The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-03-19
DANIEL s.LANONT


Cleveland is his private secretary,
writes a correspondent Of the CIncin-
natl Times-Star. The reason why he IL
specially noticeable IL because he is
credited with having 30 much influence
with the president. Ordinarily the pri-
vate secretaries to the presidents do not
rank high 30 far as influence IL con-
cerned. 1t Is generally supposed by the
public that the private secretary is an
official whose principal duties consist In
protecting the president from import
innate and unimportant callers But In
reality the average private secretary in
the White House has very little 70 do
outside Of the routine found In manAg-
ing the correspondence Of the executive
mansion. Public men who 60 70 see
the president are not inclined TO spend
much time with middlemen, however
talented they may be. Senators, lead
ers of the house and diplomatic people,
when they go TO see the presIdent, al
ways insist on q personal audience.
Prominent politicians, when they come
here from their states. are not fond of
being kept waiting in the private secre-
tary's room. tt ere has been, however,
no private secretary who has come to the
White house Tor many years who has had
the wide political experience OF Col.
Lamont.
He possesses Cleveland's confidence to
a remarkable degree. He has been his
close adviser and hiss for q long time
been taken into his confidence. At
Albany, however, the situation is much
different from that at Washington. There
Lamont was practically CleYeland's only
adviser. Here Cleveland has seVen coun-
sellers, who will see him every day Of his
life, five Of whom are very prominent, in
fluential men. In addition to these
counselors, the Democratic leaders In
both houses will have access TO him, and
will insist upon giving him advice. No
president can escape this unless he
should cut loose from his party. No
president would dream Of doing that un-
less impelled by very extraordinary CIR.
cumstances. Tyler, who cut loose from
his party. thought ne could form . new
party, not realizing that parties
are not made by politicians, but
by the people. johnson got out
with the party that elected him h..
The only result that followed was an alb.
solute want of influence. An admins
tratIon that hopes TO accomplish prac-
teal results must etand well with the
people that contributed TO its election.
II is understood here that some of the
Democrats who represent the revenue
reform element are very much opposed
to the Tilden influence In the new ad-
ministration. These gentlemen haYe q
prejudice against Col. Lamont on &C
| count of his former connection with
Tilden and because it is still believed he
has confidential relations. It Is Q preju.
dice that may be very easily disposed Of
as understand that the new private
secretary is q diplomatic and adroit pol
iticlAn, who has more skill IN forming
| friends than the average man of his age
BE does not believe in making needless
enemies. His present position Is one
that will try his ability. If he car
maintain his influence and close rela-
tons with the president in the face oil
the counter influence that will surround
Cleveland here, it will show that he hsi
very marked ability as politician anC
diplomatlst. The outgoing private sec.
rotary, Phillips, was Mr.. Arthur's pri
vate secretary when he was in the Gus
tom house in New York. He was ap
pointed his private secretary WheI
Arthur became vice president. He fol
lowed the latter to the White House. H
Is a very amiable, carefully dresses
| young man, who is fond of club life anC
of going out in society.
He knows nothing, however, abou
politics and had no more TO do with the
politicians, and no more influence upoI
the White House policy than If he hal
been clerk In q department. He hA
been simply a private secretary and moth
ing more. His predecessor, j. STANLEY
Brown, was originally clerk In the &c
oliglcal survey. He was . very yeunl
/ fall nd d. 10
salary of about 500 per month. He wa
valued there because he was industriou
and was q skillful shorthand writer.
During the Garfield campaign Gar
field sent to Washington for Q secretar,
to help him out with his letters at Mer
tor. He said that he could not pay oYe
$50 a month. Major Powell, who ha(
charge of the survey, was asked ABOUT II
He took an interest in young Brown an,
advised him to accept the place, although
the salary was much less than he wa
getting. He said TO Brown that b,
could afford to take the chances, for
Garfield was elected he would certainl,
come in for something good. DurinI
his short term of service Brown CAV
great Satisfaction. but he was too yOunI
TO have anv Influence IN politics.
Hayes private secretary was the cheap
est figure head that was ever Appointe'
in the White House. He was . bank.
rupt commission merchant out In Min
nesota. / once heard him say that b
did not know where to turn for "a wheI
Hayes picked him up on account Of Ger
tain business relations that they haG
some years previous IN Ohio. Roger
was . very thrifty individual, however
and fealhered his nest very well whil'
in the White House. he picked mp *
much information relating TO the Frencl
American claims that he was able to q
into . very good practice before the com
mission here when he LETT the Whit
1 House.
He was also made the trustee Of {
large estate in Ohio. HIS wife wa!
also left some money out Of this SAINT
estate. He was one Of the few private
secretaries who did not ask fol
an appointment to sustain HIM after hi
chIei had been retired. A number o
public men hold that the position o
private secretary to the president shoulC
be raised in importance. The presenI
salary of the position IL $3,250 Q year.
Judge David Davis used 70 say tina
the salary of this position ought to b,
| $1,000 to 1000 year, so that the presi
| dent could secure the services OF meE
capable OF taking nearly all OF the detail
work of the administration of his hOnds
/ It Is possible that Colonel Lannon'S ad
ministration of the Office will result II
the salary of the position being raised
for II Is generally conceded that his ser
vices would be cheap at double the sal
airy that Is now paid.
/ -
Before President Arthur retired from