The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-12

ident Mckinley has a way of extracting
good deal of Information from his visitors
at the White House He is always eager
10 learn what the people arc thinking and
talking about, and when he meets man
who has had IA chance to sound popular
sentiment the president rarely fails To ask
him number Of questions. A few days
ago one of the presidents old friends was
a caller at the White House and was in
vited To lunch. After the repast the presi-
dent, as is his wont, asked whether times
were getting better among the people and
what the popular opinion was as to the
Cuban question.
Good Times First.
"I will tell you how the people feel
about Cuba" said this gentleman. 1.-THE
business men and manufacturers are lit
tie afraid of il. They are so eager to get
good times again that they do not like TO
take any chances of war, which might
hurt business II they could be assured
that our interference in Cuba would not
retard the coming of prosperity, almost
all Of them would favor 1t. But the great
masses of the people are for action in
Cuba They are not afraid Of war and
think a little brush with Spain might
make better times They say tho Cubans
are struggling for liberty, just as we were
more than 100 years ago. France helped
us then, and they say we should help Cuba
now. That is the way the people feel, Mr..
President"
The employees OF the White House have
had a good rest during the presidents abb
sence on his Nashville trip. Every one of
these journeys Of the chief magistrate Is
hailed with delight by the attaches Of the
nv tive q Ia. al
The White House employees go TO work
every morning at o'clock. They are at
1t pretty steadily until or In the after
noon. AT or 80 in the evening they
return to their desks and are nearly al
ways there until midnight. This Is pretty
tlresome work when continued day after
day, and a few days rest Is always well
come. When the president is away, there
Is but little TO do ut the executive mad-
sion. Tho corresponding clerks keep up
with tho mail, which is pretty heavy, but
replies to letters, except those which can
be answered by printed form, are held till
tho return of the president and Secretary
Porter.
Trouble Averted.
Secretary Porter has made the discovery
that the newspaper correspondents OF the
national capital are more difficult lot to
deal with than all tho senators in town.
Tho correspondents know their rights,
and they propose to have them. Mr.. Por-
ter Is newspaper man himself and knows
what Is right, but he came near making
tho mistake of Understanding the dig
nifty of the Washington correspondent. At
first Mr.. Porter had his office door closed
TO correspondents, but made it a rule to
step out in the lobby once In an hour or
so to see such newspaper men as wished
to speak TO him. This was not satisfactory,
because 1t compelled the correspondents to
wait quite time out among the office
seekers, and the Washington correspondent
Is too busy man to cool his heels very
long In any ones anteroom.
Then Mr.. Porter hit upon the idea of
issuing cards to the leading correspond
ents, emitting them to admittance to his
Office at any time during business hours.
This would have been all right IL cards
had been issued to all the newspaper men,
but only 10 or go were thus favored. All
the Others learned Of IL, Of course, and
they were indignant. Now it Ia under
stood that Secretary Porter will give such
card To every correspondent in town, and
the white wings of the dove of peace will
again float In the precincts of the execu-
tive mansion. Secretary Porter Is doing
his best to please every one, but IL is
great task. OF newspaper correspondents
alone there are more than $50 In Washing
ton.
Uncle Sam Is notoriously penurious In
many small, mean ways. A former diplo-
matist tells INC he was at Madrid tho year
of the Worlds fair. The Spanish govern.
ment had n lot of celebrations and fetes
All the representatives of other govern
ments were invited. They were carried
from place TO place, wined and dined, at
great expense. When the series OF festivi-
ties came To an end, the diplomatic corps
thought it would be no more than right
for them TO reciprocate In some small de-
gree for the honors paid them and their
nations. SO they gave a dinner-an OIL
cial dinnor-to the Spanish grandees. The
share of the cost which fell to the United
States was sl60, and when the bill was
sent TO the state department it was dis.
allowed. The minister had 10 pay IL him
self. All the other governments paid their
share without n murmur.
Where His Salary Went.
Another diplomatist, while serving In
Italy, received an order from the state de-
partment for collection of grasses and
other agricultural products for the use Of
the agricultural department. I'm this city.
Supposing, Of course, Uncle Sam was
ready TO pay for what he ordered, the con-
sui sailed forth, bought all the necessary
articles and packed and shipped them off.
The bill was nearly $50, and the state de.
partment reported "no appropriation for
such expenses The consul had to pay
u out of his mcager salary.
The greatest politician in the world, 4"
said senator to me, sis Matt Quay. Sen
htor Quay Ia now supreme In the state of
Pennsylvania No one disputes his lead
ership. He has whipped all his enemies TO
standstill He makes and unmakes
men as he pleases. The secret OF his sue
cessi have asked that question of n good
many men from Pennsylvania and, Of
course, have received great variety OF re-
plies, but this Is the substance of the
business-t2uay never goes back on n
friend, never let's mp on an enemy, never
refuses to forgive and forget"
WALTER WELLMAS.