New-York tribune., 1901-11-28
WHITE HOUSE THRONGED.
HOW PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT RECEIVES
HIS VISITORS.
rpv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

my TELEGRAPH THE TR1BDNE-I
WASHINGTON Nov. 27-There was an unusual rusn
Of callers at the White House to-day. Between lo
,,aI. ut. .o-,i,e and 30 o'clock this afternoon
the President was kept ousy shaking hahos with
returning members of Congress ana VlSitois "ii
have come to Washington to take ihaiAsst's
dinner with friends. Some idea OF MS deAteily III
handling crowds and Of his methods IN oisposiiis
nIeasant1v of people who throng around MIN with
a variety Of objects in view can be salheu irol d
recital of few of the actual occurrences VI 'ii
day
The general reception room cannot accommodate
more than hundred persons comfortably. mere
fore not more than that number are admitted at
time The Presidents office. where the Capinee
meetings are held adjoins this large room on the
west A short flight of steps leads from the door
between the office and the reception room Up ana
down this stairway the President must nave
bounded twenty times to-day during the progress
of his reception. Secretary Cortelyou, calm anu
imperturbabl bic as Trappst monk, occupies q desk
near the centre south wall or the receptlon
room To his right sits Mr.. Barnes. stenographer,
quite as calm and imperturbable as MS chie1. Out
side the door sits the faithful Arthur simmons
black and round and quiet hammered. Because he
has held the position of guard at the door of the
Presidents secretary since the days of Lincoln
this public official, without whose shining counte-
nance the upper hallway of the White House would
be dark and gloomy. is addressed by the expert
enced White House visitor Mr. Arthur Sim
mons" Mr.. Simmons knows whom to let in and
whom not to let into the reception room. BY means
of a superior psychological gift which makes him
an invaluable public servant he is able TO tell whom
the President wants or whom Secretary Cor
telyou would admit to the room II he were guard
ing the door himself Mr. Simmons also can tell,
without putting himself to the trouble of counting
them as they enter just how many people have
passed through his door. Hence there is never any
danger of the hundred limit being exceeded.
To say that every phase of humanity was repre-
sented the crowds that streamed into the recep
ton room to-day is stating the case in conventional
but unexaggerated terms. And also to say that
into each of these successive crowds President
Roosevelt hurled himself like a cataput is putting
the rest Of the mildly. Through the door from
his office he bounds unannounced and seizes by the
hand the first person he bumps into
A CORDIAL GREETING TO ALL.
Glad to see you." exclaims the President. he
grasps the hand of the visitor. There is an
phasis put the you which startles the caller
with its ring of candor But scarcely has the visitor
recovered from his establishment sufficiently TO
begin his little speech before the President has
darted half way around the circle. leaving out
stretched hands tngling with the rush of blood
caused by the firm Presidential handclasp and
startled trying to realize that into them has
been hurled the assurance. Glad TO you" When
the President IS glad to you then he IS
delighted to you Always there is that in
evitable emphasis the you Statesman. office
seeker. tufthunter rotoriety seeker. gigging bride
stately dame. capitalist laborer, Democrat, Re
publican, Populist-all get the same greeting. the
same nervous but firm and jerky handshake. the
same glitter Of eye. and then away darts this
bundle of nerves of steel.
To the visiting delegation who come with
spokesman. and with the motive either of suggest
ing sonnet hing OF value to the nation to them
selves. perhaps the President displays his methods
to best advantage. From Montana to-day there
a party of politicians who desired TO impress
on the Chief Executive the necessity and the value
OF the Western irrigation scheme.
IN FAVOR OF IRRIGATION.
we would like to have a word with you about ir
rigation Mr. President" began the spokesman.
who Immediately was cut short from further ora
effort by the President saying IN tone that
heard all over the room and out in the hall
way: Yes, OH yes. You favor irrigation. do you?
Well, do l. I have urged 1t In my message
Here, Mr.. Cortelyou, get a printed copy OF my
message SO ! can read these gentlemen what
going say Congress on the subject OF irri-
CATION The printed copy was Immediately forth-
coming and the President read so everybody with
in earshot could what ne will ask Congress TO
do on the irrigation question The Westerners
rushed out Of the room and assuming an air Of
mystery when approached by the platoon OF eager
waiting Journalists. managed to inspire telegram
10 the papers in their section OF the country which
will mildly Intimate that but for their timely VISIT
10 Washington the great Of irrigation would
have been overlooked in the Presidents message.
A tall man. moving about with dignaed stride
in cloud Of mystery, caught the Presidents eve
Montana
the Of dignity and mystery said could not be
heard but what the President said could be. Yes.
yes. I know you and am delighted TO see you
ventured the President. But you must put your
application in writing. Yes put it in writing and
send it to me with your Endorsements and I'll see
what can be done" Again did the tall man lean
forward and whisper this time his face crimson
with the bushes of embarrassment. "Oh, l know
all about that Yes, certainly do. And have no
doubt YOU would fill the bill. But don't know
tr-be
know that It is impossible for to keep all these
things in my head? Write out your application
write 1t out-write IT out; then send 1t TO me with
your Endorsements. Come to see me again. Good
@Ah there's Mr.. White exclaimed the Pres
short gray beard sitting modestiy and patiently
back in a corner away from the jostlns crowd
two or three minutes" Mr.. White is a New-York
editor, and he did as greeted -
TO see you" Delighted you" Thus rang
out the greeting as the President whirled around
hand as it extended. or rather. shot out at
them
SENATOR AND A YOUNG SOLDIER.
Hello, Senator Proctor, how you? l want
to you in my office directly. Please wait little
while, until 1 through with Mr.. White. and
then come in. You know. depending you
OF my main props" The stern visaged and
rugged Vermont statesman said he would wait. and
dashed the President another knot of visitors,
stepping chair that in his course. In
three or four minutes he had squeezed twenty
more hands and the second crowd of the day
| disposed
With the crowd there came striding bravey
| in a handsome rosy checked lad, gayy garbed in d
tnguishing colors Of the various arms of the
and the insignia of the various grades of the navy
Mars pumped his roly-poly form. near the door
Leading from the Presidents ofiee The crowd