The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-28

|
| $4,000 a day. President Mckinley is q
| generous man, but he has his own ways
| of giving. He cannot allow his soul to
| be narrowed up by such requests, and
| letters of this kind are never shown
| to him. They are all answered, how
ever, and it takes quite a few pennies
| to pay the postage. 1t Is only the
official mail that goes free. Upon his
personal mail the president pays for
| the postage stamps.
In another part of this big counting
room the White house newspapers are
| clipped. there are several hundred
| papers taken here every day. These
| are carefully scanned and all matter
relating to the administration is cut
| out for thes presidents scrap book.
The most important matters are laid
aside and every editorial of note is
sent In to the president. He is not
afraid to read the criticisms of his adj
ministration. He watches the newspa-
pers closely to learn what the people
wish, and he keeps his fingers on the
pulse of the country. He interviews
the men who call upon hir. In order
that he may keep abreast with public
sentiment, and he is, in fact, closer
to all the people than any president
we have had for years. Many persons
can't see how President Mckinley can
be so we'll posted and remain the most
of the time in the White house. One
secret of his knowledge is stored away
in little room in the northeastern
| corner Of the executive mansion.
THE WHITE HOUSE TELEGRAPH.
This is the telegraph room. We can
go out of the counting room into it.
AS we enter we hear the click of the
| telegraph instrument and we see one
of the presidents most confidential
I IL VI
operator is Mr.. b. F. Montgomery,
who has for years been in charge of
this department of the White house.
He has instruments here which con-
meet him with the chief telegraph
lines of the country and that tele-
graphic switch board upon the wall
controls the avenues of the news in
fOrma ton of the world.
1t is here that the president has the whole
! United States under his thumb. The great
telegraph companies will give him private
wire at moments notice. He has his own
telegraph line connecting him with congress
and all of the government departments. Sup
pose he wants to see senator. The e.ectrlc
wire calls the man up at the capitol, and
within few moments the president has his
answer. Now message is sent to the state
department for the papers in a certain case
Now a pardon is telegraphed to the attor-
ney general and now the treasury depart
ment gets its directions as to what to DO
in a special matter This Office is strictly
a private one. Much of the matter with
goes over the wires from here is confidential.
Orders are sent out which will affect the
state of the stock market, and dishonest
clerk could easily make fortune by use
of the news. Many of the foreign govern
ments would be glad to have advance infor-
nation of the matter sent over these wires.
and the Spanish minister just now would
give a pretty penny for the telegraphlc con
ference which are held here Cuba. 1t is
here also that the president gets Almost all
of his news. He has important items In ad-
vance of the newspapers. The press asso-
citation sends him important news as soon as
it comes and if there is trouble, anywhere
in the country, the telegraph companies Oh
fer him private wires. At the time or the
of his directions at his office. 1t was from
here that he ordered Gen. Miles to take
charge and from here President Mckinney
can easily move the army, 1t was mere t tnat
President Harrison sat al day at the time
of the Johnstown flood waiting for the news
as to whether Secretary iaford ana ms
wife had escaped that disaster, ana mere
when Garfield lay dying the muifed Keys
carried and received the news from day 10
e2y
WITH THE PRESIDENTS SECRETARY.
But let us cross the hall into the room
OF the secretary of the president secretary
Porter Is one OF the busiest men IN inc onlLed
States. He is the buffer between the people
and President Mckinley, and it keeps MN
moving to attend to his duties. All the ca!lers
upon the president are filtered through MN.
He has to get the right men in at the rlght
time and keep all in a good humOr. lie mas
the presidents mail to attend to. He mas
to arrange his social affairs and ms cfnclal
meetings, and he is, in fact the business
manager of the White house / like Mr.
Porter better than several OF his predeces-
sors. Thurber managed this Office with the
dignity of college professor He looked
Ike saint, but he was as slippery as the
soaked bark of an elm tree. He promised
much but die little. Porter promises little
and does a great deal. Thurber was great
knCw-nothing. He could never tell you
whether Cleveland could do anything for you
or not. Porter often tell you that Nc
Kinley will not oblige you, and he IS nov
afraid to say what he thinks. Thur0er looked
upon Cleveland as a god. He bowed bafore
hi as to a gIaVcn i nj g, AMI On i15tinc1Ve-
ly looked at the secretary knees to see II
his pentaloons were not worn away by his
perpetual attitude before his master. 1t was
different with Elijah Halford. Halford kept
Harrson's dignity, but he never worshiPed
him. Halford was a born diplomatic, and
at the same time a man CT high character.
Every one liked Dan Lamont. He knew all
the politicians OF the country, and he never
forgot name or fact. Lamont had
business view of things. He knew Cleveland
thoroughly and not afraid Of him. He
had been a newspaper man, ara so was
Porter. Cleveland trusted Lamont, and
understand that Mckinley trusts Porter, and
in some respects the two secretaries are much
alike.
1 don't covet Secretary Porter's job, how
ever. He gets So 900 year, but he is on the
60 from 3 o'clock in the morning until u
O'Clock at night. The president always seems
to be in good trim, but he is at his strongest
in the evening, and he pushes things from
until Il. He pushes Secretary Porter at the
same time, and it is often after midnight
when the secretary's work is done. During
our stay in the secretarys room there were
more than dozen senators and representa-
tives present. Each one of them has an ak
to grind and wants Mr.. Porter to turn the
stone. There are several women with letters
of introduction of the strongest character
They are told that the president win see them
later on.
A MAIDEN WITH A MISSION.
There comes young woman who wants
private audience with Mckinley She is
dashing girl dressed in black of fashion
able cut. She has a sailor hat upon her
head, and she makes eyes at Mr. Porter as
she talks. Her eyes are pretty too and her
teeth are as white as pearls. Mr.. Porter
smiles and asks for her business with the
president. She answers that it is very pri-
Vate and very important, and the secretary
tells her to go into the next room and wait
there with the congressman and senators,
and the president will see her in her turn
She leaves, but a moment later returns and
tells the secretary that she does not think
that will be good place for her to explain
her business with the president, and says
she must see him alone.
But could not l present the matter to
him?" Mr.. Porter replies. is it anything
regarding offce?'
''No. it is not about Office answers the
maiden. 1T is something of far more i'm
portance. 1t is a matter which affects the
whole nation
well" says Mr.. Porter. II would like to
oblige you, but the president is very busy,
and without I know exactly your business 1
could not think of taking up his time by
making a special appointment for YOU
The young lady pouts. At last she says
Perhaps, after all, Mr.. Secretary you can
help me- l will tell you Whist I want. 1
want the president to join with me in the
work of abolishing sectaranism in religion.
I want to see all Christians meet together