The Washington times., 1901-09-26
NO PROTECTION IFFIcIENr.
Numerous Opportunities Afforded
for AssRssins to Attack President.

l.
| Numerous Opportunities Afforded
for Assassins to Attack President.
President Roosevelt has been criticised
by persons who are strainiug for a chance
To unfavorably compare his conduct in
public ard private with that of his pre-
decessor for declaring that he will not be
at all hours surrounded by visible guards
belonging TO the Secret Service Bureau or
oy members of the local police force
Mr. Roosevelt has expressed his mind
fnily ON this subject since Mr. Mckinley
was shots ard he is not at all averse to
having his views thoroughly understood
lie thinks that guards are necessary
about the person OF the President on pub
lie occasions or when he Is attended by
large crowds. He thinks that dering rail-
road journeys and other outings when
there is the slightest possibility OF ac-
cident or crime. the utmost precautions
dictated by prudence and common sense
should be observed, as they always have
been, and he thinks that the Pre- sident
himself should be exceedingly wary about
exposing himself to the risk of accident
or injury.
Notwithsta anding President Rooseveits
personal views. the general opinion of the
Z
well expressed in a letter from Frederick
Remington, Mr.. Roosevelt's personal
| friend. wherein he says:
The new President should be person.
ally protected against attempts on his life.
We sll know that President Roosevelt is
personally brave. Whatever else we know.
we are sure OF that But he " more than
a man now-he is an idea. and he doesn't
exactly belong to himself. 1t is vastly
important to his countrymen that he live
Il fully realize that the idea that he
can't take care of himself is irksome to
him and the thought of guards oppresses-
Yet We must demand 1t of him. We have
only lately seen that, matter how
brave, how democratic, how true a Presi-
dent of this Republic may be, he Is not
immune from the attacks of political body
lice"
This is the way the Cabinet officers
and other friends of both Mckinley and
Roosevelt talked during the many little
informal conferences that took place at
Canton last week, on the train going and
coming. After one Of these conferences,
a Government official, who was at Pres
ident MeKinley's side almost constant
ly from the time he was shot until he
was laid in the cemetery vault. and who
was more Intimately connected with the
dead President in public and private life
since he became President than any
other man, told a most interesting story
on the way back from Canton concern
ing the Presidents attitude toward body
guards. and the unwritten incidents of
his shooting and death.
In the frat place." said this official,
Mr.. Mckinley was possessed of the very
highest sort of personal bravery, for
while he fully realized the danger from
cranks and anarct.sts. he would take no
precautions himself nor would he always
carry out the instructions of those who
watched over him. He always said he
preferred to take the risk OF death and
enjoy the freedom that God gave him
During the past summer the Presi-
dents friends were especially watchful.
and they had reason to be- The warnings
of assassination, numerous as they al
ways were, came thick and fast Every
mail was burdened with them. Secretary
Cortelyou, who was made desperately
anxious by the ominous missives 3rriving
in every post. turned them all over to the
Secret Service Bureau and became more
than ever watchful and wary
Finally came the fatal trip to Buffalo,
and simultaneously with the announce
ment of the plans the warnings of assas-
sination redoubled. On the night of the
day when the President and Mrs Nc
Kiniey arrived at Buffalo, they drove to
the exposition grounds to view the fire.
works, and Secretary Cortelyou and Mr.
Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. who
was the only Cabinet officer present, he
came very apprehensive. owing to the
great number and foreboding nature of the
warnings They did not like the looks Of
the great crowds and had singular pre-
sentiment that there might be trouble.
Secretary Cortelyou sent for the expo
sition officials. including the chief Of
police, and, expressing his fears, urged
that precautions be doubled The police
authorities gave the warmcst assurance
that every possible thing had been done
that could be done to make certain that
no harm could come to the President
Still Cortelyou and Mr.. Wilson were
troubled in their minds.
Mr.. Mckinley, Secretary Cortelyou.
President Milburn and everybody who
has knowledge of the fact was absolutely
had been taken and that no human agency
could have stopped the assassin's bullet
IL he had not shot when he did he could
have reached his victim another time
He could have shot him when he walked
along about the streets, in the neighbor-
hood of the MiIburn residence. at an
earlier hour of the day, or when he rode
at night through the vast crowds in the
exposition grounds. No: 1t was as Mr..
Mckinley said himself an easy thing to
do If the man lived who wanted to do Ii.
There were three Secret Service agents
with the President when he was shot
Foster, Ireland and Gallagher. These
men failed in their task because success
was impossible. The reception began late
il the day, when almost everybody who
approached to shake the Presidents hand
carried a package Of some sort, basket
or package or souvenir. Many would sud
denly wipe their hands before offering
them to the President, and thus it was
that no especial. notice was taken of the
fact that the innocent looking young as
sassin had a handkerchief wound about
his wrist like SO many of the Others
Mckinley was killed in spite of guards.
and the lesson of the tragic event Is that
anarchy must be suppressed il our Presi-
dents are to live during their terms of
office. In the meantime, ii cannot be de-
MED that President Roosevelt'S best pro-
lection Is himself.