Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-09-30
GUARD FOR PRESIDENT
Consideration of the Problem by
Washington Officials.
EVIL OF HANDsHAKING DISCUSSED

ON PrOmiscuOus Receptions Held
by American Presidents Need
Shown OF a More Extended System
of Federal Police.
With a record of three presidential
assassinations within thirty seven
years, it is evident that the time has
come for very serious study of methods
to prevent the recurrence of such TRACE.
dies, writes the special correspondent
Of the New York Post at Washington
Every time worthless crank has been
willing to trade his own life for that
of the president of the United States
such horror has been possible, and
among 100000 people it is perhaps
not surprising that the material OF
which assassins are made finds some
development. How may it be made
practically impossible for them to &C
complish their purposes? To make 1t
absolutely impossible Is Of course out
of the question. Even car, surround
ed by lines of soldiers, may be the vic
tim of bomb thrown from crowd.
This is the way the Chicago policemen
were murdered in the Haymarket
square outbreak. But the danger OF
violence like that of death from dis
ease, may be greatly minimzed by
suitable precautionary measures.
New legislation to enlarge the func-
tons of the secret service of the treas
ury may receive attention. 1t is be-
coming evident that there should be
larger and more efficient federal police
system. 1t is needed in many ways.
to keep track of criminals who are sus-
pected of plotting against the state.
Many a plot against the sovereign Is
frustrated in the old world without its
ever becoming known. 1T he chose to
do so, Chief Wilkie could tell of a few
plots in the United States which have
received his official attention. but new
er have figured in his annual report
to the secretary. 1t has been found
that publicity tends to breed crime Of
this kind Much of it, in fact has it's
inception in mania for newspaper
notoriety. Students of the Guiteau
case agree that one of the strongest
motives which appeared in the mad
ness of Garfield's slayer was an in
ordinate craving for nOtoriety. 1t will
be remembered that when the murder
err was captured letters were found in
his pockets addessed to the public and
intended for the newspapers. An eft1-
cient secret service must work without
a megaphone or it defeats its own ends,
and hence Chief Wilkie has acted wise
ly in keeping in the dark all success
full efforts in the past to Illustrate plots
of this kind.
The present secret service bureau is
maintained, as far as the law goes, on
ly for the purpose of checking counter
letters. There never was any general
detective bureau of the national gov
eminent, but the need Of one has re-
suited in the gradual enlargement Of
the treasury until now it Is the prac-
tice of other departments to ask for
the detail Of Mr.. Wilkes men for many
purposes. The law requires a certain
amount of red tape in making trans
fers, and there is often some difficulty
about the appropriations. An amend
ment to the law would correct this,
and larger appropriation would give
the government an efficient force.
Many congressman express themselves
In favor of such legislation.
But the real question comes on the
presidents attitude toward the public.
James Ford Rhodes, the historian.
says that IAN orderly sergeant, with
proper instructions, stationed at the
door of the theater box would have
prevented the assassination Of Lincoln.
Had there been three policemen or spe-
cial officers in company with Garfield
Guiteau would not have fired the fatal
shot o+ tho WASHINGTON station. Had
" Do hn