Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-08
of congress have been told positively

| OF congress have been told posltlVely
and directly that their Endorsements
will count for naught in making pro-
motions Only the records Of the men
involved will be taken up by the presi-
dent. While this has caused some
grumbling, 1t has been rather favorably
received on the whole. One Of the de-
partures Of the president in the army
and navy promotions has been his an
nouncement that he will not consider
seniority except where the law spe-
officially directs. Neither does he be-
lieve in the custom that has been In
vogue of promoting men to high rank
just prior to their retirement, so that,
after serving a few weeks, they can
retire at the advanced grade.
The manner Of the president in greet
ing his visitors is different perhaps
from that of any Of his predecessors.
Visitors assemble in the wide east cor
ridor Of the White House. Cards are
sent to Mr.. Cortelyou, secretary Of the
president. He learns the mission Of
each visitor, and admits them to his
office until from Is to 20 have assem-
bled. While this "weeding-out" pro-
cess is going on the president is receiv-
ing in his Office those who have ad-
vance engagements with him. These
engagements are made at hourly inter-
walls. Between them the president en-
ters Mr.. Cortelyou's office, and can dis
pose Of Is or 20 callers in as many min
utes, no matter what their BUSINESS
may be. Mr.. Cortelyou gives him a
name and a hint as to the object of the
call. With a few rapid strides he
crosses the room, shoots out his right
arm to grasp the hand of the caller,
and in a few explosive sentences In
quires as to details. He permits no set
speeches, nor does he listen to any but
the briefest laudatory messages. The
president Is not good listener. Half
a dozen sentences give him the infor-
nation he desires, and in q trice his de-
cision is made up and announced, his
visitors dismissed, and he turns to an
other. There is nothing stiff or formal
in the presidents manner. He laughs
heartily, moves about with surprising
vigor and talks in clear and some
times loud tone. He Is usually dress
ed, while in his office, in a convential
Prince Albert coat, low, lay down col
lar and plain black bow tie, light strip
ed trousers and broad-toed polished
calf shoes. The president has not lost
the peculiar nervous twitching Of his
mouth, about which so much has been
said and written, since his accession to
the presidency. 1t has often been des-
cribed as a "grin," or indication OF
mirth on his part. This Is not correct.
The president has way Of setting his
mouth very strongly while talking, and
this Is followed by an involuntary
twitching of the lips, which exposes his
teeth. AS indicated, the popularity Is
not one indicating mirth or emotion OF
any kind. It is involuntary, and OBJ
servable at all times when he is engag-
ed in conversation. The president Is
accessible at all times during the reg
ular hours at the White House, and
even receives tourists who are prompt
ed solely by the desire to grasp the
hand of the president, even though
they come unheralded and without an
introduction.
There Is a general understanding here
in Washington that the president Will
be a candidate in 1904. Efforts have
been made to discover in his actions in
dications Of his ambition in this direc-
ton. There has been much talk OF a
Roosevelt organization" and Of the
breaking down of the old party organi-
zation. If the president Is governing
his actions by political considerations
Of the future no one has been able to
discover his plan or method. When the
first southern appointments were made
and the party organization ignored the
action Of the president was heralded as
direct assault upon the Republican
national committee influences. In
spite Of this no one could figure out
what element the president had drawn
to himself in place Of the organization
which he ignored. He consulted with
business, Democratic, Independent and
Republican advisers and reached his
conclusions from what he heard from
all. His insistence that federal officials
shall not become extensively partisan
in the participation in party work can
be accounted for by his desire that mer-
it and dignity shall characterize the
conduct Of public business. No other
significance Is given to his action In
this direction, even by those who would
willingly assail him. A quietus was
placed upon the talk Of hostility to the
Republican national committee interest
with the recent appointment Of Mr..
Henry c. Payne as postmaster general.
Mr.. Payne is recognized as one Of the
most valuable members Of the commit
tee, and a practical politician whose
ability is second to none. His personal
relations with Senator Hanna and 9TH
er associates on the national commit
tee are so generally recognized that
there can be no question as to what in
fluences the president recognized in
making the appointment. Mr. Payne's
qualifications as a business man, and
his familiarity through practical work
with postoff1ce affairs precludes the
possibility of an assault being made
upon the appointment from the stand
point of merit and fitness.-Washing-
ton correspondence St. Louis Globe
Democrat.