The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-12

of the alteration of the law regarding
the succession to the presidency is
found in the squabble which has been
in progress during recent years as to
the relative positions of the president
pro tempore of the United States Sen
ate and the speaker of the House of
Representatives When at the first din
ner at the White House following the
death of Vice President Hobart, Pres
ident Mckinley gave the place of honor
to Senator Frye, the president pro tenn
pore of the Senate, Speaker Henderson
of the House of Representatives was
highly displeased. and he has since de-
clined to attend any dinner unless as
sured in advance that he will be ac-
corded the place of honor.
The fued between Gen. Miles and
Gen. Corbin, together with their re-
spective partisans, has been reflected in
the social drama at Washington in
very noticeable manner, as has also
the animosity existing between the ad-
herents of Admiral Schley and Admiral
sampson Tempers were rufffed during
the winter of 1900-1901 in consequence
of the rivalry for pre- eminent social
position existing between the wives of
Admiral Dewey and Gen. Miles. The
matter was finally settled-in as great
a degree as any of these social strug-
that, inasmuch as the War Department
was established prior to the Navy De
partment, the general commanding the
army was entitled to precedence over
the admiral of the navy at official
functions. When the men are enter
tanned as individuals, however, Admiral
Dewey, being of superior rank, takes
precedence.
1t may be noted in this connection
that it was during the interval men
toned that Mrs. Dewey was on one oc-
casion placed by force of circumstances
in perhaps the most embarrassing po-
sition in which an American woman in
official life has ever been placed. She
was present at a White House recep-
ton merely as guest, but the diplo-
mats from all of the principal nations,
in acknowledgment of her husbands
splendid victory, insisted upon paying
her homage very much as though she
had been the hostess of the occasion.
Had persons less broadminded and
sensible than President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley been the occupants of the White
House the episode might not have been
allowed to pass in universal good ma
ture.
Famous feuds in Congress have al
most invariably been reflected in the
social realm at Washington. One of
the requisites of success in public life
at the national capital is supposed TO
be found in the ability to drop politics
upon entering drawing room, but the
rule is not always observed. The effect
of a bitter hostility, such as that which
existed, for instance, between Conkling
and Blaine, is invariably felt in social
circles, and in. cases where, as in that
cited, the political duelists neither
speak nor recognize the existence of
each other, considerable tact is neces-
sary by the host at any function at
which both chance to be present.
Not infrequently public men are
made to suffer the consequences of So
cial quarrels precipitated by the wo-
men of their respective families. From
such a source sprang the bitter fight
which Gov. Tanner of Illinois made
against the election of Senator Cullom.
The Governor hatred was caused by
a slight placed upon his wife by Mrs.
Cullom. who was reported to have de-
clared that Mrs. Tanner, as the daugh-
ter of a horse trader and auctioneer,
was Socially impossible" For years
there ragged a feud between Mrs. Mer-
riam. whose husband is now director
of the census. and Mrs. Davis, the
widow of the late Cushman K. Davis,
the Minnesota statesman. When Sem
ator Davis accorded support to Mr..
Merriam's candidacy for the position
he now holds truce was patched up
between the two men, and the recon-
ciliation was supposed to extend to
the ladies of the households, but
whether 1t actually did so or not has
always remained an open question.
One of the most notable of all social
tanGles was precipitated a few years
ago by the refusal of Lord Pauncefote,
the British ambassador and dean of
the Diplomatic corps, to call upon the
Vice President. He claimed that he
was not only the official representative
of his government, but also the per-
sonal representative of his sovereign,
and as such was entitled to rank di-
rectly after the President. Vice Pres
ldent Stevenson was a good natured
man and allowed the ambassador TO
have his way, but when Garrett A. Ho-
bart assumed the office he stood out for
his rights. The matter was eventually
referred to the British foreign office,
which held that the Vice President
was to be regarded as the heir to the
presidency, and thus of the same rank
as a crown prince, and consequently
Lord Pauncefote received an intimation
from his home government that he had
best call upon the Vice President
Walden Fawcett.