The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-23
CLEyELAND'S BODY GUARDS
President Watched Day and Night by
Policemen and Disguised Detectives.
More Care Taken TO Protect His Life from
Cranks tLan Is Taken by the Gar of Russia
Carries Six Shooter in His0wn Pocket

there has re-entered upon tho drama OF life
1T the executive mansion the figures of
uniformed policemen In remote corners and
the presence. carefully inconspicuous, of
detectives In civilian dress.
Toe Gar of all the Russias, according to
the reports authorized by our ex-minister
TO that empire. Charles Emory Smith.
drives freely about the streets of st.
Petersburg unprotected save by the pres
ence OF the ioctusen and out-riders usually
accompanying the equipage of any MEM
Der Of the nobility. No military escort. no
display of armed household guards sur
rounds his carriage as the Gar moves
through the public streets. despite the
caricatures which have been made Of his
daily terror of bombs ana bullets In
strange contrast TO this freedom of move
ment by the autocrat Of tho most absolute
monarchy of Europe there 10 TO be seen in
Washington to-day the spectacle of tho
Democratic President of the most liberal
republic IN the world, guarded and sur
pounded in his every movements by armed
inen, some In uniform and others In the
dress of the ordinary citizen. but eacn and
every one of them watchful of eye. viRilant
In bearing. and with q riRht hand not far
distant from six-chambered. self-cocking
revolver.
Presidents of the United States have as q
rule been almost foolishly careless about
their exposure to ubiquitous cranks.
This was true of Mr.. Lincoln, whose guards
were almost forced upon HIM by his Secre-
tary of War. and who In fact was sur
rounded by protection ct critical periods
without his own knowledge or consent.
The same was true OF Garfield. the only
other President who was ever assassin ated.
President Garfield was content with the
- h,.x nhsxlA md I'M n %
executive mansion. and il will be remem-
bered that on the morning on which he
was assassin ted he drove to the railroad
station entirely unaccompanted, save by
Secretary Blaine. President Harrison was
equally Indifferent to any personal danger.
During his term be was frequently eeen
walking about tho streets OF Washington,
like any ordinary citzen. often accom-
panied by Baby Mckee. whose hand Was
Invariably clasbed in that of his grand
father. Nevertheless, whether walking or
driving. President Harrison was never
alone. He was always accompanied by
some member of his Cabinet or some per-
sonal friend, or by his private secretary.
With these simple safeguards President
Cleveland is not content. His extraordi-
nary precautions against assault or IN.
pleasant contact with some offensive per
son are not new. Eight years ago. people
who attended his first formal reception,
and who had long been familiar with the
customs at the w bite House. were aston
ished to see the carriageway leading to the
executive mansion almost lined with po-
hcemen. while other officers in uniform
clustered about the portic0 and
were scattered through the outer
vesribuIe. Beside these guardians of
the peace q score Of detectives were
every window bad it's special guard. This
practice Was continued thr0ughout Mr..
Clevelsnd's administration. and it has
been renewed with greater vigor at this
nm saff "A Ia m AZ N
conceal these facts. but attention has been
directed to them through protest made
by the chief OF police OF Washington
against the decentralization OF bis force OF
detectives, at no time too large. by the ex-
traordinsry draft made upon .hem for
service &C the White House.
The throng of office seekers who have be-
sieged President Cleveland's doors for the
past seven weeks has been scrutinized at
every step by detectives and policemen.
Mr.. Cleveland has. by force OF precedent,
continued the ancient cuetom of receiving
the general public three times week in
the great East Parlor. but there 10 little
doubt that he would like. as probably any
other President would ike, to escape this
task OF promlscuous Handwriting. The
hour set for this function IL 1:S0 p. NJ, just
after the President has eaten luncheon. A
man Who is so intimately familiar with Nj.
Cleveland to know his private personal
waysis authority for the statement that
upon every one of these public re-
times gone to his bedroom and there
quietly slipped into his chip pocket q re-
volver and then descended the stairs to the
East Parlor. Moreover, the shr0nR OF Wis
Is kept at some distance from the Presi-
dent. as he stands in the doorway which
serves as an exit for those who pass him.
This 10 done by q Gordon of the servants of
keepers and messengers entirely outside of
the clerical force in the executive offices.
number az least twenty. The visitors
string by the Preside emit in Indian file, and
shake of the hand. they pass also q most
pleasant but determined looking man.
standing exactly opposite Mr.. Cleveland.
The people do not know 1t. but this wan is
also armed.
It has been frequently remarked of late
that President Cleveland betrsys in COM
pIexiOn and in his general ply steal appear
ance lack of exercise. This 10 but natural.
because Mr.. Cleveland never wanders about
the Whits House from room to room, never
strolls about the spacious grounds and In
fact takes no exercise at all, except when
he goes driving. when Sis companion is
usually Mrs. Cleveland. Even when the
follow ed at a diserees distance by at least
two mounted detectives Now that the
members of Congress are nearly all gone
. fishing, while the crowd of Office seekers 10
beginning to diminish. these precautions
that yet. There is no doubt that during
his journey to New York for the naval re-
view. and to Chicago for the opening Of the
Columbian exposition, the President and
the members of his Cabinet will continue
TO be most carefully guarded.
Despite these extraordinary precautions
no one believes that the Presidents of the
United States is threatened with any real
danger. An occasional crank. such as the
old gentleman who has for years made al
most daily visits to the White House. bur-
dened with voluminous documents to prove
his title to all the land in the United
States, approaches the door. These people
are almost always harmless, and the office
seeking craze has thus far developed no
such violent contests as would be likely to
cause emotional insanity In even disap-
pointed applicant
The White House 10 even moro carefully
guarded by night than by day. This. how
ever Is not peculiar to the Cleveland adj
ministration. lt has for years been the
custom To police the densely -sh ed
grounds in the rear of the executive man.
sion after nightfali. and il is the boast of
the man In charge of these arrangements
that no one can approach within one hun
dred yards Of the Presidents house with
out being detected. There Was a Singular
example of the fallibility of these guards a
compile of years ago. when young Martin. q
stepson of Senator Vance, after an even
ing of hilarity at his club. succeeded IN
climbing into one Of the rear windows as
the White House. He was only elected
after a violent struggle with the surprised
guards. In which Preeident Harrison him.
eelf took part. r.s.H.
NJ NM II