St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-12-07


Few people have any idea of the de-
mands made upon the president for as
sistance, and IL he undertook to even
read the letters addressed to him that ar
rive at the White House every day he
would have no time to devote to public
business. Nine-tenths of these letters
relate to matters pending in the several
departments and ought to have been
sent to them direct, but the writer's evil
IDENTIFY thought IL they addressed the
president action would be facilitated in
their cases. The other 10th are begging
letters, many of them In degree meri-
torius, but mainly not So Hundreds OF
letters are received every day and q
corps Of clerks are kept busy opening and
reading the letters, making acknowledge
ments and referring them to the proper
departments for consideration and ac-
ton. Each letter after being read and
its contents noted, Is endorsed in large
white envelope, on which is printed these
words:
Executive Mansion.
The within communication Is re-
spectfully referred to the Secretary
of the Treasury. BY direction Of the
President,
John Addison Porter, Secretary.
If letter refers to anything apper-
tanning to the navy 1t Is enclosed in an
envelope with reference to the secre
tary of the navy; If 1t refers to land mat
ters, Indian affairs, patents, education.
pensions or any of the many institu-
lions under control of the interior de-
partment, it will be enclosed in an en-
velope of reference to the secretary of
the interior. Unless the letters received
come from personal friends, senator,
q representative or a person of promi-
nence, the president, as a rule, never
sees them, but they are read and dis
posed Of by the clerks at the White
House, in THE manner heretofore de-
scribed. There are two classes Of per-
sons who seem to think they are priv
ileged to write to the president direct,
and that he will personally look after
their interests, and these are the old SOL
diers and the colored people In the south.
If an old soldier has trouble about his
pension, he thinks the president can fix
colored people in the south, who were
slaves before the war closed, have heard
a story that they are to be pensioned
and so write to the president, asking
him TO send their pension money along
Many such letters have been received
lately, the most of them barely decipher-
able but pathetic in character. The
writers, old and decrepit, living on plan
tatiOns or In a small ramshackle Of
building on a small piece Of ground, many
miles remote from railroads, and with
little or no facilities of knowing what Is
going on in the outside world, have heard
in an exaggerated form about bill
introduced In congress year or more
ago by some member for political effect,
to give pensions to all ex-slaves, imagine
now that their future is provided for,
and that all they have to do is to ask
"Massa Mckinley" to send them the
money. Scores Of such letters have been
received at the White House and referred
to the secretary Of the interior, who had
courteous answers returned, informing
the writer's that no such law has been
passed.
Governor John G.. Brady of Alaska
is an original character, and some of his
official documents are said to be curl
osities in literature. He Is said by hi.
friends to be an adept in telling stories
His originality has shown itself recent
ly in a Thanksgiving proclamation
which has produced CONSERVATION
among his friends and is likely to ge
him into trouble with the administra
ton. Although appointed by Presiden
Mckinley, he has not yet become accus
toned to the administration traces, blu
has grown fractions and kicked over an,
left his imprint so that all may see. II
issued a Thanksgiving proclamation
| dated Executive Uttice, SltKa, A.t,she
Nov. 3, 1898, and gave expression to sen
timents therein regarded as a hit a
President Mckinley and the administra
ton, which he will have to either dis
avow of take the chances of losing hi
official head. The proclamation reads
1--WE hero in Alaska can join our friend
in the states and territories in render
ing praise and thanksgiving to Almight,
God for his greatness and mercy. Vic
tory has been given US over Spain ant
our army and navy have brought libert,
and hope to people who were crushed
While our soldiers have gained battle.
we can be thankful that we did not hav
own pitiable weakness in supplying
caring for and handling troops has bee
revealed to u.s.
Commodore Crownnshield, chief of tn
bureau Of navigation, navy department
in his annual report directs special atter
ton to the remarkable accuracy dis
PLAYED by the gunners on our ships dun
ing the war with Spain, and says tha
the completeness of our naval victorie
and the almost absolute immunity frol
injury which our ships and crews ca
joyed was due to this fact. The hi
per gun Fer minute" were remarkabl
high, and the experience of each con
bat was that our craftsmanship was
far superior that, at range at whit
the Spanish guns and gunners were II
effective, our guns and gunners were
effective that before the range was
could be reduced the Spanish ships we
either seriously crippled or their crev
demoralized."
The family and friends of the la
James G. Blaine are very much annoyt
over statement extensively printed tn
no stone or monument marks his restr
. place, which has no foundation in fac
. Mr.. Blaine left his family well provide
: for. Mrs. Blaine has good incor
from property in Washington, and M
:, Blaines estate was valued at somethil