The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-03
nEEICIALs OF THE CABINET.
continued from First Page.

continued from First Page.
ma have sprinkling of hayseed in
~ ~ lortks. such a description does not ap-
AS 80 secretary Wilson. On the contrary,
y" T.; nroDably the most up-to-date mem-
tsr If the cabinet, especially in the adj
f,fstration of his official duties. 1t IS
nj in official circles that the business
s,I,ninistra ton of the department under
s1.~stary Wilson is conducted according
-, he most modern methods. The OLD
Item of red tape, which tangles up the
aTairs of several of the other depart
rrents. has been entirely abolished in his
ier,rtment. and the latest Improvements
M correspondence record-keeping and
other facilities for the prompt transaction
Of ne public business are in force in the
department of agriculture.
Gage, Griggs, Root. Et al.
Secretary Gage as the custodian of the
financial secrets of the government, must
necessarily be exceedingly cautious in his
5istribution of informa ton. He has a few
tried and true friends with whom he viii
converse with the greatest freedom on
u1blic affairs, but as a general rule, he
is a hard man to interview. He is neither
offensive nor disagreeable in his manner
IN public or private life.
Attorney General Griggs is not as fire.
ouent in his visits to the White House
as he was when the depart ment of jus
was iOCdte1 immediately opposite IIe
executive mansion. His temporary Office
on X street in the former residence of
Hon Thomas w. Palmer of Michigan, is
several blocks away. Hence it is not con-
vcGient for him 10 drop in upon the Pres
ident two or three. times a day as was his
custom heretofore. His personal rela>
tcns with the President are not changed
however. and he still retains his popu-
larity at the executive mansion, which is
not surpassed by any other member of
the cabinet.
Secretaries Root and Hitchcock are the
extremely dignifed members of the cabi-
net They show no inclination TO become
what is known in official life as good
mixers" but prefer to pursue somewhat
reticent or exclusive sourse in dealing with
those who come in contact with them Of
foially.
Presidential Characteristics.
The President is undoubtedly the best
mixer in the present administration.
He has the happy faculty of greeting all
of his visitors in the most pleasant and
friendly manner and the glad hand"
which Mckinley gives to everyone will be
remembered as one of the predominating
characteristics of his Presidential career
Ever gracious and dignifed, he sometimes
relaXes sufficiently to greet old personal
friends, with whom he has served in pub
lie life by their last names. Others he ad-
dresses by their given names but as ~
general rule business callers are called
by their official title. In speaking to mill
tary men he never makes the mistake of
calling a soldier by a title below the lat
ter's claimed rank. For instance, he would
never be guilty of calling a general
colonel, or a colonel major. If he errs
1t is generally on the side of an advanced
rank.
In the arrangements of the state din
ners and other social functions at the
White House President Mckinley looks
after the important details himself In
selecting his guests he always endeavorS
TO assemble a congenial party. He is eS-
pecially careful in arranging dinner
party for by a tactful distribution of his
guests, he generally pairs them off so
appropriately that the entertainment is
robbed of stiffness and dreary formality
which might otherwise prevail. President
Mckinley is perhaps the most liberal and
generous entertainer who has occupied
the Executive Mansion during the past
half century. During his administration
the state dining room has been almost en-
urely abandoned because of its confined
limits. With the greatest crowding not
more than fifty plates can be spread in
that apartment. AS the Mckinley dinners
invariably exceed that number and fire.
quently approach the seventy-five or one
hundred mark. the long corridor on the
main floor has been temporarily convert
ed into a dining hall for state and other
big entertainments at the White House.
Presidents Physician.
Dr. Rixey, surgeon in the navy. is
another daily visitor at the White House.
He is the Presidents family physician,
and the successor to Gen. Leonard Wood,
now in Cuba. DR.. Rixey drives an anti
quated coupe, the only one of its kind in
Washington. This odd looking vehicle,
with the coachmans box located about
two feet below the roof of the coupe, so
chat the drivers back rests against the
front window pane, stops in front of the
Executive Mansion every morning about
$3.50 O'Clock. The doctor, with his medi-
cine case in hand, hurries into the house,
consults the President also Mrs McKin-
ley, and then departs 10 make his usual
round in the official set.
During the remainder of the day the
Presidents aute-room is filed with off,
cial visitors, some seeking Presidential
influence or favors in behalf of their con-
sutuents In the early days of the pres
ent administration the rotund form of
Senator Billy Mason was seen at the
White House every day except Sunday.
He was usually accompanied by a squad
of Illinois office Since he broke
away from the expansion wing of his
party several months ago, he has ceased
60 be one of the Presidents chronic call
ers He has not darkened the door Of the
White House since he became the cham
pion of Aguinaldo in the Senate. Up to
date, the President seems TO have endur-
Cd the absence of the junior Senator from
Illinois with becoming resignation.