The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-11
VERY HUNGRY.
Horde Of Office Seekers
at the White House.
POunce on Secretary Porter
Like a Pack Of Wolves.
Great Crowd Enf0rces the Necessity
of a New White House.

w iAs-lh'PSSAsh - ~
n couple OF months we have had such great
crowds of visitors at the White House that
a demand has sprung up for a new execu-
tive mansion. The old house has been
found inadequate TO the demands made
upon its space. The president Of the Unit
ed States is very popular man about this
time. He has more than his share OF Wis
itors. Every day his anterooms are crowd
ed. The White House Is SO constructed
that there is really no proper place for the
accommodation Of the hordes who call
there on business There Is but one place
for them TO wait, and that is q sort of cor
ridor running through the house from
west TO east. 1t really is not room at all.
1t is imperfectly lighted. In the gloom of
this place, about Is feet by 30, one may
often see several hundred people huddled
together. There are chairs only for small
part of them. Hour after hour they stand
about, men and women, young and old,
awaiting an audience. Too often they
wait till they are utterly worn out, and
then are told that the hour for the presi-
dents luncheon has arrived and that no
more visitors can be seen. 1t IL not the
presidents fault, for he works from early
morn till late at night with all his might.
bCIO oiO wv iuouy P<SRASt ehA sss>AV -
only one president.
Pathetic Scenes.
Some of the scenes in this antechamber
are pathetic enough. Every day you may
see three men well advanced In years who
not long ago were on the topmost crest OF
prosperity. They were senator's or con-
gressmen or influential politicians. Then
they could get what they wanted by sim
ply asking for it. Now they arc out at the
heels. They bravely try to hide age and
poverty and decrepitude and despair. They
put on bold front. Some Of them look
as If they were really hungry. But they
wear the air Of grand gentlemen. They
salute you as II they had millions at their
back. They laugh with forced laugh,
and smile with a smile that is painful.
But they keep their eyes on the door, and
II you look carefully you can see wild,
despairing look In those eyes
Here they are, all mingled together. For
the most part they sit in silence. Every
one knows his neighbor's errand. It needs
no power of prescience to discover that ey-
cry last one of them Is after an office. Not
ono perhaps in oil this sassemblage will sue
ceed. All these hopes are TO be dashed to
earth. 1t Is really pitiful to watch the
eager expressions upon their faces when
Secretary Porter makes his appearance at
tho door of his Office. In an instant they
arc all up and at him. They pounoe down
upon him like pack Of hungry wolves.
They extend cards TO him by the score, and
beg that he will get them an audience with
the president. Tho patient secretary must
listen to dozen talking 10 him together.
In the end ho generally raises his arms, rs
II to ward them OF, explains that the pres
ident is busy with senator's or members Of
the cabinet and makes his escape back
through tho door into his office. Then
the crowd moves slowly and sorrowfully
back to it's Nesting places, somc to give up
and resolve to como another day, Others TO
wait and wait and hope against hope.
In the Antcroom.
Now and then n senator or representa-
tive appears. He may walk straight
through without hindrapce. Tho door is
opened as he approaches and others are told
to step aside out Of his way. Lucky the
senator or representative who IL not way
laid by one or more Of the hungry denizens
of the anteroom. They beg to be taken in,
and some of them refuse 20 take no for an
answer. There are office seekers who come
here day after day and wait for the appear
ance of member Of congress with whom
they are acquainted and from whom they
may beg the favor of an escort through the
doors and into the presence Of the great
but sadly overworked and phcnomenally
patient president.
1t Is apparent that this is not III place
for the reception of the people. There are
no accommodations Of character appro-
pirate to the house Of the president. All
these people arc citizens of the United
States. They are here on honorable bust
ness. They deserve respect and fair treat
ment, even IL they are Office seekers. The
least Uncle Sam could do for them would
be to give them a comfortable place in
which to wait and nurse their desperate
hopes. There should be room enough for
all and seats and drink Of water and a
plentitude of Gods free air in the ante
rooms of the president OF the United States.
The Ubiquitous Reporter.
There should be enough room so that the
crowd OF waiting ones need not fall over
tho tables Mt which sit the representatives
Of the press. Perhaps you do not know
that the reporters arc always on hand at
the White House. From tho time tho Office
of Secretary Porter Is opened in the morn
ing till it Is closed ut night tho press men
keep their vigils. They are there to record
all that occurs. They want to know who
secs the president and what about, and
right ingenious and faithful are they in
the discharge of their duties. There Is no
other place for them to work than here In
the midst Of all this hurry burly. When
the employees Of tho executive mansion,
the clerks and correspondents and tcle-
graph operators and others--for IL takes a
pretty largo forco TO attend TO the prcsi-
dents mail-wish To go 10 the office OF
Secretary Porter or % the presidents room,
they must push their way through the
crowd
One improvement Is promised nj the
White House, and this Is an elevator 70
take people from the ground floor TO the
apartments occupied by tho president and
his staff. Old senator's and other callers OF
Importance find It quite difficult to climb
the long flight Of stairs, and they src put
ting their heads together In favor Of an up
preparation for new elevator. SO some
good may come out Of the rush Of tho Office
seekers, after nll There is an elevator In
NJ I..,e l.