The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-02

would better come to WA8hln8tOns ana
Say It If you put It on paper. It lis
bound to be seen by the presidents
people.
; When the mall has been sorted, the
part OF 1t which is set aside for the
presidents secretary is taken into Mr..
PQrter's roorrl Mr.. Porter Sits this
mail. II there are any letters personal
to the president in 1t, he puts them
on the presidents desk unopened. The
others he opens, In some cases the
signature tells him that letters are
for the president personally. and those
ne leaves unread. Most Of the letters
he reads ard a few he lays aside to an
swer. The others he refers back to the
clerks with general instructions. The
answers to these letters are phrased
by the clerks. but Mr.. Porter reads
them later and signs them with his
own hand.
THE IMPORTANT LETTERS.
Not more than ten or twelve letters
get past Mr.. Porter to the president
unread. OF the other mail not more
than ten or twelve letters are answered
personally by Mr.. Porter. OF the let
tiers which the president reads he may
answer one with the pen. It must be
a letter of very grave, confidential
nature to receive that consideration.
The remaining nine or ten letters the
president returns to Mr.. Porter, say
Ing in each case what reply Is to be
made. Mr.. Porter dictates the answer
to his stenographer. and the president
reads and signs them later.
The mail which Sits through the off,
cial boiling cloth and reaches the
president is the most important gr1st OF
the postoff1ce MILL but the "tailings"
are the most amusing. These are the
letters written by men, women and
children in all parts Of the country, and
their style Is as varied as the character
of the writer's. The envelopes are adj
dressed in fifty different ways. Some
read:
His Excellency the President, Wash
ington, D. c."
president Mckinley the White
House, Washington"
"Hon. William Mckinley, President
Of the United States"
''Wm. Mckinley Jr., the President,
Washington, D. c.
ITO His Honor President Mckinley,
the Capitol
There are fifty different styles Of ad-
dress, and few Of them are according
to the formula accepted by congress
more than century ago. This ques-
ton of the presidents title was debated
gravely by the lawmakers, and reso-
luton was introduced declaring that
the president should be addressed as
Ellis Excellency." But this was with
drawn, and it was agreed that all COM
munications from congress should be
addressed, ITO the President Of the
United States" This is the way official
letters come to the president, but even
members of congress often address him
as Ellis Excellency," and those who
knew the president before his election
almost always address him by name.
His old army comrades usually give
him his army title, major, while Mr..
VIM Mckinley and civilian McKiTi-
ley Jr,'' are not uncommon. Few mis-
spell his name, though some leave out
the 'e' Mr.. Cleveland's name was
seldom misspelled, but Mr.. Harrison
was addressed as "Bengeman Harson"
once, and clerk in the local postof-
fee has an envelope addressed to "Ben-
harrison" which contained a letter in
tended for the president.
Of course most Of the presidents
correspondents want something. Some
of them want office and send petitions
and Endorsements. Their papers are
bundled up and sent to the depart
nlent in which they want to be en-
ployed, accompanied by a printed slip
VI paper SISoHCu OOllu faIOioOlA VI lCi .
secretary" Others specify no place
and file no Endorsements, but appeal
to the president for any employment.
Some are veterans and apply on that
ground. Others say they are competent
to fill any place in the government
service, and they want their merits
considered Still others are poor, and
their appeals are sometimes pitiful, but
they never reach the presidents eye,
nd CT hiC CUnon9fhV IF fnn
president undertook to read letters
like these, he would have no time for
public business.
One man has sent his photograph,
with an application for appointment.
He is a negro.
M BEGGARs AND CRANKS.
Some men and women want money.
Occasionally there is crank who de-
nnandS million or so from the public
treasury. but usually the letters are
perfectly sane. sober communications
from beggars who want something
from Mr.. MeKinley's private purse.
Some are modest and will take any
thing they can get. Some specify $25
or $50 or 500. 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 presi
dent is rich, and some refer to his
$4,000 salary. AS a matter of fact,
Mr.. Mckinley is poor. and his salary
would not cover the demands that are
made on his purse.
Another class of correspondents
writes for autographs, souvenirs, etc.
A great many people write evidently
needless letters in the hope that the
answer will be signed by the president
and will adorn an autograph collection.
Autographs are not sent to casual cor
respondents. If man Of prominence
writes or calls at the White house for
an autograph, 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 a letter came to the
White house addressed to Grover
Cleveland Washington, D. c. 1T was
pcs mark d, Wash ngton, D. c." 1t was
s. Some one remarked that they had
not heard of the Inauguration down in
Florida.
t"That is nothing remarkable said
the mail clerk. I'VE will be getting
letters for Grover Cleveland every day
for six months, and after that they
will come at longer intervals indefinite
ly We receive a great deal of mail
every year addressed TO Abraham Lin
coln Some letters come addressed to
Andrew Jackson, and one day we had
a letter directed to George Washing
tor which was intended for the presi-
dent 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 1 said, the president himself signs
There are half a hundred more which
are signed by Mr.. Porter. and there are
several hundred communications of a
formal character to which the facsimile
of the signature of Mr.. Porter is at