The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-25

| THE PRESIDENT EECEIvINe THE NEWS.
days the wire in the white house 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 insurrecticnary threats reckless
| ly 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 actionA 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 n military genius and a
man of great determination of charac-
ter constituted q potential factor in
calming the infiamed minds Of that PEI
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 1877. 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
and clothing to the sufferers by the
Mississippi floods in 1854
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-
tire at the white house. By means OF
Its key and sounder the chief magis-
trate maintains 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 il
himself on the spot. At the time OF the
Johnstown food Gen. Harrison and
Mr.. Halford spent day and night be-
side the ticker, giving orders for fur
nlShing 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, II has been found conven-
lent and necessary TO form a wired
electric circuit OF all Of the executive
departments, so that to-day the greater
ps.rt OF the routine daily correspondence
between the president and officers of
the executive departments is conducted
over the white house wires. The same
wire Is the usual means of commuuica-
ton between the white house and the
capitol while congress is sitting. The
government owns the lines which con-
rect the white house and capitol with |
Mi the departments congressman en- /
ploy these wires freely in sending mes
sages 20 and trarsacting business with |
the departments BY the courtesy OF !
'Ae telegraph companies and news as /
soeiaticns 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 direct wire. getting the re-
turns as fast IS they come in. The |
clerk who operates the telegraph at |
the white house is paid by Uncle sam. :
he also acts as keeper % .,ie executive
scrap books, in which are pasted what
ever opinions respecting the admins
trstion are deemed worth clipping from |
tie columns of the newspS perS
Electricity is no longer mere luxury /
~ convenience K Is necessity in the |
transaction Of public IS well * Of pri- /
vate business The wires which con-
meet the capitol and the white house