Evening star., 1923-03-09
PRESIDENT MINUS MAIL.
All Communications Held Up to
Insure Absolute Rest.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1923, By The Star.

tC0pyNght, 1SG3, by Inc Snf.b
VERo., Fla, March e.-President
sation In the last three days of not re-
ceiving a single oficial communication
either by mail or telegraph or messen-
ger.
White House for his southern trip, he
cleared his desk. He has told friends
that his one disappointment with him
self in the last two years had been his
inability to catch up with his mail. He
has sometimes felt that II Is almost i'm
possible to get ahead Of his correspond
ence no matter how hRrd he tries.
The fact that Mr.. Harding isn't get
ting any mail doesn't mean, however.
that the wheels of government have
is fulfilling instructions in withholding
everything that can possibly wait for
the Presidents return to ST. Augustine,
Fla. from the trip down the Indian
river inlet. This probably will be within
a fortnight.
Health All Important.
Some people may look askance at
dent of United States from his
official duties. They may zee in the
movies pictures Of the houseboat
party attired IN the summer garb OF
Floridas winter colony and may
associate tho Hardings with leisure
the sunshine OF Newport or Palm
Beach. but If there ever was a. time
when the health Of a President was
important. 1t Is today.
Woodrow Wilson's tragic break
down through over-work has left q
definite impression on the minds OF
public men, but curiously enough
they have not all needed the warn
ing. Attorney General Daugherty is
q case in point. He is recuperating
L. A.
be a serious breakdown. Mr.. Daugh-
erty told the writer that he had
learned his lesson. He had never
known what it was to be sick and
had never hesitated to work eighteen
hours a day without interruption. He
over-work.
Justice Department Busy.
It IS true that the Department of
Justice today is q buster department
than 1t ever has been, and the man at
the head OF 1t must take the RESPONSE
bility for most Of the acts done in his
name. The enforcement OF prohibition,
the war frauds cases, the handling Of
claims growing out OF the war and a
thousand and one problems develop
ing constantly through other phases
Of the war have made the Job Of an
that of the chief executive,
Mrs. Harding's collapse was indi-
rectly due to the strain Of entertain
ment. She overtaxed her strength In
an attempt to be as democratic as
possible. She succeeded In the latter.
but her health paid the penalty.
Secretary Hughes has been struR.
Cling with grip. and Secretary Davis,
who Is now in Florida resting. has
also been working too hard Col.
Forbes resigned from tho Veterans
Bureau because OF Ill health.
Lasker's Strength SappeA.
Chairman Lasksr of the Shippfnx
Board has been burning the candle
at both ends, and is in Florida with
the President as much to regain his
strength after a recent experience
with Influenza as to be the chum of
the President.
Public officials nowadays are still
working at the same feverish pace
they developed in wartime. Their
vitality is sapped, and they are nat
ural victims of colds and grip. Tho
government has this winter beer
more handicapped by the illness Of its
personnel than at any time since the
fateful "fu" epidemic OF 1918. Presi-
dent Harding was weakened by his
recent cold. Whatever the critics
may say, Mr.. Harding has learned
enough about the presidency to con-
vince himself that without a rest in
winter and summer no human being
can survive Its terrible drain on mind
and body.