Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-26
MAD CABINET LADIES.

MRS harrison Assigns Her Daughter 10 the
First Place In the New Years Receiving
Lie.
WASHINGTON, December %. 49, Mrs.
Blaine entertained to-day at luncheon the
ladies of the Cabinet, there being present
Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Mckee, Mrs. Window,
Mrs. Tracy, Mrs Wilmerding, Mrs. Noble,
MIS-. Miller, wife Of the Attorney General,
srd Mrs Rusk. During the lunch the
New Years Day programme for the Cab
met Ministers homes was discussed. AT
this lunch nothing was said about the ac-
tion of Mrs Harrison in assigning 10 her
daughter, Mrs. Mckee, the first place in
the receiving line on New Years Day, but
che new departure in the etiquette Of Of
fcial society has raised a veritable nor
nets nest among the wives Of all the Cab
met members.
1t had not been expected that the Presi-
de1t vile would appear az the New Years
reception, owing to the deith Of her sister,
hnt The impression prevailed in official cir
cles that the Vice Presidents wife would
take Mrs HarrisOn's place in the line, and
take precedence, Of course, over the ladiee
OF the Cabinet, all Of whom are asked to
assist
The oflicial programme gives tine first
place to Mrs. Mckee. the Presidents
daughter. and who, the women declare,
has no official rank whatever. The wife
takes the rank Of her husband always
Mr. Mckee is not in official life, and there
fore, they say, Mrs. Mckee has no official
status. Were she the unmarried daugh-
isr Of the President she could, with much
more proprieiy. represent the wife of the
President on official occasions.
The question came up at the outset OF
President C,eveland's administration,
when Miss Katharine Bsyard was given
/ the inst place ia the line at one of the Of
fetal receptions at the White House.
I though Mics Bayard was something Of an
/ invalid at the time. 1t was, after much
I discussion. determined that during Mrs.
| Bayard's life her place ct the White House
could not be filled by her daughter. AZ
| ter the death Of Mrs. Bsyard Miss Anna
/ Bayard, then the recognized head Of her
I fathers house, at once and by right took
]
/ As the Presidential succession Is direct
| from the Wee President into the Cabinet,
the Secretary of State being but one step
removed from the throne, ii can be mag
iued how mighty thing becomes the or
der Of precedence. That Mrs. Mckee
should pTecede the wife OF the Vice Presi-
dent and wives of Cabinet officers, is no
tr ding cause for alarm. Ii this is the begin
uiug what will be the emo? If Mrs. Nc
Kes takes precedence on New Years Day,
| Why not at state dinners also, and on other
official occasions? Ii the Vice Presidents g
wife, too, makes her own little court, are
/ toe wives of the Cabinet officers to be
ranked blythe wife of private citizen:
What. indeed, is to be the outcome Of the
present situation?
Ia the meantime talk is going on, heads
are very erect, and altogether there is an
undercurent Of deep feeling that promises
tn reach a tidal wave overflow by New
Years Day.
Another new departure in the official
programme, which causes almost as much
comment, is the giving Of precedence tC
the Justices Of the Supreme Court OF the
/ District Of Columbia over the Senator:
and Representatives in Congress, and sd
milting them, with their legal brethren
the Justices of the United States Supreme
court during the fret half hour Of the re-
lcep.ion, which is the most brilliant por
ton OF the day. The Congressman anc
their wives do not accept the new depart
ure gracefully and the ladies especially are
doing large amount Of grumbhng.