The morning times., 1897-03-01
GUARDED FROM HARM.
Secret Service Men Looking After
Mr.. McKinIey'S Welfare.


Mr.. McKfnIey'S Welfare.
-President-eIect Mckinley has now about
him an effective bodygUard 10 shield
him from harm. Even for some time
past, in his Canton home, the about to-be
Chief Executive has been under a quiet,
Unobtrusiye protection that is none the
less potent because it trumpets not its
presence. Those who ere thus watching
and guarding his welfare are members
Of the secret service corps of the gov
ernment
Accompanying him eastward from Ohio
to Washington viii be several Of these
silent detectives, of whose presence the
President-eIect himself mI- not be cog
infant, ever ready TO do service IL the
necessity should arise. Their principal
function, however, Will be TO fend Off
the always present small contingent OF
harmless CranEs, who insistently demand
a personal audience, that they may ex-
ploit fads and hobbies and hare Drained
theories
IN ordinary times OF peace there seems
little need OF throwing q safety barrier
around our Chief Executive; still the
frightful tragedy and wauton assassination
OF Garfield in 1881 by q disgruntled
Idnatic-a national catastrophe never %
be foFgotten-Inakes it almost imperative
that due protection shall be given the
person OF him who holds the highest posi-
| ton in the gift Of the republic.
| When Mckinley arrives IN Washing gton
| the only officers or the law IN direct evi-
| dence Will he squad OF the metropolitan
| police force, on whom the duty devOIves
of holding back the curious public in that
persuasive manner SO commonly exhibited
by the average policeman Only a hand
ful of Elen viii be detailed for this special
woIk-one- half at the depot and the other
at the Ebbitt House winch the President
elect viii make his headquarters for the
few days intervening between his arrival
and inauguration The secret service
agents. while incognito as far as the
general public is concerned, viii always
| be on hand for any emergency.
| The nature Of the protection Of person
/ which will surround Mr. Mckinley during
| bis four years n the White House can only
\ be cOniectured, but an approximate idea
| may be given by describing what has been
| done in this direction by the Cleveland
/ regime Laying aside the consideration
/ of the inaCcessibiity of the President to
/ those whom ne does not care TO see, andnot
| referring TO that sore point in the hearts Of
/ some very big men, the ThuTber brass
| mounted. double-riveted Congressional de-
| flectOr, il may be said that the other
| official protectors invested with the au-
/ thority of the law are the municipal brass
/ buttons who are much in evidence. and the
secret service agents, who are undemOn-
strative, silent and unknown.
The policing OF the Executive Mansion
and grounds is done by a detail from the
| city force Of some thirty uniformed men.
| WHO are divided up into eight-hOur shifts.
| The first one comes on at 3 o'clock in
| the morning. the second ut 4 p m. and
| the third at midnight The time schedule
| is made up in such a way as 20 rotate
| the men in their assignment The first
| squad usually has an easy tiIne Of iC, with
little TO do beyond promenading the heaut-
full grounds. keeping their eyes open for
| trespassers. and ejecting drunken indi-
viduals. with more head than legs The
second detachment has its hands full upon
the state occasions. and at the afternoon
and evening receptions in the shape OF
answering questions. keeping the medley
of carriages in order and preventing the
crush of people from annihilating each
other in their eager desire To shake the
weary arm of the Executive.
During the huShed hours of midnight Snd
early morning the third division Of men
constantly patrol the grounds; they guard
the front and rear pOrtic0s in silent
pairs, and stI' others keep the midnight
vigil in the mansion itself The finest
professional burglar in the land would find
the White House about the hottest hob he
ever tackled. if, in a moment OF unwaT
ranted intrepidity, he hankered after the
solid silver state service, and the only
thing he would acquire would be very
substantial States service in the peni
tentiary-
The neat plan was adopted of having a
silent official partner who took his consti
tutionaI at the same time of day and who,
curiousIy enough, traversed the same route
the President is not today aware OF all the
watchful and tender care Of which he hai
been the recipient