Evening star., 1923-06-06
President Waves Greeting to
Skriners on White House Lnlun

The White House and the front
lawns were again today the center Of
attraction for the thousands OF visit
ing Shriners and members of their
party who were inclined toward
sightseeing.
From an early hour right on through
the day. these visitors swarmed
through the first floor of the famous
presidential mansion and about the
lawns and shaded walkways The
President and Mrs. Harding had given
orders to the police and other at
taelies to do everything possible for
the pleasure and interest. of these
| visitors -.
The executive appeared. at a first
.fooFSw indow for several moments be-
fore starting over to the executive
office and waved and smiled acknowl-
edgment of the cheers and handicap
ping BY the large group in front of
the building. From the wholeheart-
edness of the salutations it was evil
dent that brother mobiles were greet
Ing one another and it was not merely
the chief executive of the United
States being applauded by some plain
sightseeing citizens.
Throughout the day there was also
a group standing about the front
portico anticipating a glimpse of the
President or Mrs. Harding. Several
times during the, day the President
went to front window and waved
a greeting TO those gathered about
the front of the mansion. Frequently
during the day Mrs. Harding person.
ely crested visiting .shriners and
through the first-fioor rooms
The Presidents order throwing
open the first floor Of the house to
the Shriners and their families will
stay in force throughout the conven-
ton. -
As the noon hour rolled around the
grounds presented most democratic
and truly American. picture. Besides
the throngs along the walkways and
those pouring in and out of the big
white mansion. several hundred men
and women and children were lolling
comfortably on the soft lawn beneath
the many big shade trees. The as
pect was one suggestive of public
picnic grounds. Some.of the groups
beneath the trees had brought lunch
es with them and they sat and ate
and talked in great comfort.
It was a source of disappointment
to PreHident Harding that he could
not personally receive all OF the visit
ing mobiles who called at the execu-
tive office and asked for the privilege
of shaking hands with their brother"
Also there were scores of requests
from various Shrine organizations to
cali in a body and to make presenta-
tions Of some kind. This would have
been a physical impossibility.
The President did, however, receive
some of the organizations, the en-
gagements having been made some-
time ago.
A committee from Bagdad Temple,
Butte, Mont, presented Noble Hard
ing a bronze statuette of cowboy
on q rearing broncho. the work Of
William Russell, the noted cowboy
artist and sculptor.
The Bagdad delegation was headed
by Potentate A. ]: Wilcomb and the
introductions were made by Judge
Edwin s. Booth, special assistant
United states attorney, member of
Almas Temple and citizen of Butte.
Delegate Charles E. Beebe r. r.
Rathbone and A J. Gies, imperial
delegates. and George n. Short and
Edwin ]. Hammer of the executive
committee; DR.. ]. H Phillips, HI. w.
Burton and George r. Good.
Noble Good, who made the presenta-
tion speech, said among other things:
This, Mr.. President, is a little gift as
an expression Of our appreciation and
love for what you have done, are
doing and will do in bringing this
great nation from chaos to peace and
comfort
The President then received dele
cation from Nile Temple, Seattle,
| Wash, and after handshaking and an
exchange of greetings the famous
| badge of this outfit bearing the words
smile with Seattle" was pinned on
| the Presidents coat. This delegation
was introduced to the President by
W. w. Jermane, former grand master
tof Masons of the District of Columbia.
James Rolph, mayor of San Fran
t:cisco. who is here with Islam Temple
I 6f that city, and several members Of
that organisation We're received by
the President. With the mayor were
Mobiles Duncan Matheson and John
Hepburn and Daniel O'Brien, chief of
police of San Francisco, and Henry
Gleason, chief of the traffic depart
ment. a. as
Don Foster of .Za-Ga-zig Temple,
Des Moines. Iowa, headed a small
delegation Of mobiles of thar temple re-
ceivsd by the President during the
afternoon.
President Receives OHicers.
Probably'.the most imposing and in.
spring incident at the White House
today was the arrival of Imperial
Potentate James McCandless and the
sasmbers OF the Imperial Divan and