The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-20

Vacation By Legislation
(MinneapOlis Tribunc)

Legislation designed to locate permanent sum-
mer white house at scn,e point west of the Missis-
sipp river will very likely be presented at the mex,
session Of congress. Representative Dickinson OF
Iowa is reported chief sponsor for the plan which, If
it becomes law, will shunt the nations chief execu-
tive to designated spot for his well earned annual
rest. There, it is anticipated. the president will
become thoroughly stepped and saturated in the
western atmosphere; like new SPONGE he will soak
up trans Mississippi sentiment and opinion at an
amazing rate and will return to Washington drip
ping with new born resolves to the west
impartially and we'll.
However much the west and northwest would
welcome the establishment of summer white house
somewhere between the Mississippi apd the Pa
cfic coast it is very probable that the proposal to
fix permanent location by legislation will be re-
garded short-sghted and immature. In sense
the plan assumes the president to be species of
political chameleon, capable of absorbing sectional
color and sentiment only by direct physical contact
with that section. 1t assumes, too, that there is a
definite eastern sentiment and "a definite western
sentiment, and that the Mississippi river separates
the from tho other as ndisputably as the Rio
Grande separates Texas from Mexico; that Mime
sofa and Arizona and California, because they are
included within certain longtudes, have certain
mon interests and aims which may be closely cate
goried western.
AS matter Of fact eastern opinion and western
opinion and southern opinion are not the solid SUBJ
stances they have been made to appear. What we
choose to call regional sentiment is not SO tangible
that 1t may be picked up, handled, scrutinized and
archaeological as easily piece Of ore. IMAM.
unity IN any one issue seldom exists in any Sec
tfon OF the country; If there was time when
the nation could number anCng its component parts
hide-bound east and hide-bound west and hide
bound south, the time has long since passed. Easy
methods Of transportation and communication are
suffusing and blending regional preudces and part
tsanships; Florida, to take prominent example.
has more in common with New York than it has
with Tennessee. The absurdity Of despatching a
president to Florida white house to absorb south
ern sentiment, if we may cite hypothetical case.
should be patent to all.
Hardly less absurd would be an arbitrary division
81 the east and west at the Mississippi river for
the purpose OF locating summer white house.
were congress actually to decree such division.
PRESIDENT Coolidge might henceforth snare his sum.
mer pike at Lake Mnnetonka, but never at White
bear. he might set up his summer establishment
IN Minneapolis thirteenth ward, but under NO cir
cumstances on Minneapolis east side: on Minne
waska, but by no means on Mile Laos Such in
stances are extreme, but they serve to indicate the
utter utility OF attempting arbitrary divisions of
.s''"e"s Det"een east or west or SOUTH
summer vacation spent in the west would be a
NICE presidential gesture. There would result an
interchange Of hospitalites keen sense Of
friendship and acquaintance which are alwav. de.r.
bic between electorate and chief executive Rut the
cno'ce OF summer white house should be optionaI
with the president; to force his presence in any one
region TO ask that he spend his vacation tapping new
sources Of opinion and sentiment, to circumscribe
ms wishes and desires in the matter Of summer
recreation Tor partisan sectional reasons. il "a
snow seant respect for the office or the man. AZ
washington the president keeps an attentive hand
on the pulse Of the country for full ten months
u the year, to enjoy respite from his labors when
. -. where ne wishes seems reasonable reouest.
-ae task-masters whe would sentence hin, to sum-
nsl ssnoo' re On extended course ii western SEN
ss@s sppelsn3ay 9ys naiys eoneeptiop sf vaes-