The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-01-15

promotions has been his announce.
ment that he will not consider SEN
1ority except where the law specifically
directs. Neither does he believe in
the custom that has been in vogue Of
promoting men to high rank just prior
to their retirement, 90 that, afte,
serving few weeks, they can retire
at the advanced grade.
The manner of the president in
greeting his visitors is different per-
haps from that Of any Of his predeceo-
sors. Visitors assemble in the wide
east corridor of the White House.
Cards are sent to Mr.. Cortelyou, Sec
retary OF the president. He learns
the mission of each visitor, and ad-
mits them to his office untilgrom 10
to 20 have assembled. While this
"weeding-out" process is going on
the president is receiving in his Office
those who have advance engagements
with him. These engagements are
made at hourly intervals. Between
them the president enters Mr.. Cortel.
you's Office, and can dispose of Is or
~ callers in as many minutes, no mat
ter what their business may be. Mr..
Cortelyou gives him name and q
hint as to the object Of the call. With
few rapid strides he cyosses the
room, shoots out his right arm TO grasp
the hand Of the caller, and in a few
explosive sentences inquiries as to de-
tails. He permits no set speeches,
nor does he listen to any but the
brlefest laudatory messages. The
president is not 8 good listener. Half
q dozen sentences give him the infor-
nation he desires, and in trice~his
decision is made up and announced,
his visitors dismissed, and he turns to
another. There is nothing stiff or
formal in the presidents manner.
He laughs heartily, moves about with
surprising vigor and talks in clear
and sometimes loud tone. He is usu-
ally dressed, while III his Office, in a
convential Prince Albert coat, low,
lay down collar and plain black bow
tie, light striped trousers and broad
toed polished calf shoes. The presi-
dent 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 described as a
grim or indication of mirth on his
part. This is not correct. The presi-
dent has away Of setting his mouth
very strongly while talking, and this
is followed by an an5involuntary tMitoh-
ing 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
observable at all times when he is en-
gagged In conversation. The president
is accessible at all times during the
regular hours at the White House,
and even receives tourists who are
prompted solely by the desire to grasp
the hand Of the president, even
though they come upheralded and
without an introduction.
There is general understanding
here in Washington that the president
will bea candidate in 1904. Efforts
have been made to discover in his ac-
tions indications of his ambition in
this direction. There has been much
talk Of Roosevelt organization"
and Of the breaking down Of the old
party organization. If the president
is governing his actions by political
considerations Of the future no one has
beenable to discoverhis plan or method.
When the first Southern appointments
were made and the. party organization
ignored che action Of the president
was heralded as direct assault upon
the Republican national committee in
fuences. 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 Repub-
lican advisers and reached his conelu-
sions 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
merit and dignity shall characterize
the conduct Of public business. no
other Significance is given to his action
in thic aireclioc. even by those who
wou'd willingly assail him. Aquietus
was placed upon tho talk OF hostility
to th. Republican national committee