The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-03
WILL PRESENT CALLERS
TO THE PRESIDENT
Maj. Symons Falls Into Snug Berth at the
National Capital

is able to present a large number Of
the guests without first inquiring their
names.
After standing for hours in line and
making these introductions to the Pres
ident. this official then again escorts
the receiving party through double
line of the guests out through the East
Room and up to the Presidents apart
ments. Such duties, while apparently
simple in themselves, to be performed
as they should be, require tact and So
cial skill, and often endurance and pa
tience The Presidents aide, on such
occasions and in fact at all times, when
he is on duty at state functions, is in
full dress uniform, with all the decora-
tons which he is entitled to wear.
When there are no state functions to
be attended, the Presidents military
aide has various and manifold duties.
He has full charge of the White House
and White House grounds, and makes
a daily visit of inspection and for the
purpose of giving orders. He also has
charge of the Washington monument,
all of the parks and the monuments
therein He appoints all watchmen
and engages all laborers and garden
ers, and the care which he gives the
flower beds alone requires much of his
time. 1t is through his courtesy and
ministers and many senators and rep
resentatives are decorated with the
flowers of the season.
1t is only in the later administrations
that the Office has grown in social i'm
portance and this more through Gus
tom than through any law.
Previous to the administration of
President Hayes the United States
marshal of the district was the official
81 nf al Gta "a functions
at the White House, and it was the
marshal who. in his modest uniform,
made the presentations to the Presi-
dent. President Hayes, however. APP
pointed Fred Douglas, United States
marshal, and at once found it neces-
sary TO modify his duties, because
many of the guests at the White House
receptions disliked being presented by
a negro President Hayes made his
own personal selection for this impor-
tant duty and chose Col. Casey, who
was then in charge of the public build
ings and grounds. Since that time the
official in charge of this office has had
these social duties to perform, and it
has been a custom for the President,
without regard to politics, to make his
own personal selection for this Office.
The only stipulation by law is that he
shall be an officer of the Engineer
Corps of the army.
Maj Symons will thus practically
be the military side of the President,
just as Capt. Cowes is the naval side.
The duties, however, OF the military
aide are broader in the social sense,
as by custom he has become the su-
perintendent, not only of the White
House, but of all the large White
House functions.
Col. Bingham has been longer in con-
tinuous charge of this office than any
other similar official He was Presi-
dent McKinley's personal selection for
the place, served through his first term
and nearly two years besides, thus
making six years in all. Col Wilson,
who served President Cleveland in this
capacity, was eight years in the Of
flee, but not continuously.
Each new President is expected to
make a change in the Office and select
some personal friend from the Engi-
neer Corps The place is looked upon
by army officers as the Suggest berth
in the service. and great pressure is al
ways brought on the President for the
place