The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-14
(BY JOHN BARR)

Democrat on JOHN PHILIP SOUSA and his 'book'-MARCH. ING ALONG - Recollections of Men, Women and Music, it was related how the famous band master, as conductor of the United States Marine Corps Band stationed at Washington and fur nishing music for the White House, came into intimate contact with five Presidents-Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison.
 Excerpts from Sousa's book used in the last weeks article showed his very pleasant recollec- ton of President Hayes and Mrs. Hayes.
 Intellectual Giant
 Of President Benjamin Harri- son, Sousa writes: Few intellec- tual giants have graced the pres idency, but General Harrison was one of them. He was great wit. His sense of humor was ever alert, and his conversation consistently scintillating and satirical. The most brilliant speech have ever heard was one he delivered at Gridiron Club dinner.
 Mrs. Harrison impressed me with her kindhearted, consider ate attitude toward those about her. She was in every way splendid type of American wo- manhood"
 Sousa tells of his getting per- mission to take his Marine Corps Band out on a concert tour. He says: General Tracy (Secretary of the Navy) was true friend of the Band. He approved of the plan but added that I had bet ter see the President"
 My years in Washington had taught me that if you wish to see the President, see his wife first. So asked for Mrs. Harri- son. She liked the idea of the tour, and promised to speak to the President about it."
 Next morning was sum- moned to see the President. AS I entered the room, he rose, shook hands cordially, and leading me to one of the windows which faced the Potomac river, he said, Mrs. Harrison tells me that you are anxious to make a tour with the band. I was thinking myself of going out of town, and, with a smile,-'it would be tough on Washington if both of us were away at the same time. l have thought it over, and I believe the country would rather hear you, than see me; so you have my permission to go.'
 President of U. s.
 Speaking of critics of General Harrison, Sousa says: During one of my transatlantic voyages, I spent many hours on deck with a United States senator who was particularly severe in his com ments on MT. Harrison, whom I defended as best I could. I be- lieve the mans bitterness arose from an interview which he de- scribed to me. He had called on the President month after his inauguration and had requested him to withdraw his objections against man whom the Senator desired to have appointed to certain office. The President re- piled that he would not change his decision, and the Senator angrily retorted: You seem to forget, MT. President, that during your campaign, when the Repub- lican party needed money badly, l went out and got it and there by assured your election
 "The Presidents answer was, T appreciate your efforts, Senator, but you forget I am not President of the Republican party, but President of the United States. I must represent the people at large, and the people at large are not in favor of the appointment of the man you mention.' And MT. Harrison continued to prove in his administration that he was the President of the United States, and not the President of party"
 Gifted Lawyer
 Sousa relates many incidents of his friendly relation with General Benjamin F. Tracy, Secretary of the Navy under Harrison: Tracy was an unusually efficient cabinet officer. He had been a general in the Civil War. He was a gifted lawyer and had a keen sense of humor. From the time of Secre- tary Tracy's appointment, the progress and development of the Navy were phenomenal.
 "The band was frequently or- dered aboard the Dispatch, known as the Presidents boat, when foreign personages of im- portance were to take a trip to Mount Vernon to see the home of Washington and incidentally the key to the Bastile. Luncheon was served, and there was music by the Marine Band. On a very special occasion when the am bassadors of nearly every embas- sy In Washington were aboard, together with many men promi- nent in the official life of the Capital, the Secretary sent his naval attache to me, with the re- quest that I see him immediately.