The Colorado statesman., 1923-09-15


dent since the days of Jefferson.
This room, sacred to study purposes
and to private conferences on affairs
of state, is situated on the second
floor of the White House at the south
front and directly at the head of the
stairs leading from the corridor on the
main floor. 1t is historic room and
in IL affairs vital to the nations well
fare have been discussed and decided
time on time.
1t was in this room that matters
concerning the War of 1872 were dis
cussed; it was here that the Monroe
doctrine was formulated it was here
warm discussions took place concern
ing the Mexican war, and it was here
that Buchanan tried in his vacillating
way 10 fix upon n policy which might
avert the Civil war. 1t was in this
study that Abraham Lincoln framed
the Emancipation proclamation; that
johnson and Grant considered per
pleXedly the problems of reconstruc-
ton; and it was here that other Presl-
dents pondered over and gave final
judgment on the affairs of state.
President Harding used this room
constantly. 1t was here that he had
his favorite books, his favorite pic
lures and his favorite Tipes, a half
dozen of which were piled upon the
little desk near the window. President
Coolidge has entered and taken pos
session and he will have about him
those more intimate personal belong
ings which seem to aid men In the
processes of thinking and of reasoning.
Roosevelt's Favorite Cartoon Here.
Theodore Roosevelt spent many
nights in this room. He did something
which other Presidents have not done.
He placed about the room the original
drawings of many of the cartoons
which had to do with his public life;
some of them favorable to his striv-
ings and some of them unfavorable to
the cutting point.
Calvin Coolidge was farm boy, the
son of farmer and the grandson of
farmer. 1t is possible that he may
feel like giving chief place on the
wall to cartoon which Theodore
Roosevelt looked upon daily and from
which he said he believed that he re-
ceived advice and possibly inspiration.
The cartoon was one entitled "Hls
Favorite Author" 1t represented a
farmer-not the farmer of caricature
but a plain, high thinking farmer. a
typical American-reading a newspa-
per, the head lines of which appeared
plainly thus: "The Presidents Mes
sage"
The only figure in the cartoon was
depicted as sitting before an open fire
of logs reading studiOusly. The face
was wonderfully expressive, albeit it
was homely and rugged.
President Roosevelt told the writer
of this article one night that when he
was in doubt about the advisability OF
suggesting some line of legislation he
would place himself in front of this
cartoon and look into the face of the
farmer who, he said, represented to
him the plain people, the high think
ing people of the United States.
1t Settled His Doubts.
Then the President said: Il asked
myself if this farmer, representing the
plain folk of the country, the real
folk, would approve of what ] thought
about doing 1t has seemed to me that
/ always have succeeded in getting an
answer. When l have determined that
he wonlC approve, l make up my own
mind to 20 on"
President Coolidge is farmer and
from the farm it is said he has drawn
his stability of character, his method
of thinking and his reticence until that
day comes when he knows that ne
should speak. The cartoon of the
farmer, which by the way. appeared
in the now defunct Chicago Chronicle.
was the work of Mr.. Lowry. 1t Is
said to have a chief place today In the
home of Theodore Roosevelts widow
at Oyster Bay.
MANY a time there have been con-
ferences in this White House study
about which the country knew nothing
ot the time. When Woodrow Wilson
was president, Col. e. N. House was a
freouent visitor to the White House
but he almost always came and went
90 Quickly and, so to speak, shrewdly
that the newspaper men knew little
or nothing of his comings and golngs
If was in this study that most of the
Wilson conferences took place. 1t was
here that Woodrow Wilson formulated
his plans for the pacification of the
world. and here earlier he drafted his
message asking congress to declare
thai state of war existed with Ger
many.
THO presidents who occupy this
room stay for awhile and then leave
IT for all time. Its furnishings and the
nersonaI belongings of succeeding
men change from administration to ad-
But the room remains
and II is fuller of historic memories
than perhaps, any other chamber Of