The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-11

the day long, merely echoing the re-
quests and formal references of business
offered by the men of real power in that
body, the senators themselves Senator
Sherman presents a resolution and asks
to have it referred to the committee on
foreign affairs, Of which he is himself
chairman. The echo in the chair sings
out, "To the committee on foreign af-
fairs" Aside from simple duties like
these the vice president has to recognize
'the senator from Massachusetts," or
"the senator from Kansas" or whatever
the state may be, when a senator claims
the floor, and devote the remainder of
his time to an effort to keep awake. A
president pro tempore of the senate is
veritable king in power compared to the
constitutional president. He can step
down from the chair and speak, he can
sit in the chair and vote, and as the rec
ognized leader of his party in the senate
he has tremendous influence upon legis-
latjon.
1t is pretty certain that the trainers of
the constitution did not intend making
this Office one of such little importance.
They did not foresee that it was to be-
come sort of fifth wheel In the govern
mental machine. The first president
ran the country nearly six months with
out cabinet officer, and during that
time frequently called upon the vice
president for advice and assistance. The
earlier vice presidents were all treated
with more consideration than is now
accorded the occupants of that Office.
Mr.. Morton will not be able to change
the system which has been so long in OBJ
tanning its growth. He must bow to the
inevitable. l happen to know that Mr..
Morton, who is by no means brilliant,
but an earnest and conservative, man,
has for months been studying with a
good deal of application and zeal to pre-
pare himself for the discharge of his
duties as presiding officer of the senate.
Inasmuch as that task is imposed upon
him by the constitution, it is his desire
to perform it as well as possible. 1t is in
the social field that the vice president
will be compelled to seek his greatest
triumphs, and in this there is peculiar
vice president who made the social laws
which to this day govern at the national
capital.
Washington had not been long in Office
before he discerned that polite society
of an official sort needed rules and forms
if it We're to proceed tremendously and
successfully. In other words, the new
republic must have a social code, un-
written but obligatory, as well as a stat
ute book. SO he asked the vice presi-
dent, Mr.. Adams. and the members of
his cabinet, Jay, Hamilton and Madison,
to prepare plan of court etiquette.
The rules presented by Mr.. Adams in re-
spouse to this request were substantially
adopted, and have continued the code
of manners at the executive mansion
through all administrations, that of JEFF
ferson alone excepted.
But few vice presidents wives have
reigned with anything like such bril-
lance as is likely to mark the career of
Mrs. Morton in Washington. 1t is note
worthy coincidence that the fist and
the last vice presidents wife had many
things in common. Mrs. Adams, who led
society in NewYork and Washington dur
ing the eight years of her husbands in
cumbency of the Office of vice president,
was woman of strong character and
great experience. At the court of Great
Britain, at time when the chagrin of
King George and of his royal spouse,
Charlotte, over the loss of their Ameri-
can colonies was keenest, she filled her
part with rare tact, and on several occa-
sions with better manners than were dis
played by the occupants of the British
throne. jefferson, being a widower, did
not contribute much as vice president to
the social life of the capital. Aaron
Burr's beautiful daughter occasionally
presided at her fathers house while that
brilliant but INSCRIPTIONS man was vice
president.
The wife of Elbridge Gerry, the fourth
vice president, died in the first year of
the administration. Some fatality like
this has attended the Office with great
persistency. Vice President Daniel
Tompkins was widower. The wife of
Vice President Calhoun reigned brilliant
ly, proving that all rules have excep-
tions She was a great friend of Mrs.
Donelson, the presiding lady of the
White House during the stormy reign of
Andrew Jackson, and sided with her
against the president in the famous row
about Peggy O'Neil. Martin Van Buren,
as vice president, attained some social
prominence by doing entertaining which
Mrs. Donelson wouldn't do, and then
the Office relapsed in social dignity till
the Tylers came. This was eminently
social family, but in a month they were
called to the White House. With the
exception of the Dallases, who brought
to Washington some of the best social
manners of Philadelphia, there was no
brilliant woman representing the vice
presidential Office till Mrs. Schuyler Col
fax appeared, and first after her, as we
have seen, is Mrs. Morton.
II the fates, which have hitherto been
so unkind. will withhold their unfayora-
BILE touch, Mrs. Morton will do well. She
is a woman OF fine manners and tact.
Though speaking with a slight accent,
acquired abroad, she is without affecta-
ton, simple, earnest and not a subscriber
to the theory that polite society is hypoc-
risy refined. When Mr.. and Mrs. Nor
ton were going to Chicago few weeks
ago to be present at the opening Of the
great Auditorium, there was some ques-
ton as to who should entertain them.
The family of Mr.. Ferd Peck, who had
built the Auditorium, were to entertain
the president and Mrs. Harrison, but for
some reason, which at first appeared
rather mysterious, they did not appear
to wish to have the Mortons also. Final
ly the reason became apparent. Mrs.
Peck, herself an accomplished woman of
society, was actually afraid of Mrs. Nor
ton, upon whom she looked as "a grand
dame, leader of society in Paris and
New York, who would be likely to over
awe and overshadow a simple Chicago
woman. But Mrs. Peck did entertain
Mrs. Morton, and the two became fast
friends.
eff had known how simple and Iowa
BILE she was" Mrs. Peck afterward con-
fessed, 81 should have been as eager to
have her with me as was, in fact, timid |
about it." A cabinet minister said to me
the other day: MRS. Morton is woman
OF the finest culture, with great big
heart in her. She is a woman whom one
would patrrraliy no 70 l,o ,,,o-o -.