The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-04
SECRETARY no THE PRESIDENT.
MIR. J. Addison Porter as an INSTRUCTORS
i'm Etiquette.
Washington Correspondence Philadelphia
Telegraph.


Telegraph.
There has been great deal of criticism
OF MI j. Addison Porter slice he has been
secretary to the President He is the first
man in the country ia hold that position
All those before him have been simply the
residents private secretary. Therefore,
tnere is no fair point of comparison. No
one can tell what the rest might have been
Ike II they had been Secretaries" to the
resident, instead of simply private Sec
Tetaries One thing certain is that Mr..
Porter is not subject TO the criticism passed
upon many of those who have been private
secretary to the President. that they imi-
tate their chief. Mr.. Porter does not imi-
tate President Mckinley. He is as utterly
unlike the President in every respect as
He does not try to initiate but Is purely
original. His mird is not even occupied
with the same line of subjects While the
PRESIDENTS mind is occupied with thoughts
seekers, Mr.. Porter is thinking of matters
entirely foreign to these subjects. He de-
votes his attention to problems that would
De neglected If IT We're not for his pre-emi-
nent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of etiquette
and the like. This subject of etiquette is
one which seems to interest Mr. Porter
greatly. 1t seems to possess an expert
mental interest for him, and he is daily
making new discoveries with respect to the
other and how they should act and dress
ana speak under various circumstances.
~ he Is as deeply occupied with his study
as aSe certain naturalists in the study Of
tne star nsh or the prehistoric condition
OF the water bug.
He has discovered a lot of things here
tofore unknown, and is becoming n great
authority. He is not in the least secretivs
OF selhSh about the matter, but instructs all
Whom he meets, Unfortunately, in what
ne mas learned. He has an open heart and
an open mind.
1t was always said of Thurber that he was
absorbed IN admiration of President CIeve-
land. No such relations exist between
MI Porter and President Mckinley as did
between Thurber and his chief. President
a Gil off md 1fr,as.
OF manner and an amiability of disposition
rarely equaled among men in public life.
he he IS neither exclusive nor arrogant, nor
has he the curiosity which leads to UNI
tried fields of operation. Mr.. Porter does
not initiate the President in any of these
characteristics. His own individuality is
preserved, and so pronounced is it that it
pervades the atmosphere of the White
House. His thoughtfulness has been shown
For instance to gentleman who had an
appointment with the President he said:
do you really think you are of sufficient
Importance to claim the time of the Presi-
dent?'
On another occasion, when he had, by di-
rection OF the President, invited some gem
the White House, he was thoughtful
to suggest to them, on his own account,
that ~ would be proper for them to dress
up little for the occasion.
His latest proposition for the official re-
ceptions at the White House is departure
from custom which may not be understood
army and navy and the ''backwoods" con-
gressmen, who have not yet had an oppor-
tunity to study his system and take simply
ordinary views of things.
His plan simply separates into classes
people to be received on the several occa-
sionS, and he has taken occasion in advance
to announce that those who have been in
vited to one of these receptions must rot
expect to be invited to second, and, fur
ther, to warn them that they must not
come unless they are invited. Heretofore
the first reception was given to the diplo-
matte corps and the army and navy, the
Supreme Court, Congress, and some promi-
nent citizens were invited to meet them. At
the congressional receptions the others were
invited to meet Congress. AT the army and
navy reception, Congress and the diplo-
matte corps, etc, were invited TO meet the
military, and so on through the list. Mr.
Porter does not propose to have them
mixed together this way.
The diplomats and the military are TO be
separated, and the congressman are to be
divided into sections so that the President
will not have all of Congress on his bands
at once The statesmen are to be called ac-
cording to the first letter of their s4ames.
From "a to IN" say, will go to one re-
ception and from "O'' to az to another.
If Senator M proposes to Senator 90"
who is his chum that they go to the Presi-
dents reception in the same carriage, Sem
ator 30" will have to explain that it was
not vet his turn to be invited. and that he
must wait for the next reception, at winch
he will be pleased to meet Senator M
Senator M will then have to explain that,
having been invited to the first reception,
he will not be entitled to attend the secold,
and therefore, they will have 10 forego the
pleasure of meeting at the White House.