The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-24
CAMERA AND THE TREATY.
AN HISTORIC PICTURE THAT WAS
NEVER TAKEN.

w
Lord may not always be a moving fac
tor in the affairs of mankind, but the
fear of the camera is certainly becom- \
ing a potentiality that cannot be dis
regarded with impunity. But for the
terror of the camera and him who uses
it, the Hay-Pauncefote treaty might
still be reposing in the strong box OF
the Department of State, unsealed and
undelivered. But it has all the frills
coming to it attached, and as soon as
the Senate can get around to 1t it Will
become a part of the law of the lands,
wherever English-speaking persons
hold the reins of power, and thereby
hangs a tale-a tale mirroring in
prophetic sort of way change in the
all-debating society proposition. so that
it will read: 1.-The camera is mightier
than the sword" instead of the pen.
AS soon as it became known that
His EXcellency. Lord Pauncefote, was
coming back to his post authorized
to sign the new treaty. the profess
sional photographers, who make pic
lures for the newspapers, began schem-
ing They wanted a ''shot" at that
historic scene-the fine old British no
bleman signing away the right Great
Britain has claimed for fifty years
that of participating in the construc-
ton of an isthmian canal in the West
ern hemisphere. Had they succeeded
in getting a picture, 1t would have been
great stuff" II would have put rluch
gold into their pockets.
They began on the late President
/ IL. I'LL 90
said he was willing If Secretary Hay
and Lord Pauncefote would consent.
From the White House to the State
Department, the photographers tramp
ed. The Secretary was Will
ing if the ambassador would
make no objections. Therefore,
when His Lordship set foot in
| New York, the camera corps laid siege
to him. They followed him in season
| and out Of season. They pushed the
button at the chancellery of the en-
| bassy before breakfast and waylaid
the ambassador everywhere. He, too,
was willing to have picture taken,
but and there he stopped. But
what?" they asked him in all the forms
of speech they know. But is was sim
ply 'but" with a long dash after 1t to
represent the dubitations of his lord
ship.
Finally the intolerable stage was
reached. That was on Tuesday morn
ing. His lordship decided that he would
cut the whole thing, Therefore, he call
ed up the State Department by tele-
phone Then there was talk something
like this:
"Hello. hello-Oh, quit that, Cen
trails that you Hay? Yes? Wen this
| Is Pauncefote.
GLAD to know I'm better, eh? But
say, I'll be glad to learn you're ready
to sign that treaty.
whats my hurry, did you say!
Well, perhaps ] am, but, heavens ana
earth, l can't stand this importunlng
by these blarsted eyes, he said 1t IN
that cockney way) picture makers any
longer Here have engagements with
three women and six Or eight men for
this Afternoon. They are all coming 10
tell me why we ought to have photo
graphs made of the scene. Why cam
we sign it at noon and have 1t all done
with?
you're ready? Thank you; thank
you; I'll be down right away. sure
now, don't disappoint me"
And SO the treaty was signed, unex-
pectedly and without any swapping OF
cameras.
No snaps for Roosevelt.
Before passing. it may be remarked
that the President is developing a
| horror of the camera like unto that
he is supposed to entertain for a cow
| ard. Cameras are not exactly ex-
cluded from the lawn in front or the
White House, but they are not want
| ed. There is an absolute prohibition
| against taking them to that part OF
the grounds lying south of the presl-
| Dental residence, which is fine vel
| yety lawn on which the landscape gar
dener has been able to do some effec-
tive work. That part of the grounds
is overwhelmingly for the use OF
the Roosevelt children. All the young
sters have been brought up to Deneve
| that the picture-make is bad man,
and to avoid him as duty. They
are strong believers in duty, and pic
lures made of the youngsters are gem
uine snap shots.
Policemen on duty around the White
House are no longer permitted to tell
when the President and Mrs. Roose-
welt are likely to be coming out or
whether they will leave the White
House at the front, back or side door.
Circumvention of the man with the
| camera is one object, of course, Dut
Notwithstanding an impression to the
contrary the President is just a little
bit nervous on the question OF personal
danger. No needless risks are taken,
hence this secrecy.
Tampa POstmastership.
Capt. =. A. Glenn or Idmpdy fId-,
rather expects to be appointed post
master of that place. He believes he
will have strong influence back of him,
Just as soon as he let's Senator Fora
ker of Ohio know he wants the office.
Glenn believes he is the man who gave
| Foraker his upward start in life. Dur
ing the Civil War. Glenn was captain
of the company in which Foraker was
serving as an enlisted man. When
| vacancy occurred in the second lieuten-
ancy, he cast around for a suitable
man to fill IL.
"It didn't take me long to decide that
Foraker filled the bill in every partic-
| ular" said the captain, so / recon-
mended him to the colonel. That officer
objected, saying that Foraker was too
young a man for a commission. We
argued the point, but finally the Colo
nel gave in
"'But I'll hold you personally re-
sponsible for him." said the Colonel.
! And he did, but there were no black
marks against the youngster. He filled
all expectations.
A member of the party in which the
Captain told his story, remarked that
the season for Ohioans getting Office Is
closed. That. however. doesn't discour-
age the Captain. He Is banking on the
man who got a commission through
his insistence.
Burned Money.
Americans certainly had money TO
-.