Evening star., 1900-08-01
TO GUARD THE PRESIDENT
EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WILL BE;
TAKEN DURING HIS RETURN.
Action by the Secret Service without
His knowledge, Probably
Against His Wish.

There is no doubt that extra precautions
will be taken on the return trip of the
President TO Washington this time 1t is a
tradition of criminal history that such a
crime as that in Italy arouses thoughts OF
violence in the heads OF men with dis
ordered or mean minds. 1t is therefor
thought best to increase the protection that
Is usually given the chief executive when
he is travelling. He Is not aware that he
is practically guarded on such trips For
instance, on the train that he is comi IN Z
back on now from Canton there will be two
or three secret service men. They will get
off at every station and keep sharp eye
out on suspicious characters. They will
make the same observations of people or
the train. They never go to the extent of
following the heels Of the President :
carriage at either Canton OF Washington
but they are never far away. Sometimes
an ordinary street cab going in the same
direction as the Presidents carriage Will
contain two men on the front seat or one
inside and the other out. One of the men
Is almost sure to be a secret service oiti-
Cial.
These precautions are taken by the secret
service without the knowledge of any one,
especially the President. He would prob
hpiy iol pSi II IL aware OF Sucn care.
Frequently he gets the better of the de-
tecuves by doing something that is not
expected of him. When at the White
House he is likely at any minute to decide
upon long walk alone. He follows th.,
decision by setting out. and the first known
of his intention is when he Is seen swing
ing along on some of the streets near the
Nhlte House, nodding recognition to those
who salute him.
AT the White House there are no detec-
tives on duty. The policemen at the doors
ana IN the grounds look after their duties
with strict care and are proof against
cranks and other dangerous creatures who
might have designs on inmates of the Ex-
ecutive Mansion.
Many Threats From Cranks.
Many intimations of intended attempts
on the life of President Mckinley reach
the secret service at intervals, but not
since his administration have any of these
1ntimations turned out to have real foun-
dation Most of the threats and intima-
tons come from the most harmless cranks.
They write to Washington that there is a
plot on foot to make way with the Pres-
dent, sometimes to assassinate him. other
times TO kldnao him, and many such
things. In most instances the letters show
absurdity on their face and nothing is done
but to file them away for future reference.
Should a threat against p~esid"rt McKin-
ley reach the secret service and b Coz
sidered genuine the PROPOSED pvrp, ,iatu. :
of crime would be hunted to the earth
with vengeance that would surprise them.
Some of the shrewdest man-hunters in the
world are at work the force.
The secret service is making no investi-
CATION through its operatives Of the eX-
istence of anarchist societies in Paterson,
N. j., or elsewhere. 1t is not looking up
the history of Bresci, the murderer Of
King Humbert. 1t has nothing to do with
these organizations. or with its members
unless they should threaten the Life Of the
chief executive of this government.