The sun., 1897-03-14
OrTDOING THURBER.
Secretary Bii.. the victim OF nm Orer-Omeisus
Private Secretary.

wAsHISGroS. March lo.--Gen. AlS,r. the new
Secretary OF War. has already earned the repr-
tation OF being the most genial and approacha-
bic member OF the Cabinet. He has issued orders
that all persons who call on legitimate business
shall be admitted. and he sees them all. one st a
time. Others OF the new Cabinet members are as
accessible "a the new Secretary Of War, particu-
larIy Secretaries Gage and Bliss. They are glad
and willing to see all callers. although the sec
retary otthe Interior seems already to have fallen
a victim to an over-ofiicious private secretary.
who. like the late lsmented Thurber, thinks it Is
his duty 10 protect his chief from contact with
the vulgar herd. On his return from New York
to-day Secretary Bliss gave orders that he would
see everybody who Called and he DID 50 until
along in the afternoon. when his active private
secretary. who Is 1T. Louis Democrat, thought
IL was time to save the Secretary against his
own orders, he refused to present any moro
cards. To one gentleman who called 10 pay his
respects to the Secretary the relic ~ Dave"
Francis's reign in the Interior Department said:
"I can let you look at the Secretary as he sits
at his desk, but he Is too busy 10 see anybody
in fact, there Is Senator waiting. Stewart OF
Sevada-and II would not DO 10 interrupt him"
In response to the suggestion that perhaps the
Secretary had grown tired OF the loGuscious Me-
vada statesman and would he glad 10 talk 70
somebody else, the sott.voced 81. Louis Demo
crat replied:
well, but he Is a Senator. you know. and
really the Secretary Is too busy TO see any
body else this afternoon. am sure that he will
regard II u a great compliment that you called,
but. indeed. you must come some other day
When Col. Perry Heath. who Is 10 bc appointed
First Assistant Po-tma-ter-ieneral next week,
was newspaper correspondent not many years
ago, he wrote very interesting story to
Western Journal describing thg frantic manner
IN which The msnials % the War Department
drove ever body out OF thc elevator and out OF
the corridors near IL when Secretary Endirott
received at the Department. Mr.. Heath was
one OF the victims. one morning when the clc-
vator operator shouted 10 him 5avagey Get
out! get out quiok' he asked ior thr causeot 700
excitement, and was told IN ugOnilng tone, that
the Secretary was coming Col. Heath thus
described how he came.
"He walked malestically toward the elevator
He wore light summer suit, with sack ,ott
thrown open to show q white vest, aad white
pulled down grimly until 1t nearly hid h!s eyes
His tread was Napo!eonic His heels evidently
struck tho thing trst, and each sepaIate m!i;
tary thump reyerbsrated along the walls and
caused u new thrill OF terror to shake the soul VI
the unfortunate elevator man; To this moment
/ am glad that got oGt OF the elevator quick
and saved him. Every morning, they tell mo,
the performance is the same; the electric bells
are rHng IN advance for the secretary. ordinary
tor wnits his pleasure. The whole show, II might
be added Tor the Information OF VISITORS, can oe
10 o'clock In the morn ng il the best time"
This little story OF Col. Heath who, o: course,
was not 'len n iOOntl, ana WHO mas lbN- -allao
forgotten all about II, fell under Tho eye OF
well.knOwn Illinois Democratic Editor, one or
the hest.known men in the state and the Colonel
OF an Illinois regiment during tho war, Who
wrote him the following letter:
Z" | want 20 tell you my experience with eN'
Secretary OF War Robert I. Lincoln. ! went
on to Washington to help sam Randall de-
feat Carlisle for Speaker, representing the pro-
lection wing OF the Democratic party or Hi.
nois-ex-Coy. Palmer, Melville W. Fuller of
Chicago, Gen. Jesse Phillips pf HIll,boro, Capt:
W. p Holiday OF Cairo, ana others, | called
upon Secretary Lincoln. and, by the martinez
private Office. When Bob Lincoln wn- tod
ding boy and was an efficient -tcnogrApHor in
the Federal court at Springfield, he had al upon
my knee many a time. After two rtbpta from
the old sinecure Trans, pen'iOnrd upon
the Government, | loaded myself for bar,
and brushed his regular old martlnets
aside "a | would have done so many tumble
bugs. Mr.. Lincoln received me with the great
est courtesy and kindness, and when | COM
! planned OF the insults put upon me and his old
time friends he replied that ciyilian Secretary
| OF War was at the mercy Of the martinez dis
| cipine OF the employee OF the department. Per,
| haps Mr., Endicott Is poweriess AS was : Bob
| Lincoln"
| Gen Alger evidently IL his own master, but per-
hAps Secretary Bliss Il powerless in the hands OF
| his democratic private secretary from Missouri.
| who although he has been in Washington but a
| few months, seems TO have caught al the old
4 tricks OF the trade,