River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-09-19

OdNS the wire III inc MilllC HOuSc WAS
kept hot day and night. Over that wire
all of the proceedings of congress and
of the electoral commission were trans
mitted to Gen. Grant. And when there
were insurrectionary threats reckless
" made in public prints that same wire
licked the orders for the proper dispo-
sition of troops to maintain order.
Thus, the last actions of President
Grant were the actions of a military
man, and were in consonance with his
natural tendencies of mind. His his
toric declaration, Let us have peace"
was earnest and sincere Yet the fact
that he was a military genius and
man of great determination of charac-
ter constituted "a potential factor in
calming the inflamed minds of that pc
riod and preventing the necessity of the
use of force to preserve order.
The white house telegraph wires
came into requisition very soon after
the Inauguration of Hayes. He found
use for them after the railway strikes
and riots of 1871, when he was daily
and nightly in correspondence with
the troubled districts. After Garfield
was shot the telegraph was kept busy
for months distributing news about the
dying presidents condition all over the
union
President Arthur sent over the same
wires the orders which gave tents, food
ana clothing to the sufferers by the
NJ lssissippi floods in 1884.
President Cleveland used the same
wire when he sent invitations to ex-
Senator Thurman and Speaker Car
Isle to visit him at Red Top" the
country home where the celebrated
revenue reform message of 81 was con-
ceived and written. The telegraph in
strument is an important bit of furni-
ture at the white house. by means of
its key and sounder the chief magis-
trate maintains IA constant interchange
of intelligence with the outside world.
During any excitement or trouble he
receives news direct from the seat of
disorder, and can control affairs as If
himself on the spot. At the time of the
Johnstown flood Gen. Harrison and
Mr. Halford spent day and night be-
side the ticker, giving orders for fur
nishing tents, pontoons, supplies, etc,
for the relief of the survivors. Wires
were first permanently introduced into
the executive mansion just before the
Inauguration of Hayes.
Since President Grant commenced
the use of the telegraph wires in the
white house, it has been found conven-
lent and necessary to form wired
electric circuit of all of the executive
departments, so that to-day the greater
part of the routine daily CORE spondence
between the president and officers of
the executive departments is conducted
over the white house wires. The same
wire is the usual means of comnunica-
ton between the white house and the
capitol while congress is sitting. The
government owns the lines which con-
meet the white house and capitol with
all the departments Congressman en-
ploy these wires freely in sending mes
sages TO and transacting business with
the departments. BY the courtesy OF
the telegraph companies and news as
soeiations Mr.. Cleveland is constantly
kept informed of the latest important
intelligence from all parts of the globe.
When an election is pending he has the
use of a direct wire, getting the re-
turns as fast rs they come in. The
clerk who operates the telegraph at
the white house is paid by Uncle Sam.
He also acts as keeper of the executive
scrap books, in which are pasted what
ever opinions respecting the admins
tration are deemed worth clipping from
the columns of the newspapers.
Electricity is no longer a mere luxury
or convenience. 1t is a necessity in the
transaction of public as well as of pri-
vate business. The wires which con-
meet the capitol and the white house
with all the departments form one con-
tinuous circuit. There are two of them,
10 cover the chance that one may get
out of order. They are under the
charge of the superintendent of public
buildings and grounds, and 1000
year is appropriated to keep them in
repair. They are strung IA ordinary
fashion. on poles, and the thirteen
operators who send messages over them
are all in the pay of Uncle Sam There |
is one at the house and another at the |
enate end of the capitol Both are |
stenographers, taking in shorthand |
kilograms dictated to them by busy |
legislators. Many congressman use
these wires largely for communicating
with the departments The conven-
fence costs them nothing and is great |
aid in the business which they are |
Obliged to transact with various bu-
reaus. They have appointments to ask !
about, inquiries to put as TO how PEN
sion eases stand, questions to offer as
to whether such and such papers are |
on file, etc, ad infnitum.