Evening star., 1924-07-06

Forster has attended hundreds Of
these conferences, which are built
upon the traditional understanding
that the President Is never to be put
IN quotation marks, but that what he
tells the correspondents may be writ
ten up as from a reliable source at
the White House." from "a spokes-
man for the White House," from "one
In the confidence of the President"
or on reliable information" Mr.
forster acts sacitly as an umpire, ref
cree ana court in these matters
Will Not Write a Book,
Consequently. Mr.. Forster knows all
about the fine points of the art of
SAerviewing as practiced by the
picked correspondents of the country.
ne knows hundreds of inside stories
that have never been printed. He
knows hundreds of human interest,
personality stories. He knows a thou
sand things about what has gone on
Dehind the White House doors dur
ing the administrations of the last
SIX Presidents that would make ex-
tremely interesting reading But Mr..
forster has no thought of eyer writ
ing them. When asked: Have you
ever thought of writing a book?" Mr.
Forster made this very characteristic
and meaty reply: "It has been sug-
sested to me several times. but 1
never thought about it. 1 don't see
write a book. and do see many rea-
sons why should not write about my
experiences in the White House.
Couldn't reveal any of the confiden-
tial things / might know and a book
OF merely personal recollections and
observations wouldn't be interest
ing"
"Conceit Book" Not Burdened..
The Congressional Directory is
known as The Conceit Book" be-
cause in it government officials and
mem mbers of Congress are allowed to
print their biographies, to write word
pictures of themselves as they see
themselves, and to include hundreds Of
pages Of descriptions of their official
duties. Rudolph Forster doesn't over
burden the directory, for it contains
simply his name as executive clerk"
The press of the country has kept
the people Informed regarding the reg
reational activities of the Presidents
and their secretaries, whether they
formed tennis cabinets. pitched horse
shoes, went horse back riding, played
foursomes on the golf links, rode a
bicycle. or went yachting with merry
parties on the Mayflower. You never
see Rudolph Forster's name or pic
ture thus displayed OF course, he
must have outdoor exercise and rec
reation to keep himself physically fit
for his job.
He gets his exercise now and for
a good many years past by walking
pedestrianism he sometimes calls it.
The duties of his office are so en-
crossing that about all the time he
has for this exercise and recreation
is walking to his office in the White
House from his home in Wardman
Park Inn. and from his Office back
home. On Sundays or holidays he
sometimes enjoys a ramble into the
country. Not very exciting, or
sporty" but it suits Rudolph Forster
Seex World az 1t Goes By.
While public men are getting hon
orary degrees at the various colleges
during quarter Of a century exem-
plifled courtesy efficiency, diplomacy,
sef-restraint. industry, loyalty and
devotion to country in an outstand-
ing degree has been overlooked. Dur
ing nearly half century he has
seen Washington grow as the Ma
tons Capital, welcoming leaders from
all over the world. assuming more
and more as the years roll by its
place as a world center for politics,
humanitarianism, patriotism. cul-
ture. finance and appreciation of
those who have given their lives to
human progress. Rudolph Forster in
his drab daily life as executive
clerk has a closeup vision of this
world center or all that is best in
life and sees the development that
content with his unobtrusive part at
the very heart of this development,
feeling the pulse beats of this great
est of all nations.