Evening star., 1901-09-07
PROTECTING THEPRESIDENT
MEANS ADOPTED TO SAVE HIM FROM
BODILY INJURY.
A Representative Of the Secret Ser
vice Bureau Always at Hand-Had
No Personal Apprehension.

Friends of President Mckinley have long
feared that some evilly disposed person or
some crank would make an attempt on his
life II he continued to expose himself as
he has ever since his Inauguration as Pres
ident. Those Of his friends who have hint
ed to him that he ought to be more care
full have been told that he had no fears,
as he had never done anything to cause
any one to wish to take his life The
secret service, however, has always be-
lieved that there was danger, and the
President has never gone outside Of Wash
ington without one or more detectives be-
ing with him and nearly always at his side.
He sometimes recognized these men, but
made no objections to their presence, as
he was well aware that IL the officers were
sent away others would be detailed in their
places
Opportunities for Assassins.
In this city the President has exposed
himself more than anywhere else.- At the
most unexpected moments, and without the
White House police knowing anything OF
his intentions, he has gone out alone for
strolls in the White House grounds and
the streets nearby. For Ave years it has
been his custom to go driving almost daily,
either with Mrs Mckinley or with some
friend. In the drives he has visited every
portion Of Washington and has never had
serious thought of danger.
The walks were nearly always taken so
Unexpectedly that no officer had oppor-
tunity to keep the Presidetn in sight. An
assassin could at any time have attacked
the President often in this city, as 1t is not
the custom OF Washington people to annoy
the President by keeping near him, there
by lessening the opportunities of an as
ssilant. Therefore no one would ever be
near to protect the chief executive from an
loof
Joined in his strolls by Controller Dawes
or some friend. and occasionally he would
invite some one to accompany him. More
often he was alone and at times a block
from any ene In going out for his after
noon drives strangers are always allowed
to stand near the White House portico and
watch him and Mrs. Mckinley enter their
carriage.
The President Not Apprehensive.
The President has often laughed at the
urgent objections Of friends and expressed
his belief In the fairness of the people Of
the country. He had travelled 80 many
thousands Of miles without harm being at
tempted that it is probable that IL the
slightest idea had ever entered his head OF
danger 1t had long ago passed away. This
was probably also true Of the secret ser
vice men who accompanied the President
on his trips. As a rule there Is never more
than one secret service officer with the
+
Is Joined by one or more men Of the same
organization. When the President went to
the Pacific coast recently George Foster Of
the secret service bureau In this city ac-
companied him. Mr.. Foster has also been
the bodyguard OF the President on all his
trips for the last two years. He went from
here to Canton when the President left
Washington and was with the chief execu-
tive at Buffalo yesterday. He is usually
right at the Presidents elbow when the
latter is going through a crowd or holding
a reception.
Vigilance Of Secret Service Men.
Local secret service men stationed at
Buffalo were assisting Mr.. Foster yester-
day and In addition there were q number
of the officers of the exposition grounds.
All possible precaution is usually taken by
local officials to guard against accident to
the President. Whenever he visits a city
local detectives are assigned to aid the
secret service men and all Suspicious char
acters are put under surveillance. Mr..
Foster and other DETECTIVES as rule watch
the men around the President. and 1t was
quite natural that they should see nothing
suspicious in the fellow who attempted the
Presidents life.
That Foster was on the alert is indicated
by an incident related by an army ofilcer
who has just returned from the Philippines.
He stopped at Canton to see the President
and engaged In conversation with Foster.
The latter remarked on what an easy time
he was having In peaceful Canton, where
no sign Of danger menaced the President"
However, he added, my work will begin
In few days when we go to Buffalo" He
little dreamed how prophetic he was.
The police and detective force at the
exposition Is commanded by Captain VAL
lelay OF New York city, and he had made
special arrangements to protect the Presi-
dent, firmly believing that no harm could
come to the nations ruler within the
grounds