The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-15
1t
Seems
to
Me
BY Haywood BrOun

UTASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-two
w men are playing checkers.
Another group Of three or four dis
cuss the merits Of Maryland rye
compared to the stuff which can
Ae bought in the drug stores OF
the District of Columbia.
L held four honors in hearts
and one club" begins a bureau
head from Baltimore.
Suddenly a limousine draws up
to the door of the executive Offices,
and single scout detaches himself
from the group and takes his post
at the entrance. In a moment he
is back to report.
Its only Senator Copeland"
and the checker game goes on.
But sometimes on certain days
he is back to say that LitVfnoff, j.
P. Morgan or Marie DRESSER has
come to see the President, and sud-
denly the watchdogs Of the White
House are on their toes and Looping
like frightened antelopes in search
of q news story.
Upon the wall is posted, each
morning, a list of the expected
visitors and the time at which they
are scheduled to arrive. But, Of
course, when news is boiling sur
prises may be sprung. Watching
that door is little bit like sitting
on the front porch of Herbert
SWope's house, back in the days
when he lived in Great Neck. You
never can tell whether the next car
will contain a Connecticut con-
gresham or a messenger from
Mars.
DUT, great or small, each visitor
II during the afternoon must
answer to the members Of the
press. He may explain, confess,
plead privilege or be content with
Nothing to say today" But he
can't stalk by.
Men of many cities are gathered
at the gate, and it is the proud
boast of the White House CORE
spondents that not a single peasant,
prince or postmaster ever has come
who Was not known and identified
by some member of the group of
Washington walters.
These are the gentlemen who
guarantee that the press shall be
not only free but we'll informed.
That long corridor is a sort of
gangplank There is no way of
sneaking in.
1t was Just my luck to catch a
quiet day. The posted list con-
tanned no notables. AS far as
can remember, the best the bill af-
forded was a delegation Of foreign
missionaries and man named
Case who used to be a Governor in
one of the smaller New England
states. The checker game was in
terrupted by only two surprise acts.
Professor Tugwen and General
johnson were the only performers
who disturbed its even tenor. In
fact, news was at such a low ebb
that the gentleman who held the
four honors in hearts had time to
describe in detail the manner in
which he bid and played the hand
Isn't there anybody with a story
for a lone columnist far from home
who is already three hours late on
his deadline?" 1 inquired.
Does it have to be true?" asked
kindly correspondent who was
perhaps a little hard of hearing.
I'm a columnist," 1 repeated.
"VXTEIL," said the thick-set
w gentleman with the black
mustache, Il can't vouch for this,
because it came from a friend of a
friend of mine who says Mrs.
Roosevelt tells it. It seems Lit
vinof was dining at the White
House. Mrs. Roosevelt expressed
regret that the emissary from the
Soviets had not brought his wife
to this country.
The Russian explained that
Mrs. Litvinoff had felt it necessary
to remain at home with the chill
dren.
But" said Mrs. Roosevelt, I
though they were away at school
and able to take care of them
selves
Driven out of his original ex-
cuse, Litvinoff leaned over toward
the President and said confident
tally, You see, my wife is woman
who thinks she has a mission
The President patted him on
the back and answered: I under
stand. So does mine"
Maybe this is a privilege" said
tall blond correspondent with
red beard, but Mrs. Ickes also tells
it on herself"
Privilege" inquired the visiting
newspaper man. L though you
understood that I'm a columnist."
We'll, it seems Mrs. Ickes was to
address a woman's club, and to be
on the safe side she wrote out her
speech. 1t was about the vast
amount of work beSetting all public
officials caught up into the turmoil
of the new deal.
I hardly see my husband once
q month, she read, and before she
could stop herself she had followed
copy through the next line, which
ran. Washington has never been
more interesting
1t was dull day in the executive
Office press room.
(Copyrisht. 1888 BY The Timesl