The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-28
UNLIMITED GUESTS.
Nearly 300 People Force Themselves
Into the White House.

Into the W mite mousse
w e. Curtiss Washington Special to Chi
cago Record.
Notwithstanding the unusual precautions
and the announcements that nobody was
expected at the Presidents receptions eX-
cept those who received formal invitations,
there were over three hundred unlimited
guests at the reception given to the diplo-
matte corps two weeks ago. ThiS indicates
the freedom with which the American ,a PEG
pie exercise what they consider their priVi-
leges under the Constitution of the United
States which was intended to establish
Justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro-
mote the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity" For several days prior to the
reception the daily newspapers contained
a standing announcement that the Presi-
dent in order to brighten away uninVlted
guests, would require the identification or
every person who entered the executive
mansion, and that the two thousand invita-
tons which had been issued were intended
only for those persons TO whom they were
addressed, and for no others. There were
more than five hundred applications for in
vitatOns, nearly all of which were denied
In each case it was politely explained that
the number invited already exceeded the
capacity of the house, and that 1t would
be impossible to accommodate any more,
and an intimat ton was given that there
were other receptions contemplated.
1t would seem that, with all these precau-
tions, the President and his guests should
have been protected from tntruders, but
more than three hundred persons forced
their way in, regardless of the warnings
and the universal laws OF prOprIety. 1T was
first proposed to ask the guests to show
their invitations at the door, but the Pres
ident objected. Therefore men We're sta
toned at the entrance with typewriter
lists, and every one who was not recog-
nized was asked for his or her name and
address. There was doorkeeper from the
Senate and one from the House of Repre-
sentatives who knew all the members OF
Congress by sight One of the doorkeepers
of the White House who knows all the peo-
pie who are in the habit of calling upon the
President. and q man who is familiar with
most of the society people in town, assisted.
When senator or a gentleman who was
known to them appeared they turned to
their alphabetical lists and checked off his
name. When. q man or woman entered
whom none of these sentinels could identify
he was asked for his card; if he had no
card he was asked for his name and adj
objected, but invariably it was found that
the DIRECTORS were there without invita-
lions.
The next morning these lists were handed
to Colonel Bingham, the commissioner OF
public buildings and grounds, who has
charge of official ceremonies, and he caused
letters to be written to each one, informing
them that the President was aware that
they were present at the reception, all
though their names were not upon the in
vitation list, and asking an explanation.
AS one might expect, most of these commu-
nicatiOnS remained unanswered, and some
of them have been returned by the Post
Office Department with the report that the
persons to whom they were addressed can
not be found. This indicates that fictitious
| number of the intruders were brought by
| senators and members of the House Of Rep
resentatives. They were strangers in the
city, visiting friends or were office seekers
| Some of them were boarding house ac-
| quaintances. Strange to say, there were
two army officers who explained that they
| were invited by members of Congress.
| These letters were referred to the adjutant
| general. There was at least one govern
ment clerk from the Pension Office, who is
! badly frightened for fear he will lose his
! position. He says he has been in the habit
of attending presidential receptions, and did
| not suppose there was any harm in his go
| ing. The commissioner of pensions will ex-
| plain to him the improperly of taking such
liberties with the President of the United
| States.
| The next reception will be given during
the present week in honor of President
| Dole of the Hawaiian islands About 1000
| people are invited, and even greater pre-
lNcautions will be taken to exclude those
| whose presence is not desired. But the first
experiment has demonstrated very clearly
! that the general understanding is correct
| that the members of the Senate and House
| of Representatives, by bringing their con-
stituents who happen to be in town and the
people from their boarding houses, are
| chiefly responsible for the uncomfortable
crowds at the presidential receptions.