Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-10
QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE.
Some Delicate Social Matters at the
Capital of the Nation.

The unllnowing who have laughed
at the dispute between Mrs. Miles and
Mrs. Dewey over the question of prece-
| dence, should look up the early history
| of their country, says the New Orleans
meS-Democrat. George Washington
began the discussion of these points of
official etiquette at the beginning of
his term. President Washington found
himself confronted with the problem
of creating a republican court" where
only the example of monarchial coun-
tries could be quoted as a precedent
The natural tendency was ariStocratic,
and the Father of his Country asked
his advisers in the Cabinet to help him
determine with just what degree of ex-
clusiveness he should surround him
self. He propoundcd to them Il series
of questions, which included the fol
lowing problems:
Whether he should exclude himself
from all kinds of company; whether
one day of the week would suffice for
visits of compliment: whether it would
involve disaGreeable consequences for
the President to receive persons on
business; whether dinners to embrace
a small number of official characters,
to include in rotation members Of Con
gress, could be given informally on
fixed days without clamor from the
rest: whether it would satisfy the
public for the present to have four
great entertainments in the year. on
the anniversaries of the Declaration Of
Independence, the alliance with
France, peace with Great Britain and
organization of the general govern
ment; whether it would be improper
for the President to make informal
visits to acquaintance or public char
acters for sociability: how to distin-
euish him on such occasions in his
private character: in what light rare
appearances at tea parties might be
considered. and whether during the
recess of Congress he should not make
tour of some part of the country SO
as to study it's resources and needs and
meet public characters and the people.
The President, in submitting these
questions. said that it was as well to
start right as wrong. and that small
matters might develop into matters of
consequences AS to himself. the
President" he said. lin all matters of
business and etiquette. can have no
public character in such manner as to
maintain the dignity of his Office with
out subjecting himself to the impu-
tation of superciliousness or unneces-
sary reserve"
The four persons whom President
Washington honored by asking their
opinion on these great questions were
Vice President Adams. Secretary Jay.
Secretary Hamilton and Mr.. Madison.
Mr.. Adams replied that he did not
believe in prOmiscuous association for
the President or in total exclusion. He
thought that the President should not
give social entertainments: that they
should be given by his Secretary of
State and that the President should
attend them in his private character;
that the President should make no
formal call unless the sovereign of
another nation invited the capital. but
that 1t would be perfectly proper for
him to make informal calls among his
friends; and he thought that the
President should keep up certain
state by the appointment of chamber
lains, masters of ceremonies, &c.
Hamilton came nearer to the present
state of affairs than any of the others