The Delta independent., 1923-09-14
THE PRESIDENTS WORK DAY


THE PRESIDENTS WORK DAY
Washington, D. C. Sept 12-(Special
correspondence.)-It is obvious that
public men and the people generally
are not forgetting and are not likely
to forget the lesson taught by the
tragic end of the life of President
Harding. Whatever may have been
tho immediate cause Of his untimely
death the indirect cause Is uni
versally recognized to have been over
work. Never again will the people OF
the United States expect nor will pub
lie men permit overtaxation of the
strength Of the President.
At the same time that President
Harding was successfully urging up
on the steel industry the entire elimi-
nation of the twelve hour day. he was
himself working not less than seven
teen hours a day. Moreover, his
seventeen hours a day were practf-
cally continuous personal exertion,
whereas men who work twelve hours
per day in steel mills have con-
siderable periods of rest.
The great majority OF people. un-
called to the facts, looked upon the
Presidents work-day during his tour
as only that portion of the day when
he was engaged in delivering pub
lie address. AS matter Of fact it is
quite probable that the time he spent
on the platform making an address
was as easy a period as any. Dur
ing his transcontinental tour he made
1t a practice to arise as early as five
O'Clock in the morning in order to
greet crowds assembled at stations.
He met those crowds at all hours Of
the day until ten or eleven O'Clock at
night. He not only had to deliver
short, informal addresses to these
crowds, but between stations he had
to formulate in his mind the ad-
dress he would make at the next STOP
ping place.
Moreover, it was the custom Of
State Governors to meet the Presi-
dental train at State lines and
accompany it as long as It was travel
ing in their Jurisdiction It was
necessary for the President to meet
these Governors personally and to
Members of local reception COM
mittees expected few words of con-
yersation with the President The
burden upon him was not merely in
conducting his part of the converse
tion but in listening to theirs. Close
attention was necessary in order that
he might make an appropriate reply.
The concentration of attention in
listening was an even greater strain
than his own part in the converse
ton.
It is practically impossible for
Presidential tour to be SO arranged as
to permit the President to observe an
eight-hour or even a ten-hour day
Some relief can be obtained when
the Presidential party stops for day.
for then early rising can be avoided
and the day shortened somewhat at
Its end. Even on such occasions how
ever. 1t is difficult for the President
to avoid meeting people all day long.
Failure to respond to innumerable re-
quests for conferences is certain to
result in disappointments and hard
feelings and this. of course. the Presi-
dent is anxious to avoid.
Unconsciously the people of the
United States have expected all
Presidents to measure up to the
capacity for endurance displayed by
former President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt not only had a strong
physical constitution but had an un-
usual ability to secure rest during
short periods between public ad.
dresses. When his train pulled out Of
station he could drop down on a
couch and be asleep almost instantly
and could begin an address when
awakened as the train approached the
next station. Having become accust.
omed to the Roosevelt strenuosity
the people the people have thought
lessly expected every other man who
occupies the Presidential office to
measure up to his capacity for work
The sacrifice Of the life Of President
Harding to this unreasonable expecta-
tion has probably served to save all
future Presidents from a similar or
deal. .ss