Evening star., 1935-03-31
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

Mckinley all Presidents have taken
orders from their secret service
guards. Now they are forced to bow
to another boss-their doctors. The
reason? A concentration Of RESPONSE
bility and Of duties in the White
House for which the executive ma
chinery has not been geared.
Out of that situation comes a bur-
dent on a present-day President
greater than he can be expected to
bear, day in and day out. Mr.. Roose-
velt Is under orders Of the White
House physician to get away from
Washington at regular intervals.
And out of that situation also is
coming talk Of the urgent need for
radical revamping Of the executive
arm Of the Government. Henry Wal
lace, Secretary Of Agriculture. is the
first cabinet officer to comment
openly about the matter, but other
officials privately voice their views.
Today when the President leaves
Washington the so-called ship Of
state Is rudderless. Guidance de.
pends largely on the personality and
ability of one man. And the doctors
now say that this job of guiding, in
all its details. has become too much
for one man.
Even as recently as 1928, when CAL
win Coolidge was President, the Ma
tion's Chief Executive could take a
pleasant afternoon nap. He was able
to perform his official duties in a
few hours each day.
But all was changed when Herbert
Hoover encountered the depression.
Suddenly the weight Of the country's
troubles descended on the White
House. Mr.. Hoover tried to decen-
tralize those troubles and shunt them
back on the States, but finally he
was forced to shoulder them himself.
One term just about broke his health.
Mr.. Roosevelt, confronted with
this change, deliberately adopted a
philosophical attitude. He accepted
problems as they came, made his de-
cisions, refused to worry. The most
trying situations seldom made him
petulant. He recognized that one
man can accomplish only so much,
and, while he Is dynamo for work,
he has learned to throw Of the cares
Of Office and relax, as his doctors in
sist Presidents must do.
A glance at the nature Of the tasks
that crowd in on the White House
today illustrates the problem.
Congress needs to be coddled. Party
leaders in Congress, up against
trouble, carry their woes to the White
House. The President must cheer
them up, straighten out the tangles,
decide strategy, inStil enthusiasm into
men who are opposed by conviction
to many Of the legislative measures
they must sponsor. He must keep in
touch with myriad details Of legis-
lation.
Labor is in huff. Of to the White
House it goes. Again dickering,
soothed nerves and probable bar
gain.
Graft is uncovered in local relief.
An attack. If made, would be politi-
cally dangerous. Should it be made?
Mr.. Roosevelt must decide in the
course of the days work.
N. r. A. Is in dire trouble. Courts
are shooting one alphabetical Gre
alton after another out from under
the New Dealers. What to do? The
President must figure out the answer.
Dozens, scores, even hundreds Of
executive orders call for presidential
consideration and signature. Many
of them directly affect the lives Of
large number of citizens. Yet there
frequently is not even time for read
ing them before the name is signed
that makes them law. A 5000, 900 900
fund is to be spent. The President
has to promise that he will guide its
use. Housewives revolt against the
high cost of living; Southerners won
der about the future of cotton; an
other drought raises its head. All
these problems reach the White
House.
Next year Is an election year. Un-
less that election Is won, the New
Deal will turn out to be just flash
in the pan. Political complications
are appearing. Huey Long is cutting
capers. Father Coughlin, with his
powerful radio appeal, must be kept
in line. Political advisers think the
President should plan some new dar-
ing stroke to capture the public imag-
ination. More problems for Mr..
Roosevelt.
As If there were not enough trouble
at home, with millions unemployed,
farmers restless, housewives angry.
business men worried, and labor dis
sstisded, Europe threatens . currency