Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-12
CRANkS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Cleveland Surrounded by Guards and an
Army of Detectives.
REASONS FOR THE EXERCISE OF CAUTION
Demented individuals swarning Around
the Executive Mansion Anxious to
See the President aud Proba-
bly, Take His Life.

WASHINGTON, Nov. ~11.-TSpecial to The
BEE. -"Can | see MIR. Cleveland2"
Tho question was asked by a medium
sized, rather shabby looking individual as he
entered the white house the other day. AS
the great door closed behind him and he
stood in the vari-colored vestibule he peered
about in a rather wild way, so as to excite
the attention of the doorkeepers.
"Well,' replied one of the doorkeepers,
hesitatingly, ~ think the president is busy
just now; but you can look around the house
and amuse yourself until we learn if he is ac-
ccssiblc."
AS the stranger, who wore q soiled shirt
and no collar, strolled around through the
corridors, the great east parlor, and back
through the blue and green rooms and out
toward the conservatory, a couple of detec-
tives in the PLAN garb of private CITIZENS
might have been seen wandering aimlessly
about, one in front and the other follow ing in
the rear of the visitor.
"Can ! see the president nowN inquired
the stranger, returning to the main en-
trance, and looking abstractedly into the
face of the doorkeeper.
moi YETI was the reply. THE president
is not receiving today"
But | must see him, and | must see him
now" said the stranger, his eyes showing
for the first time that he had a diseased
mentality.
Taken in by Detectives.
Suiting his words by action. the stranger
STROBE over to the stairway IN the center of
the corridor leading from the vestibule TO
the east parton and the upper rooms. As he
placed his foot upon the first step of the
stairway another detective, or policeman in
citizens clothing, laid his hand gently upon
the crank's arm and exclaimed:
Excuse me, but do you wish to see any
one upstair3l'
II want to see the president" came the
reply, IN a firm voice.
Have you sent up your card"
mo, have not. l want to see him with
out a card"
1.-THE president is not receiving today, and
before any one can see him he must send in
his card and make an appointment for an in
terview.n
The wild eyed stranger protested until he
became q little boisterous and he was gently
led out of the executive mansion.
Incidents of this character and expert
enccS with various grades of CrankS have
occurred at the white house almost every
day since the assassination of Mayor Carter
Harrison at Chicago. Little is said of the
epidemic of cranks about the premises ofthe
president. The doorkeepers, policemen and
detectives and other employees at the white
house are forbidden to talk about such
things.
Reason for Caution.
The reason is manifold. 1t would be dan
gerous to nave the impression go out to the
country that the presidents premises were
ridden with pestiferous persons and danger
Gus cranks. 1t would put into the heads of
otherwise harmless individuals the idea that
notoriety could BE- achieved by bnlleting or
knitting the chief magistrate of the United
States.
1t is not an. easy matter to see President
Cleveland, either at the white house or in
his private residence out at Woodley, a few
miles west OF the city's center. A crank
may easily gain admission to the white
house, but it is almost as easy for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needle as it is for
an absolute stranger without proper
credentials to gain admission to the pres
ence of Mr.. Cleveland. 1t has been published
broadcast that the present occupant of the
white house was scared of his life" was
"afrald of cranks," and all that sort OF
thing. 1t has been stated in every quarter
that there never were half so many detec
tives and policemen and safeguards thrown
about the president as now, and that he is
Swallowed wherever he goes.
Realizes HIS Danger.
Attention has also been called to the fac
that MIR. Cleveland is never seen riding il
public places, and that when he does go OH
1T is in II closed carriage, accompanied by one
or two men beside the occupant of the
drivers box, and that he never goes walking
1t is also true that he does not stroll arounC
the white house grounds or frolic on thu
greensward out at his country home. 1t i:
also true that when he energies from the
white house after his days la Dor to ride in
closed carriage out to Woodley he fairly
hustles out of sight.
But under the present stress Of crankisn
this condition is not to be wondered at. L
is improbable that if either the fearless