbia Island,
| with three main roads diverging.
X
have covered the White House for
! years found the trip with the Presi-
dent that morning a distinct novelty.
| The first they had any idea he was
going to personally inspect the pro-
posed bridge sites was when the big
White House car drew UP al the en-
trance. Just outside the correspond
ents' room.
Taxis were called hurriediy, news
paper men piling in. their cars fol-
lowing after the Presidents own. To
the Naval Hospital, and out. then
jewift walk to the west side, to look
4 down across the Potomac
avenue site for the bridge did their
best to "sell" the President on that
| site. He maintained judicial calm.
No one could tell what he really
thought about the matter.
Then back into the cars-on again,
out again at the Lincoln Memorial.
lSirhtseers got thrills not on the pro
gram when the President OF the
United states walked In. and through
to the river side, while camera men
clicked.
,.r.d the President. Those who be-
llieye in the influence Of the occult
declared afterward that II was here
| thew got a "hunch" that the President
was In favor of the Lincoln Memo
rial site for the bridge.
Into the automobiles went the party
! again. Then came q spin across High
vay bridge, and over the roads te
Arlington cemetery. Midway between
tho Mcclellan and Sheridan gates
everybody got out again. while thu
President was shown more maps.
I'm the road again-out again
standing on the soft. semi-frozen
, coId Ground. while tho wind whipped
, across the river. More maps. NOR
letamping on the ground. more snive5
} inr into overcoat collars. more ad
nn;r.tion for that massive. flne fac'
OF .ns 1asn TO the cars, and out along tn
/ -oaa this time to the south end Of tn
, new GeorRetown bridge. Piloteo o!
. Col. C. O. Sheriff.. superintsnoGS. S y
nublic buildings and grounds. Presi
, zsnt Harding stepped out over tn
e.,,shed stone and mud Of the incom
Mate roadbed. ~ II 1t had been a goi
, cIS Nor did the President shiver into hi
ooIn ',h"msh the wind was blowinl
. -crs than briskly. President HARD
overcoat collar remained turne'
: Hnwn. while he buffeted every orees
; that blew. He kept pace easMy Tt
: Col. Sheriff.. whose military str'oe
!. . good one.
Ynvieorated, although slightly sniV
n .rtnr. the party returned to the Whit
: House. the President and tho mem
: h.r. OF the two commissions to snort
' lv announce that the bridge woni
q run across the river from the LIN
:. coin memorial to tho Arlington ma
: 1l1M Tn. two.hour trip afforded an un
,.nai chance, even for the vetern
Z @hits House correspondents, to op
serve the President In action.
showed him q big. calm: haro- o-tnink
: inE man. with typicaiIy ,nS q
? desire to see how things iooA ~
4 himself. A.. In thei
4 way, bue they are not enousn;a "a nv,
q President Harding wants 70 nnu a.. ".
\ how . thing really looks, ne does !os
= e you and do-puts on MS nat m
: | gees over the ground; .rrwrry.