Evening star., 1923-02-25
TOUR OVER NATION
PRESIDENTS PLAN

Non,lnued from First paga.)
would not leave the country without
iier. The President Is hopeful that
Mrs. Harding will be able TO make
the swing around the circle with him
or at least that she will be go saSaI,,
recovered as to permit him to mako
s' somewhat ardous railroad jour
ney.
wants to Inspect His "pInnt."
While Il number o. The r.,,,I,Iic.n
party leaders have urged upon the
fiesideht the political eXpediency of
trip through the country. Mr.,
harding is said to look forward 10
the journey in his own mind as one
distinctly of official business. The
Cnlted states is a great big business:
the president Is the general manager
OF this business, and Mr.. Harding
wants to look over the plant" He
wants to see the wheels go 'round
He wants to visit the Army posts, the
naval stations. the public works, the
great Oil reserves and public lands
OF the west, the national parks and
to follow out the many lines OF con-
tact which he has found stretch from
all parts OF the federal domain
straight to the White House.
Mr.. Harding is not a widely trav-
eled man. He has been very much of
stay-at-home President since he
first entered the White House two
years ago. This year he will have the
last chance of his allotted term to
make big trip. Next year will be
campaign year and the proprieties OF
such a year may keep the President
at home
Would Prefer Motor Trip.
The President is extremely fond
of motoring and there is no doubt
that if he could have his way, and
could spare the time. he would like
to make a tour Of the country by
automobile. Most of the short trips
he has made away from the White
House as President. have been by
motor. Mr.. Harding was never much
of a train traveller. 1t was his Gus
tom as senator, and even before that
time. to spend a part of each winter
in Florida, and he will be following
that natural bent when he leaves
Washington in a little more than
week for a houseboat and golfing
expedition on the east coast of the
great southern peninsula.
Although a mid-westerner born and
bred. Mr.. Harding knows little or
personally. of the great
stretches of country that lie beyond
the Mississippi river. determined
effort was made to get him into the
Rocky mountain country. and even TO
the Pacific coast during the campaign
in 1920. but plans made long in ad-
vance would not permit of this. The
President feels now that he would
like to meet the western country and
its people. One of Mr.. Harding's
greatest assets in his personality and
his friends frankly are anxious that
he should put that personality over
with the people.
People Want to Meet President.
When Chief Justice Taft was Presl-
dent he always contended that the
people Of the United States had a
right to see the manner of man tney
had selected for President. He always
felt that it heightened the patriotism
of the people to see and hear the
President. Only a pitifully small num-
her of the people are able to come to
WASHINGTON. and even If they do come
only a small percentage of them get
to see the President himself.
The Hardings have been most hos
pitable in this respect. They have
kept the White House and the White
House grounds open almost continu-
ously. But now the President feels
the time has come to go out and
mingle with the vast thousands un-
able to come to Washington. but anx-
ious TO see their President. Mr.. Taft
was never happier on his many trips
than when he was facing an audience
of school children. He insisted that
they be given precedence over the
erownups at all times.
There is no doubt that the party
deal Of political capital out Of any
trip President Harding may take. Po-
litically speaking. long presidential
trips are hazardous affairs. Very
often a visit by the chief executive
fans a local factiona1 fight into full
flame. Very often something is said
on the spur of the moment, seemingly
harmless and innocuous at the time,
but coming home later fraught with
an unsuspected Significance.
Invitations have been showering in
upon President Harding in greater
numbers than ever since it became
to the country that there
would be no extra session of Congress
this year and that the President
would have the time for a cross-coun-
try journey II he should be disposed
to make the trip. The President is so
disposed. and unless all signs fail he
will take the road for at least two
months during the coming vacation
season.