The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-09
THE DEWEYS IN SOCIETY.
How Mrs. Dewey Secured Precedence
at White House Reception.
From the New York Press


Washington, Jan. 6.-ft seems destined
that capital society is to be kept in a tur-
MOL by the new wife of Admiral Dewey
The latest story mat Chief Justice Fuller
has filed a protest with President McKin-
ley on account of the alleged slight Of
fered to the women of the Supreme Court
set in allowing Mrs. Dewey a place ahead
of them among the visitors who were re-
ceived at the New Years reception. is not
entirely true. Secretary Porter vigorous
ly denies that any protest has been made,
which CELEBRATES the incident in its Off
cial aspect, but this does not bring peace
as far as society is concerned, and no
amount of denial and explanation can al
ter the fact that. as was printed In the
Press on last Tuesday morning, Mrs. Dew
ey did enter the Blue Room and was pre-
scented to the President and Mrs. McKin-
ley before the wives of the Supreme Court
justices.
Everybody is asking, How did she do
it?" and no one seems to know. No one
imagines that such a proceeding was on
the programme for the reception. 1t was
just a case of feminine generalship. Mrs.
Dewey was among the women invited to
stand behind the line" in the Blue Room.
she came early, going in by the south
door from the Red Room, before the re-
ceving party had arrived. She got a
gratifying reception from the other wo-
men in the room, who kissed her affec-
tionately besides. After the members of
the diplomatic corps had been received
there came period of waiting, and then.
before the members of the Supreme Court
had had time to make their way into the
room, the Secretary Of the Navy was seen
to enter a second time, escorting Mrs.
Dewey
The Supreme Court women were visibly
indignant No one outside of Washing
ton can understand how cut-and-dried a
thing the question Of precedence IS, and
how objectionable any offense against the
rules is The offended women refused to
pass "behnd the line" according to their
custom. after being received by the Pres
ident, and they were out of the White
House as soon as they could get through
the crowd
Not only the Supreme Court women, but
the wives of the senator's and representa-
tives, were aggrieved, for by right Mrs
Dewey ought TO have place below them.
Mrs. Miles also might lodge complaint,
as Gen. Miles took precedence of Adml-
raj Dewey in the order of reception.
It is limited that Mrs. Dewey got the
ear of the wife of one of the officials in
the introducing party, explained that, on
account of her own reception, which was
to take place in her mothers house within
a short time, it was necessary for her TO
leave the White House Immediately; that
she could not think of leaving at this
her first appearance as a bride at the
White House. without receiving the greet
ings of the President and Mrs. Mckinley;
that through the wife the official was
reached and that after all this the Sec
retarv of the Navy could not refuse to
give his arm TO the wife of the greatest
man in the navy.
As every one in Washington knows, 1t
always has been the custom for the Pres
ident and his wife TO receive on New
Years dav not only all the men of Off
cial nosition, but their wives. Women
were not only welcome but they were ex-
nected. and this visit to the White House
was n duty which all society women rec
opnized. To the amazement OF everybody,
announcement was made from the Whlte
House a day before the reception that the
function would be for men only, and that
women were not expected to attend. AS
high a parsonage in society as Mrs. John
w Foster. the wife Of the former Secre-
tarv of state. telephoned to the White
House. and received the answer from Sec
rotary Porter that only men were expect
od ~ call Mrs Cockrell, wife Of Sena-
tor Cockrell made similar inquiry, put
received a different response, as Secre-
tarv Cortelyou announced that women
would be welcome. Many official women
did not see the notice. and went TO the
White House as usual, and. OF course
they were not turned away. but they
we're informed at the door that they would
not be permitted TO accompany their nus
hands or fathers into the Blue Room but
roust straggle in after the entire line OF
officials had been presented