PRESIDENT WILSON AT WORK

Evening Star, Issue 15514, 9 June 1914, Page 8

PRESIDENT WILSON AT WORK

William Bayard Hale gives an adnuriO.lc explanation in the. ' U ?r l '? S J^? T ? nf how the President of the United States does his day's work : The building in which the head of * nation meets his counsellors, directs hi* officers, puts his signature on papers of Slate: the building from which go forth tin.- commands of a nation, is a onestoried staff annex to the White House. Looking a! the plan of the place you get the impression of a puzzle. These offices were devised, voti suspect, to keep people awav from the President—who can ba reached only after threading a labyrinth of chambers and corridors. —The Rule for "Visitors.—

The rule is that no visitor may see th» President, without an appointment _ previously made. A list of expected visitors, every one of whom is assigned a period of from two to 20 minutes, is prepared the first thing in the morning. The- programme is carried out almost with th» accuracy of a railroad timetable. By 12 o'clock'the morning's work may possibly be 10 minutes behind the schedule; it generally finishes pretty promptly on time; not infrequently with a few spare minutes into which to "crowd an additional interview or two. There may be—there generally are—four or five visitors, probably of distinction, who have called without appointment, and who wait, hoping that an opportunity may come by chance to whisper the word they are anxious should reach the President's ear. _ Such opportunities rarely come. That is to say, during the moriiing; and by universal consent morning is the time devoted to making and receiving official calls. President Roosevelt, and President Taft used to keep open half an hour between noon and 12.30 for a sort of general reception, when those who were, without appointments could shake, the President's hand, and have his ear for a brief moment or two. Jv'ow visitors without appointments are sent to the East Room at 2.30, where they pass rapidly before the President and have, a brief opportunity for conversation, though, of course, not in private. —The President Emerges.—

There is a general hush as the President enters. Everybody is instantly on his feet. Very rapidly Mr Wilson passes from man to man, usually with nothing more than a smile of greeting and a handshake; here and there a low petition is spoken; now and again a paper comes out of a pocket. It is all over in a moment, however. They have " paid their respects," the errand on which they ostensibly came, and they have not preferred the requests which they -expected casually to mention. When Theodora Roosevelt used to come prancing out into the waiting room the air was suddenly tilled with the sputter and crackle of words discharged like rifle shots. When Taft came out tlw room was suddenly one broad smile. He made the rounds, pretended to listen, cracked a little joke here and there, and disappeared in a general gasp of merriment. Woodrow Wilson can laugh as heartily as anyone, but when about thii= business"of the Presidency he doesn't; the benignancy of his nature shines through a face usually serious and very often overcast with deepest gravity. Mr" Wilson is the best listener that has been in the White House for many a year. Mr Roosevelt never listened to anvliody in his life, of course; Mr Taft could listen well, when interested, but people often suspected that Mr Taft's mind was a-wanderme;, even while- his face was attentive. You never have that feelinjj with Mr Wilson. Tt. is apparent from th« first word that he is closely following you. You have the feeling that his mind is ahead of ycu, a.s in fact it is, and you pass rapidly from point to point, welt satisfied with your own swift eloquence. Then, instantly, you get your reply, and it is perfectly clear that Mr Wilson has taken you all in—all you have said, some things you have left unsaid. His mini leaps to respond.