Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-04
THE PRESIDENT
Standing the Strain Of the War Duties Mar.
veIously Well.

| Washington, May Sit is a matter
| of general comment how we'll the Presi-
| dent has stood the strain of the last
few weeks. His face is a little paler
than usual. there is a sterner express
sion about the mouth. but these are
the only indications that he feels the
pressure he has been under and the
present extraordinary demands upon
him. To his hardy ancestry. to his
simple tastes and regular habits of ilfe'
which have not been changed by his
elevation to the highest place in the
lard. he owes his strength of body, his
ability to endure: and long years OF
mental discipline have equipped him
for the present crisis.
Since he first took W the duties of
the executive office the President has
depended upon ut-of-door exercises,
long walks about town or Il gallon on
horseback over the country roads for
recreation but this is no play time
and the eHigencies of the moment have
both his rambles through the city and
his riding.
His exercises at present is limited to
to tie grounds of the White House
and not infrequenty he can he seen
pacing up and down the lawn uDon the
south side with member of his cahi-
net or some one of his advisers from
Congress, in dcep and earnest CONVEX
sation
we all work hard" said an cmploye
of The w hte House. but the President
is the hardest worker of any of us. He
never spares himself and it is beauti-
full to see with what calm he meets
every crisis, how mastery he deals
with all the subjects that are brought
20 his considerations
The President is constantly receiving
such tributes from those who are close
ly associated with him. Few EXccu
lives, indeed. have been more popular
with their households, and it is no
wonder, for he is so kind, so generally
friendly. and not even jefferson was
more absolutely simple in his manner;
but President Mckinley never poses
as his illustrious predecessor-if it is
not irreverent to say it-sometimes did
Since the war excitement began the
Presidents mail has been enormous
and it increases in size each day. Let
ters on every subject in the world are
addressed to the White House and ad-
vice pours in by the basketful. Why
those who intend to enlist should find
it necessary to acquaint the President
OF the fact is a puzzle. but nearly
everyone who has this intention does.
and among the letters are some signed
by persons who should know better.
AS 4 matter of fact, the President never
sees this class of letters which are sent
over to the war or navy department and
put on file there-a work that requires
be: of clerks who might be employed to
| better purpose. 1t was proposed by one
OF the officials of the department to de-
stroy all these epistles, but for fear that
some hing of value might be lost or this
disposition Of these evidences of patriot
ism might DO unpopular. it was decided
against.
| The President is rot The only one, how
ever. Wrose mail mas increased. The mail
! of every member of Congress has been
| doubled; and when it is taken into con
sideration that every letter received by
the peoples representatives must be an
swerod, the amount of labor involved can
| be imagined. This condition is bonanza
to unemployed stenographers, since many
members have been compelled to engage
many clerks.
! Those letters are on every conceivable
subject. Some of them warmly applaud
| the course of the member to whom they
are a ldressed. others denounce him 9TH
crs advise. Some of the writer's want com
missions. some are willing and anxious
to fight in the ranks, and many ask if it
is not possible to get fat contracts A
member of Congress from the West re-
ii
Sourcd constituent who did not approve
Of his position: Eve got Il big yellow
squash left over from last years harvest
that's got more brains in it than you've
got"
1T is astonishing said a wcll-known
senator. commenting on the number of
letters he had recently received from peo-
Pile Who want to enlist, that among those
who profess themselves anxious to go to
war there are SO many professional men
The majority of those ! receive are from
that class. Here is one signed by a pro-
fessor Of SanScrit in the ----- Univcr-
sity. who says he can fight and am sure
he would make Il good sol Her if he does
know SanScrt."
DEWEY. THE HERO.
Will Ro MaIn IN Adrnirel IN po,,.n;I:.~