The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-12-02
A Weight of Care.

AS if this were not enough, our political
system makes the President the center
of party activity, of personal ambition
and desire. Not only must all appoint
ments be made theoretically by him as
chief executive, but actually by him in
person. Before making them he must
see and talk with all the interested per-
sous, no matter how great their number.
If they come again and again, for the
avowed purpose of bringing the pressure
of persistency," they must be seen and
Modified. Crossroads politicians must
have access to the ruler of the American
people about seven-by-nine postoffices.
The President must keep open house to
all the Senators and Representatives in
Congress, Of whom there are something
like 450, and the most of whom are pro-
fessiUnal office brokers. Through all this
the President is expected to maintain
his dignity and his equanimity, keep his
patience unruffied and his sense of JUS
tice and of the fitness of things unwarp-
ed. During the whole four years of his
administration he bears upon his shoul-
ders the responsibilities and cares Of the
nation. In the case of most Presidents
there is no cessation Of toll. The cares
of the chief executive are rarely dropped
when he leaves the office. They accom-
pany him to the social function, they are
his constant companion as he attempts
to enjoy a few days outing, they are his
most intimate associates even in his fam
lily circle, and they even follow him into
his bed chamber and there minister te
the discomforts Of his slumber.
Americans are not always a consider
ate people, but it is doubtful if they ever
had a better chance TO see themselves as
they really are than in the book which
ex-President Benjamin Harrison has lust
published, in which he devotes a chapter
to telling Of his own experiences in the
four wears he passed in the White House
There seems to be no danger of the chief
magistrate of the nation forgetting that
he is. in the most literal sense of the
words, a public servant, paid by the pub
lie for the public to enjoy at its leisure.
During the first three weeks of his term
the President of these United States has
to shake hands with not less than 10000
of his fellow citizens. If any one has
ever seen the Auditorium when 10000
persons have been packed into it, and will
multiply that number by four and con-
template shaking hands with all of them
he will form notion of what infinite nui-
sances hand-shaking folk can make of
themselves if you can only get enough of
them together Mr.. Harrison records that
every one who ever had to undergo the
ordeal suffered acute physical torture un-
til President Hayes discovered that if he
reached forward and grasped the hand of
an approaching shaker before the
shaker had chance to grasp his and
squeeze it to show his good will he could
escape serious discomfort and all actual
pain. President McKinley-the Ohio man
is fertile in resource-has another way;
he holds his hand level with his waist
with the back of it up and in this attitude
it is only possible to get a firm grip on the
fingers. which does not hurt nearly as
much as pinching the rest of the hand.
But the handshaking lasts through the
term, though not in such exorbitant
quantities. 1t is not the only trouble The
letter writing fiend gets in his dircful
work-tO the extent of some 800 letters
a day. They ask all sorts of things, from
an autograph for log cabin quilt to the
loan of money enough to buy poor girl
n piano. Then, if the President is not
prompt to send them all they have re-
quested, they write again to tell him what
mean man they have now learned he is.
Private citizens take their turn with
charitable and religious organizations in
begging for money, and woman in North
Calolina tclegraphed one morning: Il
have six little children and they want to
throw me out Of the house. | have no.
where 10 go. l want protection" The
autograph collector is numerously in evil
dence-scores of them every day of the
l,431 which make up a presidential term.
A pile of cards and bushel basket full of
albums are the first things that greet a
chief magistrates eatiaied eyes every
morning when lie comes into his office.