The National tribune., 1897-04-01
PRESIDENT BESIEGED
Immense Throng Of 0fice-Seekers
and Their Friends

The President received las. week hundreds
more of ofice-seekers and their friends and
also callers with no axes &c ind. Livery once
in awhile some old fell, w strays up 10 the
White House to see the President III the old
time meaning of the phrase. he wants 10 iooh
at the man who is at the head oil the gfeaS
Government. which he regards as his IN the
hest and truest sense of American citizenship
He usuaiIy is not much on appearance, but
stronr ou PATRIOTISM His homely. rustic garb
and unconventional ways stand out in marked
contrast TO the well-dressed politician. OF pol
ished. sometimes even courtly, manner, who is
also waiting to see the President.
But the great difference in the estimation of
President Mckinley is that the old chap has
no AK to grind. He might not be averse to &C.
ceptng the post-office down home an the
country, but is altogether too modest to suggest
the matter to the President.
During the week the President gave a special
reception to 100 more of the Washington
correspondents. The President was in jocu-
lar mood and cracked many jokes with the
correspondents representing Democratic papers
on their attitude toward the Tariff bill and the
Administration. No present at this
reception but the correspondents and the Secre-
tary to the President. There was quite di fer
cnce between this initial reception and the
last one to the correspondents given by Mr.
Cleveland in cordiality and attendance.
The first formal social affair given at the
White House in the new Administration was
the Cabinet dinner last week. The President
and Mrs. Mckinley received their guests in the
Blue Parler, which was handsomely decorated
with palms and pink azaleas The table was
spread in the small dining-ro0m, aud was ex-
ceedingly artistic with its rich appointments.
The President escorted Mrs. Alger, and Mrs.
Mckinley was taken into the dinner by the
Secretary OF State
The pressure which is being exerted on the
President to urge him TO haste in making APP
poiniments grows in intensity with each sue
ceedmg day. This not confined to the places
of Importance 10 the departmental service, but
eones from Congressional delegations urging
MIR. Mckinley to distribute the Federal patron
age in their respective States. Few of them
are disposed TO follow the action of the Repub-
iican party leaders in Ohio, VINO early after
ms Inauguration, gave the President to under
stand that they had agreed among themselves
not TO worry him about the offices in their
State but 10 let present incumbents serve out
the time of their commissions.
The President INDUCED in little social
relaxation, which he needs much. He at
tended the last indoor cavalry drill at Fort
Myer. The fact that the President and Mrs
Mckinley and the Cabinet Members, with their
ladies, would be present attracted throng
of society people in smart turnouts to the fort.
The whole Cabinet force with their ladies were
there also. The Cossack riding and brush
hurdle drill. with other interesting features,
excited prolonged applause. in which the
President Joined enthusiastically.
Mai. Mckinley and the majority Of the
Cabinet and other distinguished guests includ-
ing the 40 hosts, enjoyed banquet at the
Gridiron Clnb The decorations of the beauti-
fui banqueting hall surpassed anything before
attempted. and the music aud decorous wit
which enlivened the dinner made the affair
quite memorable. even among the many
memorable dinners given by the club.
President Mckinley has begun to encounter
the advance guard of philanthropists who have
schemes TO benefit the entire human race One
or two Of these advance agents Of the millen-
MUM called TO pay their respects to the Pres-
dent. Those of them who have the phian-
thropic spirit developed in acute form are
termed cranks, and are quickly disposed of.
They seldom get further than Secretary Por-
ter's Office. and sometimes are detected before
they get far past the outer doors of the Execu-
live Mansion.