Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-21

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 insurrectionary 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 actions of a military
man, and were in eonsonance with his
natural tendencies of mind. His his
toric declaration, Let us have peace"
was earnest and sincere. Yet the fact
that he was military genius and
man OF great determination of charac-
ter constituted a potential factor in
calming the infiamed 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 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 1884.
President Cleveland used the same
wire when he sent invitations to ex-
Isle to visit him at RED Top" the
country home where the celebrated
revenue reform message of '87 was con-
ceived and written. The telegraph in
Btrument is an important bit of furni-
ture at the white house. By means of
its key and sounder the chief magis-
trate maintains a 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 today the greater
part of the routine daily correspondence
between the president and efficers of
the executive departments is conducted
over the white house wires. The same
wire is the usual means of communica-
tion 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
sociations 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.
lie 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 mere luxury
or convenience. 1t is a necessity in the