The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08


than per cent brought to his personal at
tention. They are opened in the executive
offices and those OF Importance selected.
Mr.. Cortelyou signs. or has stamped with
a fac-simile of his signature, every official
letter. except a few which the President
may prefer to sign. OF even the small per-
centage Of letters laid before him he reads
few. His secretary states briefly the con-
tents Of each and he gives the necessary
directions or dictates an answer.
HIS APPOINTMENTS.
Since the beginning Of his first admins
tration President Mckinley has made very
few personal appointments. Practically
every selection is now made upon the rec
ommendation of a senator; sometimes a
representatives, wish is influential, while a
Cabinet officers APPROVAL is final. Generally
the President is not personally acquainted
with his appointees, though it is not
usual for an applicant for Office to be pre-
sented TO the executive. This furnishes an
opportunity to take his measure. The Pres
ident has become very adept in judging
character. The papers in case are briefed
at the department to which the office is
attached. showing the names Of those in
dorsing a candidate and the secretary's
view. These are then forwarded to the
President and, If the Office is a local one
the appointment is made without delay. 1t
is remarkable that in so many instances
the President has some knowledge of the
candidate, due to his own long public serv-
ice and wide acquaintance. Where the Of
fee to be filled is sought by men Of differ
ent States, each with strong political back
ing, the selection is more difficult. The bet
ter man is then usually chosen. Small
things will decide for or against an appli-
can't Too many Endorsements, showing an
undue anxiety for office, have proved fatal
too much importuning, until the President
is tired Of the candidates name, has killed
many a mans chances. Where there are no
complications a vacancy is filled as soon
as it occurs. When claims conflict more
time is required but the President seldom
delays long in making appointment, de-
string to be relieved Of the pressure and to
get his difficulties behind him.
Seldom does a state paper go out without
the Presidents personality impressed upon
it. If he does not prepare it himself he gen.
orally inspires it. When Cabinet officer
prepares a paper for him 1t is invariably
altered by the President in some phrase OF
expression, better to express or qualify a
meaning. When he makes a change it is
usually an improvement, no matter who
happened to prepare the document. Cabinet
officers say in private that they cannot
write anything that will pass muster with
the President unless he makes some eff
fective correction. He is particularly care
full with proclamations. Now, Thanksgiv-
ing proclamation may seem to be easily
drafted, but it is a difficult task 1t ought
to be original, but so many have been is
sued that originality is almost impossible
Mr.. Mckinley begins early on such a task,
and he may lay the first or second draft
aside for week, but when 1t comes forth
it is gem, emphasizing that for which the
Nation should be most thankful
In writing his messages President Nc
Kinley takes the greatest pains. His meth
DDS Of preparation vary somewhat each
year. He may dictate almost an entire mes
sage, or write most Of it himself with pen
or pencil. The first draft simply begins the
work. Long before II is written notes have
been made. thoughts jotted down and a list
of subjects is prepared That is often
changed. 1t is guide to the message Ev-
cry note is so marked as to be easily iden-
titled. The President may be in his room,
when an idea strikes him, it is noted; he
may be walking or driving and phrase or
occurs to him: he will write it on an ev-
velope whatever paper happens to be
handy or if Mr.. Cortelyou is with him it is
dictated then and there. Thus wherever he
may be, the President is careful that a
thought or expression that can be advan-
tageously used is not lost, but is stored
away for future use. This is one of his
methods in writing speeches.
PREPARING HIS MESS AGE
About the third week in October the real
work of getting a message ready begins
Each subject is placed under a separate
head. 1t is copied on tinted slips, about four
by eight inches with broad spacing so as
to leave ample room for alterations. Each
slip is numbered, dated and its subject
noted-thus: 'Tarih-Draft ], Page l. Oct
IL. 1900" The notes from which this is cop
led are also marked so as to be identified;
then if the paper is lost It can be dupli-
Gated or identified. Where figures are used
blanks are left IN the slips for them; after
ward they are secured at the Treasury De-
partment, which is held responsible for
their accuracy. Every figure or statement
Is verified. II il concerns the treasury, il is
proved by Secretary Gage, through his Sec
rotary. If a mistake is made the Treasury
Department is held to account. The Depart
ment Of State prepares for the message an
accurate account Of the conduct of for
eign affairs for the year. 1t is not gener-
ally used in the exact form in which it
comes. 1t may be too long, or some sub
Ject may require more cautious or a more
vigorous handling. Other departments fur
nish live matter and the President takes
what he wants, but it is all rewritten and
condensed. The President has been known
to use just three short paragraphs out of a
statement 10000 words long, giving in de-
tail the work OF a department for the year
and even then Congress did not suffer from
lack Of information. A Presidents message
at least a Mckinley message, is not, then,
patchwork but it is a product of much
labor and painstaking care.
The President dictates very rapidly He
has a splendid vocabulary, and is never at
a loss for word. This dictation, after be-
ing typewriter, is most carefully revised
The material is then rearranged, il neces-
sary, and copied again. Then it goes to the
printer, who. after it is set up, takes a
proof on unusually wide paper. so that at
the sides. at the top and at the bottom
there is ample room for corrections. This
revised proof is then corrected by the
printer and another proof made-with every
revision there is a new proof. Sometimes