The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-06
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
TEE PRESIDENT BEsIEGED by
YELLOW JOURNALISTS.

Persian ManiSter-SOme of the So
cinI Feuds and JeaIOusics Be-
tween wives OF politicians.
Washington, Jan. Without any inten-
ton of being a humorist, President Nc
Kinley supplied text for some of the
writers of funny stories and also furnish
ed subject for some timely cartoons in
connection with the advent of the TWEEN
tieth century For more than week past
a number of enterprising newspapers re-
sorted to all kinds of journalistic strate-
gy to induce the President to commit him
self to an expression of sentiment applica-
BILE to the year 1901, which might be used
for advertising purposes. Requests came
from So many sources that he was oblig
ed, as & matter of self-defense, 10 deny
all propositions of that character. The
closing days of the nineteenth century
found many so-called special commission
ers' haunting the White House daily, try
ing to induce Secretary Cortelyou to use
his good Offices with the President in be-
half of their respective papers. The Pres
ident having had ,ong experience in such
matters, pursued a conservative course
and refused to lend himself to one news
paper IN the disadvantage of others. HaV-
ing closed the doors against the ingen-
lous, but persistent special commission
ers." the field was left open to those who
wished to Indulge in imagination and ro-
nance with regard to what the President
might think, say or do during the first
hours OF the new century.
The dawn of a new century is an un-
usual event in this generation consequent
~, certain enterpIising individuals Were
not to be foiled by the mere decInation
of the President of the United States 60
further their individual interests. Elab-
crate preparations had been made to car
ry out a certain programme in which the
chief executive was scheduled to play the
star part, consequently the performance
had to 20 on just the same. Vivid de
scriptions of what the President did and
said Immediately after the new century
was ushered in had been put in type IN
various sections of the country, and the
farce comedy was enacted with all the
seriousness. of the real thing.
There are several claimants for the dis
tinction of having placed in the Presi-
dents hands the first newspaper publish
ed in the new century. To whom belong
tne ronor, time alone will tell. The fact
remains that as late as high noon on
New Years day a nervous and excitable
crowd at the White House with a small
package tucked under his arm, earnestly
beseaching some of the employees of the
executive mansion TO receive New
Years greeting which was intended TO
have reached the President before he had
partaken of his twentieth century break
fast. Whether or not the individual was
eventually relieved of his precious bur
den officially is another story. 1t is up
to the President to declare the name of
the newspaper which first greeted his
eyes on the morning OF Jan. /, 1901.
Return OF the PrOdigaI.
One of the social incidents of the new
century was the formal return to the ad-
ministration fold of Senator Stewart of
Nevada and his estimable family. Up to
1896 the Stewards were numbered in the
Republican social family at Washington
and as social entertainers they have few
equals in what is known as the smart
set Stewart Castle" was the scene Of
many grand functions and Mrs. Stewart
and her daughters were graciously re-
ceived, not only al the White House, but
at all of the social centers. When Sena-
tor Stewart espoused the cause of Bryan
ism four years and became a liberal con-
tributor to every ism which savored of
ti-McKinleyism and nti-Republieanism,
his family went into special retirement.
During the last campaign Senator Stew
art became re-conyerted to Republican
ism and posed as an ardent supporter of
Republican doctrines and was re-admit-
ted to the inner councils Of the admins
tration party. He now has a seat in the
Republican senatorial caucus and his fam
lily are again numbered among the chosen
in administration circles
For the first time in five years, Senator
Stewart, his wife and daughter were
present at the White House reception. and
they apparently derived considerable
pleasure in letting their friends see and
know that they are again in the social
swim at the national capital Senator
and Mrs. Stewart. having disposed of
Stewart Castle" at a handsome sum.
have esta blished themselves in a large,
old-feshioned residence in a desirable sec
tion of the city, and it is understood they
intend 10 resume the entertainments
which formerly made their home such an
attractive place on every swell visiting
list.
a Dazzling Persian.
Gen. Isaac Khan, the new Persian min
lister, is what they might call in police
vaudeville parlance 'topAiner' in diplo-
matte circles. For the first time in a
number of years. Persia has a representa-
tive at the national capital. New Year
day he made his formal debut in official
scci>tH II was in every respect a decid
ed success, *. he more than divided hon
ors with the Jolly British ambassador
Lord Pauncefote, and the picturesque and
always entertaining Chinese minister Mr..
WI. Gen. Isaac is not only a splendid
specimen of robust manhood, but he Is
comparatively young, and it is said that
he is probably the wcalthiest and the
most eligible beau i'm the foreign colony.
Aside from his mental and physical at
fractions, his court costume was probably
the most dazzling of all the diplomatic
uniforms. He was Respondent from the
Tip of his collar to the heels of his shoes
with gold lace, on a background of
blue cloth and the front of his coat was
breastplate of green velvet upon which
glittered numerous brilliant decorations
Across his shoulder was flung a green
satin sash which lead down 10 a jewel
headed sword, which hung at his side. On
his head he wore a black Astrakhan fez
ornamented with a white pompon held IN
place by a jeweled pin. While he fingered
in the East Room after paying his re-
spects to the presidential party he was
constantly surrounded by a bevy of the
brightest and pretuest girls in the official
set Indeed, he held an informal levee for
ladies' only, until he was notified by one
of his associates that it was time for him
10 leave to attend the New Years break
fast at the residence Of the Secretary Of
State
The Digniied Supreme Court.