The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-14

| IlOn from the HISL IIGSlQSIL W tIlG Gl-
feet that he was acting on the advice
of others, and that for his own part
he would rather have few friends
gathered about him at Mount Vernon
than keep court. Jefferson's idea
was shared by many. Indeed, Patrick
Henry refused to consider the question
Of going to the Senate at one time be-
cause he said he was too old to fall
into the awkward limitations" which
had become fashionable.
But Jefferson went to the other ex-
treme. He let any one and every one
into the White House and all on terms
of equality; so that the mob spirit pre-
vailed and sigh of relief went up from
official social Washington when Madi-
sons term began and Dolly Madison
restored the old state of affairs.
Matters have changed but little since
Madlson's time except as the increase
in the population of the city and multi
plicity of social cares have made
changes necessary. Instead of resi-
dents calling on strangers first as was
the custom originally, the visitors make
the first call. There was some dispute
caused by the passage of the law of
1886 over the question whether the
members of the Cabinet who, by this
act were direct successors of the Presi-
| dency in case of the death of the Presi-
dent and the Vice-President, should not
precede the members of Congress on
ceremonial occasions. AS matter of
fact the members of the Cabinet at the
| White House surround the President
in the capacity of his official family.
| But as appointees of the administra-
| ton, confirmed by the Senate, they are
considered inferior in social rank to the
members of the Senate and House. The
members of the Senate claim, too, that
the justices of the Supreme court are
their interiors socially, because their
appointments are confirmed by the SEN
ate. But Notwithstanding this claim,
the Senators wives always make the
| first call on the wives of justices.
1t is in this matter of calls that Of
fetal rank is recognized. The members
of the diplomatic corps have always
been considered the guests of the ma
ton, and they hold an honorary social
position. They call first on the Secre-
tary of State, as the representative of
the President. Tney also call on the
Vice-Presdent. The Chief Justice of
the Supreme court receives calls from
every one in official life except the Pres
ident and ice-President, but he makes
the first calls on the members Of the
Diplomatic corps.
The question of calling may seem I'M
important to those who are not ac-
quainted with the punctiliousness of
social Washington, but it has disrupted
cabinets. When Jackson's secretary of
war, Eaton, married the pretty Mrs.
Timberlake CPeggy' O'NeilD and the
women of the cabinet families refused
to recognize her socially, and to make
the usual calls on her, Jackson gave
them the alternative of calling on her
or going out of public life Their hus-
bands thereupon resigned A quarter of
century ago the question of prece-
dence was very near causing interna-
tional trouble. AT a private entertain
ment the British minister was to take
out the wife Of the host when the Span
ish minister, who was dean of the corps,
was present. The Intervention of the
secretary of state, who was present, re-
suited in a substitution of the Spanish
minister for the British, and diplomatic
relations were fully restored.
A new dispute over precedence arose
when Congress- five years ago, passed
law authorizing the President to APP
point ambassadors to Washington. The
newly-appointed ambassadors from
Italy, Great Britain, ETC., claimed that,
according to the diplomatic usage /
abroad, they stood next to sovereigns,
and that, therefore, they should pre-
cede the justices of the Supreme court /
on all official occasions. Now the JUS
tees of the Supreme court are very |
jealous of their official prerogatves.
They are nice old men when they have /
their own way, but where their dignity
is involved they are extremely touchy |
AS the interpreters Of the laws made
by Congress and enforced by the Presi-
dent-as last resort from which alone
there is no appeal-they think that they
come pretty near being as good as the
President himself Hence they We're
not inclined to admit the claim of the
to precedence of them,
and the matter had to be determined |
against them.
The arbter of social matters in
Washington is Col Theodore Bingham,
of public buildings and
grounds. Col. Bingham is an officer of
the regular army. File has charge of
the executive mansion, arranges all Of
fetal entertainments there and stands
at the Presidents left to make presen-
tations on official occasions. Col. Bing-
ham was named for this position be-
cause he had been for many years mill
tary attache at the German court,
which is one of the most punctilous
on the continent Col. Bingham can
quote book and chapter for his deci-
sions, and there is no recourse from
them except to the President
President Mckinley is not hedged in
with the ceremony that surrounded
nor is he as free and easy
as Thomas Jefferson. He seldom
leaves the White House to attend a
private entertainment, but he gathers
about him frequently in an informal
way the personal friends in whose So
,iety he found pleasure when he was
member of Congress from Ohio He de-
lights to honor an old friend occasion
Ally by appearing at a private house
when there Is an entertainment and
le is a regular attendant at the series
If dinners and receptions given by the |