New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-28
THE PRESIDENT TO DECIDE 1T.
No FRICTION OVER PRECEDENCE AT THE
WHITE HOUSE On NEW YEARS DAY.
THE LADIES OF THE CABINET CIRCLE THE
MOST AMIABLE FAMILY PRESIDENT
EVER HAD"--TALKs WITH MRS.
MORTON AND MRS MILLER
sBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. |

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
Washington Dec 81 CspeciaD.-"we are the most
unable family President had Mrs. Levi
P Morton's reply when correspondent of The
Tribune asked her about the alleged quarrel regarding
Mrs. McKee's precedence at the coming New Years
reception.
And we mean TO be. There has been quarrel.
and there will be none,S she continued. An the
ladies Of the Cabinet at Mrs. Blane's luncheon
Tuesday. Mrs. Mckee there. No word was
spoken of the rank of the Presidents daughter and
do not think there has been any private COM
ment upon it by people who have right to question
the prOprety of such a 1t is story fabri-
Gated from outside Then, too, how can the Cabinet
ladies render decision, when they do not know that
Mrs Mckee will take her mothers place. The Presi-
dent has not told me- He has not told ore OF the
Cabinet ladies' The thing has not happened; but,
you If the President asks to stand below his
daughter in line, there will be no demur. should
stand anywhere he commanded; fifth. if such thing
were possible for President is the maker of White
House etiquette, and no has right TO question
him."
Would you Mrs. Morton, take Mrs. Harrisons
place if the President requested iti'
Il could not do that. The President can depuuze
his daughter or his sister, any relative, to stand
at his right but he could not call upon me, as am
the Vice Presidents wife, and my place is as ohcisl
q one in kind if not in degree, as Mrs HarrlsOns.
People must remember that the Executive Mansion
is the Presidents own house. just as much as TINS Is
mine If were i'll. could have my mother receive
for me but could ask Mrs. Blaine TO do it, nor
could she ask me, in a similar am the Vice
Presidents wife wherever ! am placed, and, conSe-
uuenty could not, il desired, stand as the mistress
Of the White House. There can be no proxy III
official society. Mrs. Harrison have an unofficial
lady to proxy for her, but she cannot call
upon a woman who also has her rank"
The question came up in the last Adminstra-
ton but with unmarried women, when Miss Bayard
took her mothers place Does the ruling differ here
because Mrs. Mckee is marriedf"
Not in the slightest degree. Again say the
Presidents command, the persons is what we all
consider
In answer to the question OF where she would stand
in the receiving line Mrs. Morton raised her eyes in
surprise Where hut at Mrs. Harrison's or Mrs
McKee's right" the conclusive counter query
But even if etiquette not to be considered"
she continued. how could any woman place Mrs
Harrison in such a trying position just now? The
most eAactns observer of a code could not ask any
woman 10 receive at public reception less than
month after her sisters death. Mrs. Harrison VIII
take her place AT the first state dinner. as 1t Is t.
the Cabinet and therefore family affair and after
January she will doubtless appear at the receptions
But, really now. there has been no quarrel for we are
Mrs Miller wife of the Attorney General is nearer
TO Mrs. Harrison than any other Cabinet lady, as she
has known the Presidents wife for years. She said
Il had never heard of any quarrel until saw ~ IN
her sisters death, that should it occur her d4ueS
for a time would devOve upon her daughter. FOLLOW
ing precedent she would naturally not think of any
objection. President TiylOrS married daughter nearly
always assumed the duties of mistress OF the Nitc
House. as her mother in III health. PRESIDENT
buchanan had his niece. President Arthur his sister
As did also President Cleveland until he married; We
all met for the first time Tuesday, at Mrs Blame 5
luncheon and discussed all our plans for the wIner ter
present seemed anxious to do what she could 70
make the first season of the Administration a
success No tried to shift responsibilities and
Instead of saving themselves every lady expressed
willingness to all her res possibilities one
or two Of the ladies had never met before but the
hostess found especially charming ana clever Inere
was the greatest good cheer all deferred to Mrs
Mckee a, they would 10 Mrs. Harrison herself. NO
far from QuarIelling about rank, we are assuming
all our dates. not demurring at the thing that
I'm time past has caused much pickering, that OF
recognizing the higher official position OF the senators
wives by calling upon them first
In talking over the matter, Mrs. Harrison herself
said she would appear at her Saturday afternoon re-
ceptfons as they were more distnctively her own
refeptlons The people to call upon her, ana
she felt that even her daughter could not take her
place at the drawing room.