The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-13
The PRESIDENT Is
SAFELY GUARDED.

The $1,000 mile journey which President
Mckinley and his cabinet have just be-
gun calls up anew the oft heard query,
Is the president attended by body
guard.
1t is not commonly known, but fact,
Notwithstanding, that more precautions
for the safety Of the president are taken
than have ever been thought necessary
with any Of his predecessors. There Is
not a single moment during the presi-
dents appearance in public before crowds
that he is not within a half dozen feet
of his big, powerful protector. George
Foster a skilled secret service officer.
acts as the presidents bodyguard on all
his trips through the country. Foster
is a tall. athletic chap, strong as an OK
and nervy as a Welshman. When the
president steps out on the rear platform
of his car to address the crOwds at rail-
way stations. Foster is invariably within
a half dozen feet of him. When the
presidential carriage drives through the
streets Foster follows in vehicle scarce
ly a dozen PAGES behind.
When the executive visits some city
the chief of police always details four
or five of his best men to protect" him.
If the chiefs of police who detail de-
tectives to protect" the president only
knew that this sort of thing Is objec-
tionable to that official they would prob
ably refrain from detailing men. OF
course it is all right to assign one or
two local detectives to look out for To-
cal Crooks" and there would be no OBJ
lection to this if the sleuths would only
attend to their own business But the
point that displeases the president most
is the fact that the local sleuths are al
ways lowering around him like bees
around clover patch. Foster, however.
has lie knack of being around and on
hand without being seen.
An amusing incident occurred last sum-
mer during the presidents trip into New
England. The party stopped at Mount
Holyoke, where his niece was attending
school. A big platform had been erect
edin front Of the seminary to be used as
a speaking stand. When the president
alighted from his carriage a tall. gaunt.
| hungry looking citizen pushed his way
up to the carriage and attempted to open
the door. Foster. who was riding on the
box. grabbed the tall man by the arm
and brushed him aside.
Hold on here. what the -" said
the local sleuth. What are you doing.
I'm chief here"
"Chief nothing" said Foster, as he
grabbed the tall man by the seat of the
trousers and literally threw him through
| the crowd. The president could not
| help smiling as he saw his big. faith.
| full bodyguard hurting the local officia.
through the air.
| In Washington the president dispenses
with the fOrmality of q PROTECTOR. Ere.
| quently he goes out walking alone. and
it is not uncommon to see him in tht
parks and on the avenues on a pleasant
afternoon strolling alone. or with one Of
| his official family. During the pleasan,
mornings he drives through the park.
| with Mrs. Mckinley. While the presi
dent Is in Washington Foster works II
the treasury building under Chief Wilki<
! of the secret service department. He ha
figured in the capture Of some Of the mos
notorious and dangerous criminals in tn
United States, his most recent work be