The times., 1899-04-02

never waste words in answering this ques-
tion but biandly reply, You may" with
the accent upon the last word, of course.
Then the visitor who has secured permis-
sion to go up stairs, walks past guards
and doorkeepers with nonchalant air and
saunters into the anteroom.
!, There he finds ample opportunity and
time to rest comfortably on the large
leather chairs and sofas before sauntering
down the stairs again. The quiet unas
suming man may enter the reception
room and sit there all day long without
being molested.
The energetic busy fellow, with only a
minute to remain. will ask questions, and
tell everybody that he has but a minute TO
spare, wasting considerable energy, but
accomplishing nothing. Then there is the
type of individual who sits by the window,
thinking that his application for a third
class postotiice is the most important piece
of business the President Will have TO at
tend to in week. and the petty politician
from the backWOOds. who was once told
by Republican county orator that he
might expect to get anything at the Presi-
dents disposal, il he helped in his election
He sends in his card with only his name
thereon and then sits for the rest of the
day, wondering why the President should
not give Immediate attention to his de-
mand.
The amateur reformer with his petit
tion signed by fully 800 women TO urge
the President to abolish the sale of liquor
in the United States. is always there. This
class gives the doorkeepers and attendants
on the Presidents floor more trouble than
any other type of visitor. They not only
insist upon being listened TO by every per-
son separately, but endeavor to air their
views in Il loud and boisterous manner for
the edification of everyone present.
Most nf the callers display considerable
nervousness at the thought that they may
soon be in the presence OF the President
of the United States This fact accounts
for the easy manner in which the crowd
is handled. Seldom do the attendants have
10 use force in eiecting a person who at
tempts TO get by the guard and through
the door to the Cabinet room. During the
war with Spain it was necessary for the
officers to be dOubly watchful for cranks.
A number of these have visited the White
House during the past winter, but happily
all have been of the harmless class and
were easily dealt with
The crank who shows his mental
calibre in his look never gets be-
yond the vigilant guard of the door,
but occasionally freak will reach the up
per story. There they are allowed to sit so
IoHS 40 tucS itiiidlH Vuicl- AIltT DeillS
told that it is the Presidents busy day
and advised TO call again. they depart
quietly. Once outside of the White House
they are spotted by the officers. who never
fail TO keep them on the lower floor on the
occasion of their next visit These are
some of the people who call at the White
House day after day and spend the morn
ing and afternoon in nervous expectation of
seeing the President every moment.
Personal applications for office are re-
ceiyed in very few instances. The fact
that the President does not make appoint
ments off hand is explained many times a
day and brings forth various comments on
the part OF the disappointed applicant
Many uncalledfor, uncomplimentary. and
unjust things are said against Mr. McKin-
ley after caller learns that his visit is of
no avail.
most eommeRdable feature in dealing
With visitors who have no business at the