The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-05-09

the presidents title was debated grave
ly by the lawmakers, and resolution
was introduced declaring that the pres
ident should be addressed as "His Excel
lency." But this was withdrawn, and
it was agreed that all communications
from congress should be addressed, "To
the President of the United States"
This is the way official letters come to
the president, but even members of con-
gress often address him as His Excel
lency," and those who knew the presi-
dent before his election almost always
address him by name. His old army
comrades usually give him his army I'll
tie, major, while "Mr. VIM. Mckinley"
and William Mckinley, Jr. - are not
uncommon. Few misspell his name,
though some leave out the '+e." Mr..
Cleveland's name was seldom misspell-
ed but Mr.. Harrison was addressed as
"Bengeman Harson" once, and clerk
in the local postoffice has an envelope
addressed to Richardson, which con-
tanned a letter intended for the presi-
dent
OF course most of the presidents cor
respondents want something. Some of
them want Office and send petitions and
Endorsements. Their papers are bundled
up and sent to the department. in which
they want to be employed, accompanied
by printed slip of paper, signed John
Addison Porter, secretary" Others spe-
city no place and file no Endorsements,
but appeal to the president for any en-
| MI Some ara uotoranc and oT0r1U
on that ground. Others say they are
competent to fill any place in the gov
eminent service, and they want their
merits considered. Still others are poor,
and their appeals are sometimes pitiful,
but they never reach the presidents
eye and never stir his sympathy. If the
president undertook to read letters like
these, he would have no time for pub
! lie business.
Beggars and CranI5s.
Some men and women want money.
Occasionally there is crank who de-
mands million or so from the public
treasury, but usually the letters are
perfectly sane, sober communications
from beggars who want something form
Mr.. McKinley's private purse. Some
are modest and will take anything they
can get. Some specify $25 or $50 or
800. Some want the money to pay
debts or ward off starvation. Some ask
the money on the simple ground that
they want it. Some of the beggars say
they know the president is rich, and
some refer to his $50, 900 salary. AS a
1f oil ir,Io &c
and his salary would not cover the de-
mands that are made on his purse.
Another class of correspondents write
for autographs, souvenirs, etc. A great
many people write evidently needless
letters i'll the hope that the answer will
be signed by the president and will
adorn an autograph collection. Auto
graphs are not sent to casual correspond
ents. If man of prominence writes or
calls at the White House for an auto
graph, he usually gets it. The executive
clerks keep small supply of autographs
on hand. They are written on cards, on
which the name of the Executive
Mansion" appears in raised letters
A few days ago letter came to the
White House addressed to "Grover
Cleveland, Washington, d. c." 1t
was postmarked at Florida town
March s. Some one remarked that they
had not heard of the Inauguration down
in Florida.
THAT is nothing remarkable" said
the mail clerk. 1--WE will be getting
letters for Grover Cleveland every day
for six months, and after that they will
come at longer intervals Indefinitely.
We receive a great deal of mail every
year addressed to Abraham Lincoln.
Some letters come addressed to Andrew
jackson, and one day we had a letter
directed to George Washington which
was intended for the president of the
United States.
The outgoing mail of the White
House is almost as heavy as that which
comes in. There are a dozen letters
which, as / said, the president himself
signs. There are half hundred more
which are signed by Mr.. Porter, and
there are several hundred communica-
lions of formal character to which the
facsimile of the signature of Mr.. Porter
is attached with rubber stamp. These
letters are printed i'll type which imi-
tates the characters of the typewriting
machine. Eight years ago these letters
were actually written on the typewriter,
and the White House clerks used to put
in their odd hours making copies for fu-
ture use. The government is not very
progressive in business methods, and it
was long time before the typewriter
gained foothold i'll the executive man
sion at all Private Secretary Halford
thought it was economy of time to have
these forms printed, and he had several
thousand of each kind prepared. Now
the clerks draw entirely on the printed
supply. These letters are formal ao-
acknowledgements Of the receipt of letters
from correspondents, or the formal state
ment that papers have been received
and referred to department which is
named. These letters mean absolutely
nothing.
All the White House mail, of course,
is franked-that is. it goes without
stamps. A good many years ago it was
decided by congress that it was foolish