The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-05-31
CRANKS AND CROOKS
How the President is Guarded
Against Their Visits.
Six Officers ScrutiniZe Every
White House Caller.

"Why should not any person who
happened to be so disposed attempt to
assassinate the President at one of his
receptionsl" queried representative OF
the Washington Star.
"Simply for the reason that it would
be very difficult for any individual so
inclined to reach the presence of Mr..
Harrison" replied the White House
usher addressed. "You don't see why,
but that is because you never looked
about you when you have attended
a reception at the executive mansion.
How many officers do you suppose
surveyed you critically while you
were passing into the cloak room' Six
in all. Not one of these men but has
had years of experience in the police
service. They are so tIained--every
man of them-that they can tell at a
glance just what sort of person each
guest who enters is. Two classes of peo.
pie are chiefly to be looked out for
cranks and crooks. The crooks are
readily discernible by the educated eye
their aspect always betrays them. As
for the cranks they are distinguishable
with equal readiness. The task of
making them out is rendered easier, to
begin with, by consideration of the fact
that three fourths of all mild lunatics
are crazy on religious topics. OF course
once in while visitor gets in here
who is not entirely sane-that is una
voidable necessarily. But it is a very
exceptionable case. As an almost IN
variable rule can tell crank at the
first glance, and if do not another of
the guards will" The typical crank
is almost unmistakable. He, supposing
him ma!c-or female, for that matter
has little chance to pass the sentries at
the door and beyond. Each of these
sentries, apart from his acuieness of
perception, is man of great muscular
strength. Come here, Jiml"
The guard called up one of his fell
lows and babe him double his arm. 1t
was as hard as rock and as big as an
ordinary mans thigh.
This is the sentiy who stands at the
begin ming of the reception line in the
doorway" he continued. "Suppose
that you are a crank, how far do you
think you would get in an assault upon
he President before you are grabbed
and disarmel and thrown out into the
street to be carried off to the nearest
police station9 Not very far, i guess.
tell you the President is as closely
fortified in the White House as if it
were the strongest castle that ever cx-
isted.
"Ihe minute we see person who's,
appearance does not satisfy US entirely
we ak him whathis business is. Unless
his reply is satisfactory We pursue the
inquiry. A man called here the other
day to see the President with tin box
under his arm. Ipresscd him closely
about his GRAND and he finally said he
had new kind of religion in the box
to show to President Harrison. That
settled him. Once in a while, una
voidably, drunken man gets into the
White House at a reception or some
such entertainment. 1t would astonish
you to see the way in which person so
affected by liquor is thrown out, being
passed along from one guard to an other
until he reaches the driveway. 1t is
done so quickly, practice making per-
feet, as to excite no attention. Per-
haps the funniest of all the queer peo-
PIE who come to the White House are
those who demand permission to visit
the most private rooms of the President
on the ground that they, as representa-
tives of the public, own the establish
ment."