Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-04-11
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
MIR. Cleveland Wonderfully Like
Other Men,
Which Creates Surprise---Approaches to
the Lower House Like Country
Fair---Gen. Joe Johnston
---Lobbyism.
SD.,inl cp,rspOndauee q ns Sunday Rsct.tr.

lullg nk6 OlneE mSu 4teslucHIS dEcI Ca
claimed a far-Western lawyer to your cor
respondent to-day. II was at the White
House." continued be, "for an hour, early
this morning, by special opportunity, and
in the course OF a talk Of that length /
CLEANED a great deal about the general
trend of Mr.. Cleveland's mind. Twas sur
prised at the way he talks. Why, after we
talked over the business, we had to settle,
the President began talking about miscel-
lsneous matters. / found him just like
other men. He conversed about little
things and domestic and personal matters,
as freely aud ordinarily as a frontier
farmer"
OF sll the many people and things viSi.
tors to the Capitol encounter none surprise
or disappoint them 90 much as the Presi-
dent. Ii seems to be the idea that the
President is very extraordinary person
age-man of wonderful magnetism,
strange appearance, and one who converses
only upon law, politics and matters of
State. The great bulk of people who see
this officer for the first time are progresses,
ed for a visionary and consequently
nervous shock.
1t seems that it has seldom occurred to
those who know of the President Of the
United States through the press that he is
selected from the masses of the people;
| IL M ~ Tan ha hao
been out of the sloughs of the most com
mon life but few years. and often is
snstched from the most ordinary channels
of politics or business. The idea that the
Presidents mind runs only on the most
dreadful things of the world and dwells up
on the very essence OF craftsmanship, 10
bosh.
Ordinarily President has less opportu-
nifty to give to hard study of ststesmsnic
matters than some of the minor officials OF
the government. The mind Of the Presi-
dent dwells more furtively upon states.
manship and more at length upon politics
than that OF any Of the important officers
of the government. rbe lengthy
decisions evolving from the Ex
exutive Mansion upon the sserious
problems OF life and especially the grave
questions of craftsmanship came through
the inspiration OF the Cabinet officers, and
in the great majority of cases they get
their basis and inspiration from the unim
portant officers under them. | understand
that the three last Presidents secured their
great decisions upon foreign matters after
consultation with an old official who does
not draw very large salary in the Depart
ment Of State; that the wise proclsmstions
regarding shipping Interests, customs and
foreign trade come from the chief of di
vision ia the Treasury Department, and
that the knotty questions touching upon
the public domaia, Indians, and the neces
sty for operations of the army were
Strengthened out by an army officer on the
retired list. Furthermore, that in nearly
every instance these men wrote out the doc
uments and they were signed without
amendment by the President.
This goes to show that even with the
President Of the United States one cannot
place the credit for q wise expression upon
any matter he may instruct the people
upon. The deep research and the bright
wisdom are made and prepared By those
who have time and opportunity 10 think,
as one Of them put it the other day.
AS the title of the Office of President i'm
plies, it is an executive position. A Presi
dent to be wise aud satisfactory must have
extraordinary executive ability; then with
good counsel, able Cabinet officers, be
will be success The very work of a
President makes him common man. BE
assumes to arbitrste or dictate the petty
political affairs of the whole country, &c
lar as they relate to Federal Offices. he
could not give much thought to matters
requiring investigation if he wanted to, &c
long as the functions of the Presidency are
administered as at present there need be
no fear OF imperialism, or the drifting
away OF the chief executive from the PEG
pie, and 80 long as the Office requires &c
much contact with oil classes Of people
there will not be much seriousness on the
part of the President and the character Of
that officer will continue to surprise those
who have not met him. The office is now
and long has been. one Of executive de-
msnds and powers only, and the undercur
rant has been with under-oflicials
President Cleveland is frequently likeu
ed to President Lincoln, in one particular.
he often drops, in his conversation, from
the most sublime subjects TO the frivolous
things which 60 to make up the details Of
ordinary life. Since President Cleveland
was over in Maryland week or two ago
to eat canvass back ducks and drink old
stock wines from the cellar of personal
friend, he is Just as likely to run off after
dogs and fishing tackle, am told by those
who visit him almost daily, as he is to
stick to the solid subjects Of conversation.
Just now the President is anticipating
with remarkable Interest bis prospective
summer vacation. He thinks he ia going
to have q complete rest out at the Soldiers
Home, north Of the city, aud talks of all
sorts of things which will amuse him there
-just like the school boy or girl looks for
ward to the lest day ofschool. The Presi-
dent expects to get away from ofice-seek.
ers and to see new scenes. Mr.. Cleveland
enjoys good fish story, or yarn about
duck killing, and has OF late been indulg
ing in that past time. One would scarce.
ly bslieys it when the weight Of Congress
is resting 60 heavily upon the Executive
Mansion.
-
A threat has been made by the House
Committee on Rules to clear out the many
little ,rinket-sellers in the south end of the
Capitol and to make the approaches to the
House as clear and dignified as those lead,
ing to the Senate There has been quite o
homelike disposition shown all along by
members of the House that is in wide con.
trsst to the manners of the Senate, and
now O revolution is threatened.
As one approaches the hall Of the House
of Representatives from the Senate he is
impressed with the abundance OF lunch,
candy, cigar, news apple, and otser stands
on every hand. Then there are telegraph
Offices, and display of junketry that re
minds one of the vicinity of q main stand
at country fair Members stand around
these places eating pie, msunching fruit,
smoking, reading, writing kilograms, talk
ing, and otherwise blocking the wsy and
.ho eoepo nf a n vee,; "a ~ i;1nitr