The Washington times., 1924-04-24
President Coolidge and Hand
shaking With Crowds
By BILL PRICE.

United States Senator of the Democratic faith tries to
make little political capital of the fact that President
COOLIDGE has been compelled handwriting with
large numbers Of visitors Washington and has resorted
shakless receptions by which visitors pass through
nus Offices and observe him at work but not gaed by
shaking hands with him.
The spring brings Washington more strangers
than other This notably during the Easter ho
days Of high schools colleges educational institutions
MANY OF these institutions these holidays bring their
students to Washington for sightseeing and educational bene
1s The hotels are overlooking with them The chief desire
OF all and shake hands with President Of whatever
party ne may be- It great privilege and honor be able
TO return home and tell Of seeing and exchanging greetings
with the President Of the United States It naturally dis
appointing to visitors who sometimes come from hundreds or
thousands Of miles away they fail obtain this privilege al
though the White House itself open for inspection
few days ago than 1900 people gathered at the
executive offices to be received by the President who was too
busy ON important national questions to give time The
visitors passed through his office saw him at work an
interesting event in itself.
Presidents MCKINLEY, ROOSEVELT and TAFT received
thousands Of visitors to the Capital of the Nation Certain
days were set aside for this and special were oc
caonay made All three realized however it was not
only physical strain but actual loss of valuable time from
the manifold duties imposed upon Presidents
Nothing but the democracy Of American Presidents would
cause them to undertake this strain It is but natural that
they wish popular favor and there better way to gain
1t than by personal contact through Handwriting and simple
words OF greeting would be perfectly natural President
COOLIDGE to wish to do this could spare the time from
his desk and from conferences with legislative and other
leaders He candidate for the Presidential nomination
and election He would strengthen himself in every possible
way but profound Of duty desire give careful
consideration of departmental and national problems come
first and should come first.
No great leader in industrial professional life could af
lord neglect his responsibilities seek popular
who might gather around his offices They would
OF course feel faed and would earnestly to comply
with requests made but duty would win Just because
President the servant Of the people why he
should sacrifice responsible work gain additional popular
favor.
The late President WILSON gave less time to handshakng
receptions than other in the White House. He spent
less time the executive offices than any other President
His habit both before and after the outbreak of the E
rean war; to seek the scson of his private office in
the White House proper There he would often remain for
DAYS at time seeing except his faithful secretary
JOSEPH TUMULTY. Members of his Cabinet Senator'S Con-
gremen all classes of people wishing make appointments
with him, failed in their efforts
Many OF the mighty problems which Mr.. Wilson sought
to work out in ecluson left to his office
PRESIDENT HARDING in spite of the overwhelming accumua
ton national and international questions kept touch
with the public but to his intimate friends he admitted that
matters put before him and give up many hours
contact with the American people.
President COOLIDGE has inherited this accumulation of
difficult work and must with it, the time giving
attention to the conduct of his campaign for Presidency
Although taciturn he is thoroughly human It would
please him he could mingle with callers who flock to the
White House by thousands each day. but it is manifest that
his duty is to the nation