The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-03-03
CLOSE TO A PRESIDENT.
Onerous Duties of Private Secretary at
the White House.
Boston Herald.


the White House staff which will fol-
low Major McKinley's inauguration:
It goes without saying that he will
appoint his own private secretary.
The final task of the present incum-
bent of that place, Mr.. Thurber, will
be to prepare a complete set Of blank
books for the use of his successor.
These are for the registry of applica-
tions for officers and all sorts of other
business matters. Thus the new man
entering upon his duties on March 4
next will find everything in apple-pie
order-swept clean and garnished, as
it were, for the beginning of the in
coming administration.
Nobody knows, as yet, who the new
private secretary is going to be, says
the Washington Post. Almost as
much interest attaches to the choice
of that official as to the selection OF
any of the Cabinet ministers. In
deed, he is to all intents and purposes
a member of the Cabinet, and his re-
lations with the President are more
intimate and confidential than those
enjoyed by any holder of a portfolio.
He served as medium for the per-
formance of all sorts of delicate tasks
and the carrying out of negotiations
requiring great tact and discretion.
His influence in the matter of appoint
| ments is enormous. Applicants for
Government places are not able, save
in rare instances, to reach the ear of
the Chief Magistrate directly they
must talk to the private secretary,
and he reports on their cases to the
President. The latter is most apt to
act upon his recommendation one way
or the other.
Hence it may be taken for granted
that Major Mckinley will choose for
this post a man who already enjoys
his complete confidence. The private
secretary is the Presidents right
hand. Yet until within the last few
years, this official was only recognized
as an ordinary clerk, receiving beg
carly salary of $4,000 a year. 1t was
Daniel Lamont, now Secretary of war,
who first lifted the place into proper
recognition. During the first Cleve-
land administration he made himself
felt as the power behind the throne,
aud proud statesmen humbled them
selves before him as the pregnant
source of Executive benefits. He
made himself liked as we'll as feared,
so that his friends in Congress raised
the pay of his Office permanently to
So, 900. Mr.. Lamont himself, however:
declined to be beneficiary under this
just increase.
The man who obtains the place of
private secretary to Major Mckinley
may esteem himself lucky. The post
is a stepping stone to wealth and
honors. John Hay, who served Mr..
Lincoln most valuable in that capacity,
is rich, and now occupies a dwelling
much finer than the White House for
domiciliary purposes, directly oppo-
site the Executive Mansion, across
Lafayette Square. He is many times
millionaire in right of his wife.
Daniel Lamont is rich in this worlds
goods and power in the land, thanks
to the private secretaryship as start.
Major Halford was appointed paymas-
ter in the army as testimonial from
President Harrison. 1t is highly
| probable that Mr.. Cleveland will look
out for Mr.. Thurber's future in one
way or another.
The private secretaryship, even at
$5,OOOa year, is not in itself very
enviable job. The incumbent is
buffer between the Chief Magistrate
and the people. He must see every
body who wishes to see the President,
and from morning to night his time is
occupied by visitors who have some
thing to ask far. Nearly all of them
have some particular reason for want
ing to see the President personally,
and they must be put off without CIV
ing offence Dangerous lunatics must
sometimes be interviewed. During
the six months Immediately subse
quent to the Inauguration cranks will
turn up at the Executive Mansion at
the rate of at least two day. Most
of them will be of the religious va
riety. Some will be advance agents
of the Messiah others will have in
ventions to exhibit, and yet others
will want to liberatc young alligators
in the East room, or to indulge in
freaks even more extraordinary.
The new President might easily
imagine himself prisoner, like the
Pope in the Vatican, Judging from the
manner in which he will be edged
about by guards. Mr.. Cleveland,
whether in Washington or elsewhere,
is nearly always well guarded. It is
absolutely necessary that the Chief
Executive Should be protected against
the mob of Office seekers, slght-secrs,
cranks and beggars who are forever
trying to intrude upon his privacy.
People often insist upon inspecting
the bed rooms of the White House.
Relations are very close between
Major Mckinley and his brother Alb
ner, who looks much like him. 1t
does not seem at all impossible that
he will make A5ner his private secre-
tary. However, it has been suggested
that this post may be conferred upon
James Boyle, who forsomc time past
has been the right-hand man of the
President-elect, taking charge of his
correspondence. Also it is surmised
that Che place of executive clerk at
the White House may be conferred
upon James N. Smith, who has been
the literary editor Of Mckinleys
speeches from the porch in Canton.
This office, which is at present occu-
pied by George B. Contelyou, is of no
small importance, its incumbent at
tending to all of the routine letter
writing for the President. The work
requires much discretion, inasmuch as
an ungardcd word in reply to 4 letter
might be the cause Of great annoyance
to the Chief Magistrate, involving
controversy and giving hostile newspa-
pers an opportunity to let slip the
eager mud.
During the first six months of the
new Administration an average OF
1900 letters per diem will be deliver
ed at the White House From the
necessity of examining this immense
mass of correspondence Major Alckin-
lev will be almost wholly relieved by |