The Washington times., 1901-09-02
THE ROUTINE AT CANTON.
Daily Programme of the President
During His Vacation.
Letters Answered, Official Docu-
ments Signed, and Care Given to
All Public Matters-Mr. Mckinley's
welcome for His Old Friends.

All PubIic Matfers-Mr. McKinley'H
welcome for His Old Friends.
CANTON, Ohio, Sept. l-When the
President leaves Canton at the close OF
his summer vacation he will carry with
him to Washington several heavily-laden
trunks that Were empty when they were
brought here early in July. These trunks
will contain correspondence that has ac-
cumulated during the vacation months.
The heavy consignment of mail and Off
cial documents win be taken to Washing
ton and turned over to clerks of the var
ious departments, who, in turn, will file
them away in the archives to be kept
either for reference or to be destroyed
at the close of President Mci<inleys ca
reer as Executive.
1t is one of the Presidents rules not to
destroy OF ignore mail no matter how
trivial it might seem, as soon as opened
and read. He has ordered that it be pre-
served until there seems TO be no possi-
Bile use of keeping 1t longer, when it will
be consigned to destruction at the White
House.
Although the Presidents Canton home
has not been the scene of many stirring
days or of big delegations. noisy bands,
and fulsome speeches, as IN bygone days,
during the recent summer months, it has
been, nevertheless, busy place. The
President has been on a vacation, 1t is
true, in the sense of being away from alb
solute social and diplomatic fuctions
but he has not been away from official
duties. On the contrary he has daily
given personal attention to matters of
state and disopsed of them, so that when
he leaves here about month hence he
will have no accumulation of business
that will call for Immediate attention.
There has been method in the Presi-
dents vacation work, too, in spite of the
fact that when he first came here to en-
joy his quiet home, Mrs. Mckinley still
required much more than her wonted at
tention from him. The regular habits of
Mr.. Mckinley are known to many. He
has fixed hours for sleep, forApleasure,
and for work. To these hours he ad-
heres at his Canton home.
The democratic habits of the President
are so well known to the people of Can
ton that they take it as a mere matter
of course that he give methodicaI atten-
tion to his executive duties They forget
that he has been on his vacation, a time
when most men lay aside the cares of life
aS stS pcSSiDlt anu utNDlt lneIn-
selves TO rest.
The Presidents meal hours at his Can
ton home are: Breakfast at o'clock,
luncheon at 1, dinner at 6. From these
hours there is a variation of but a few
minutes at any time. Before his break
fast he takes a constitutional of fifteen
or twenty minutes. His favorite method
of exercise in the morning while here is
a walk al lau- MD
stride walk within a block of his resi-
dence. He goes at the walk as if he
meant business. 1t is brisk and exhilar-
ating. A short time to papers and he is
ready for breakfast. That over, he de-
votes his attention to morning mail.
though sometimes he takes a short drive
with Mrs. Mckinley.
From 10 to u o'clock most of the call
ers at the Mckinley home are received
though these hours are not the only ones
in which people are given audience. Most
of the political callers. however, who
have appointments are seen within that
time. If callers are not too numerous
he deyotes it 10 reading papers and look
ing at clippings.
The afternoon is somewhat of a repeti-
ton of the forenoon. If callers of politi-
gives all his time to them. If opportunity
presents itself he disposes of some work
ana gets his newspaper reading up to date
A second drive with Mrs. Mckinley fire.
luently takes part of the Presidents
afternoon or early evening He also
spends considerable time every day in
hats with Mrs. Mckinley.
The heavy work of the President is done
n the evening. He disposes of business
rapidly. All correspondence. matters of
state "a nEs ~ -taI lut-. 4
most erratic demands which require the
east personal attention, are disposed of
is they are taken up fresh from the hands
IF the postman. There are these excep-
ions: When matter OF state of great i'm
Dortance come up they may be considered
Dut not finally acted upon. and they are
aid aside for future deiiberation 1t is
4 rule. established by the President and
he Secretary to the President that they
complete every day the business on hand
TO do this often requires long ana tire
some hours of toll, but they have learned
rom long experience the value of the old
maxim, Never put off until tomorrow
what you can do today" Neglect of duty
one day means increased burdens for
-hem the next.
The Presidents dictation is rapid when
he is in the midst of work. He has but
one stenographer here, but that one is
kept busy. As far as practicable official
attention is given to department matters
through the mail and in other ways to the
President while here are referred, with
on the documents, to the de-
partments. and action is taken in accord
3nce with the known desires of the Presi-
dent
If there are questions under considera-
ton of much moment. callers are either
denied audience with the President or are
told when they shall call in order to see
him. Some times Mr.. Mckinley leaves i'm
portant work, hastens to the famous front
porch, grests his social and political call
ers with hearty handshake and cordial
gracious smile, hears their wants, gives
them answer and returns to his task
which is resumed with such serenity that
one would not know he had been inter
rupted. strong characteristic of the
President is his patience.
The bars have been let down at his
Canton home. There is no class distinc-
a grasp of the hand II the President has
time to see him. When sitting at rest or
having a smoke on his veranda. the Pres
dent chats in such a leisurely manner
that one who knows not the man might
suppose he was a summer boarder at the
Canton White House, rather than the first
man of the American domain. Seldom
does he manifest impatience when the
tiresome persons come. He has a knack
ty that even the most obtuse can scarce
them to go
The President enjoys his evening cigar.
As soon as dinner is over he Is wont to
sit on the famous little front porch and
pun his cigar with great gusto. He chats
meanwhile. If friends are with him. IL
alone he smokes deliberately and seems
to be pondering over weighty questions.