Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

~ pm wv Va 49,
Pruden of the White House staff
- has reduced the presidents cold
INNEN Guard" sO-called, to four. They
- are Captain Montgomery, EXecu-
tive Clerk and Disbursing Officer Crook,
Captain Loeffler, whose duty it is to keep
undesirable persons out, and Thomas f.
Pendle, usher, and known best of all the
White House attaches to the visiting public.
The youngest member of the "Old Guard"
in years and point of service, is Captain
Benjamin F. Montgomery, L. S. A. He
was in the signal corps of the army as a
young man and in March, 1877, was detailed
for duty at the White House, when Presi-
dent Hayes felt the need of a larger organi-
cation. Beng a telegrapher, Montgomery
Immediately began the installation of what
has grown into perhaps the most complete
bureau of confidential communication in
the world. He started with a single instru-
ment-the first ever used in the White
House-looped to the regular commercial
system, and personally sent and received
the presidents messages. Gradually the
value of this service demonstrated itself;
the connections with the Geographic system
of the world were made closer. In 1873 Mr.
Montgomery was offered a lieutenant's com
mission in the signal corps, but declined it
to remain at the White House. He has
filled every position in the office, having
acted as secretary in charge at times dur
ing the absence Of others.
Complete Service.
Foreseeing the coming of the Spanish war,
he organized and equipped the bureau so
completely that during the struggle the
president received reports from the Cuban
battlefelds and from the naval operations
half around the globe in record time. In
some instances the executive was immedi-
ately in communication with the firing line
of the army in Cuba. At the outbreak of
the war MIR. Montgomery volunteered his
services and on the recommendation OF
General Greedy, chief signal officer, was
appointed a captain in the regular army,
He was afterward commissioned as lieu
tenant colonel of volunteers, from which
rank ne was honorably discharged.
The history of that telegraphic Office II
the White House has been the history o.
, the United States for the past twenty-five
years. During the riots Of 1877 the presl
dent was kept in touch with every phas,
of the trouble, and be sent orders an
proclamations through the medium o
Montgomory's key. The Chicago railroaO
riots likewise found the president at Mont
gomery's elbow, wiring orders to and re
ceiving reports from General Miles.
When disaster occurs, as at JohnstowI
or Galveston, the president is placed in di
rect communication. When elections ar
being held the White House feels the pulls
Of the people. With twenty-five wires
is possible to make direct connection wit
the cables. Thus the world is girdled an
the office never closes.
Colonel Montgomery has now a staff un
der his command, tried and expert ope
rators. Great secrets have been cOnfde
to him. No man can truthfully assert tina
he has ever broken faith. Not the leas
whisper of scandal has ever breathed upo
him. No living man would dare suggest {
him the possibility Of a corrupt bargain
Repeatedly he has worked through n
night at the White House key. with
president at one elbow and a secretary
state at the other, manipulating the nerve
Of the world. For twenty-five years he h
been, in effect, the presidents eyes ar
ears.
Was LincOIn's BOdyguRrd.
William H.. Crook, the executive clei
and discussing ofhcer, was detailed fro
the Washington police force on January
1865, as a bodyguard to President Lincoi
He journeyed with Lincoln in the spring
City Point and Richmond, marching by b
side with one hand on a pistol butt. VIII,
the party returned to Washington no o.
knew OF Lees surrender until the bonfr
were seen cleaning on the hills. Mr.. Ii
coin himself asked Crook the meaning
the demonstrations On the night Of t