Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03
WILSON, AS EXECUTIVE,
SHATTERED PRECEDENTS
p-ouolt His Own Ideas to Conduct of Office.
Went Directly to Congress With All His Mes.
sages-Avoided Patronage Disputes.

rule. too. Few Saturdays found him
considering official matters. and Wis
ftors were not allowed to reach him
on that day. He played golf or rode,
generally playing golf each Saturday
morning and taking long automo-
bile ride in the afternoon. After his
marriage to Mrs. Calf his Saturday
automobile rides were extensive, COW
ering all parts of the country ada
cent to Washington. Golf was the
favorite outdoor recreation Of Mr.. VIII
son. and when not pressed with OH
cial business he played the game al
most every afternoon that the weather
permitted. His companions were Mrs.
Wilson and DR.. Grayson. He avoided
the golf courses that were crowded
and went where there were the few
est players. He did not ask or expect
privileges on the golf courses not
that the rules Of the game be followed
as to rights Of players. positions, etc
Believed in Plenty Of Sleep.
Mr.. Wilson did not take up any
of the physical development fads;
did not call in any boxers. wrestlers
OF trainers to keep him in physical
shape. He believed in a reasonable
amount of outdoor exercise and
plenty of sleep to ward off the Ills
of life. If he was tired out from
long attention to official duty he went
hours at a stretch. Often he went
away from Washington for several
days at a time on the Mayfiower, his
yacht, to be sure OF getting sufficient
sleep and rest He liked water trips
Mr.. Wilson enjoyed pretty good
health after he entered the White
House. He had liver just like any
ordinary man and on four or five
occasions 1t was unruly and out of
sorts. requiring DR.. Graysons service
to bring 1t back to normal duty. He
had bad colds-in fact, a good many
Of colds or grip DR.. Grayson put him
to bed and compelled him to stay
there until he improved. DR.. Gray
son was a rather stern boss when
the President was sick.
w ans mSs sG Ta
prepared all important speeches and
messages himself. He first put down
his ideas in shorthand and then tran
scribed the notes. with corrections
and additions, upon his own type
writer. Several years ago a fanciful
newspaper writer represented the
Presidents typewriting machine as
old and dilapidated. frequently miss
that would be objectionable to other
than the President Mr.. Wilson didn't
like the story, because he had a new
machine and he knew how to write
upon 1t. too. The President was his
when he wanted to be careful what
he said to the world. In answering
the letters OF friends and attending
to large amount of official CORE
spondence and communications he
70 nf 10
photographer, Charles Sven, one of
the fastest men in the business. He
dictated to Sven each morning be-
fore going to his office and often in
the evening.
Punctuality . Characteristic.
The Presidents punctuality in his
appointments at the executive Offices
was commented upon often. He did
/ not see many visitors and to each
! The President thought that any man
ought to be able to state his business
m fifteen minutes and few callers
were given more than that time. If
they tried to stay longer the Presi-
mating that he thought he understood
| what was desired and was through
with the conference This plan en-
abled the President to see each visitor
! practically on schedule time. The
taries. ali old and experienced White
House employees. never knew Presi-
dent who kept so closely to his sched-
ule. Mr.. Wilson finished his days
work in hts office at 1 o'clock each
He seldom was late, and most OF the
time 1eftnalmost on the minute. The
numbe- .3f his callers made no diff
ference, as a rule. The President
.1Continued on Page 2. Column 50