The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-01-18
LAWS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
They Are Very Strict and He Alone
Must Obey Them.
Philadelphia North American.}

philadelphia North American.)
There are a number of unwritten laws
which hedge about a president and cir
cumscribe his movements. Not that the
! chief executive could legally be required
to observe them, but that he does do sc
| from Difference to custom.
That the president must not leave the
| country even for day is one of these
restrictions imposed. not by statute but
by public opinion This was the reason
why President Mckinley on his trip
south last May. did not cross the boun-
Diary line into \ co, although he very
much desired to :; that country.
At Ell Paso. Tex. he received Presi-
dent Diaz's personal representative. From
Ell Paso there extends into Mexico the
international bridge which spans the Rio
Grande. The president went to the very
entrance to the bridge that he might
catch a view of the Sierra Madre, and
have at least glimpse of the country
into which official custom forbade him
to enter.
President Harrison few years before
went little nearer the limit. Half way
across the bridge is the line that sepa-
rates the territory of the two countries.
and President Harrison. availing himself
of every inch of privilege, walked onto
the bridge and up to the line, though he
forebore TO set foot across it.
In compliance with this same sentiment
that restraints president from stepping
onto foreign territory, he may not enter
any foreign embassy or legation. In
Washington the official residence of the
representative of another country is as
much foreign territory as if it were sit
uated across the ocean. The patch of
land thus owned by another government
is exempt from taxation and immune
from our legal processes.
In the same way it is prohibited to
rah
ship. This rule. it is explained. has its
origin in the precaution against a pos
sible plot to adbuct the chief executive.
President Arthur is said to have once
vitation to luncheon aboard foreign
warship anchored at Newport.
The etiquette of calls is in like man
ner we'll defined for the president. He
may not make a formal call attired in
dress upon anyone except
president-elect, an eX-president, pres-
dent of a foreign state of a reigning
visiting in this country. All
others are officially beneath his rank.
This, of course. does not apply to in
formal calls. which the chief executive,
as any private citizen. may make when
ever he likes.
Not to receive any but intimate friends
on Sunday is a rule to which the earlier
now only the most urgent reasons are
excuses for interrupting abe presidents
rest on the seventh day.
Another rule which is still respected
forbids the holding of state receptions or
dinners during Lent. 1t is Il relic of
England's religious influence, and origi-
mated with Washington. who was a COM
municant of the Episcopalian church
The precedent which he established has
since been adhered to. even by presidents
not of that religious faith.
A president must never pay a first call
except upon the arrival. of the head of a
H., -,
prince even is beneath him in rank, and
must make the first social advances.