The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-28


sons Whom He Does Not wish to
See-The "Chronic Caller" and His
Distinguished Manner, and the
"COlOred Brother" Who Imagines
He Has a Mortgage on the White
HOuse-"Queens of the Lobby
Who Haunt the President-DeIe-
CATIONS With Resolutions and Au-
tOgraph Fiends.
BY R. NJ. Larner.
Washington, Oct. 26.-President
Roosevelt's waiting room at the White
House affords excellent opportunity for
the study of human nature. Two uni
formed city policemen, two secret serv-
i've detectives, two doorkeepers, an
usher, with coat full Of G. A. r.
gadges and buttons. and Arthur ST.
mons. negro messenger, are daily on
guard outside the Presidents office.
Cabinet officers, members of Congress
and few other persons enjoying "spe-
cial privileges" have the right-of-way
into the Presidents room. without
knocking. 1t is the rover or the chron-
ic caller who is up against it when
he attempts to break through the rush
line of presidential guardians at the
White House. The doorkeepers and
ushers have by experience learned
whom to admit and whom to, kiss off,
when an occasion arises requiring fine
discrimination.
The Presidents sBIncIx List"
A black list" is kept at the White
House, which includes persons whom
the President has no desire to see.
Some of the persons on that list are
chronic callers at the White House,
who imagine they have business of
such Importance as can only be con-
sidered at a personal interview with
the President.
For instance, there is an individual,
claiming to be a white Republican
from Georgia, who, at some time in
his career, occupied a government po-
sition in South America. His one am
bition in life is to be reattached to
Uncle Sans pay roll, while the legal
representatives of Uncle Samuel are
not favorably disposed in that direc-
ton. The Georgian is tall, slender,
wears a high silk hat, mustache and
goatee, a long frock coat, dove colored
trousers and usually a kid glove on
gentleman.
The ''ChrOnic CaIIer.''
A stranger might have mistaken this
"chronic caller for distinguished
parsonage, when he entered the anti
room at the White House a few days
ago. With Chesterfieldian graciousness,
he made the rounds and gave each at
tendant outside the Presidents door
a friendly greeting and cordial hand
shake. Then announced his desire for
q brief interview with the President
on business most urgent. To make the
demand more binding, he handed the
doorkeeper a carefully written note to
q similar effect.
The doorkeeper knew his customer,
but did not care to give him away
before the crowd, which was at that
moment quite numerous. Pretending
to take the note directly to the Presi-
dent the doorkeeper switched off
through Secretary Loeb's room and
there fingered few minutes, and then
came back to the &C. c." (chronic call
err, and said:
1.-THE President is very busy this
morning. He cannot see you. He
requests that you put your statement
in writing, and he will give it con-
sideration."
A look of indignant surprise cloud
ed the face of the &c. c." as his note
was returned to him. He sat sullenly
in his chair for few moments, then
with rage he tore his note into bits,
threw them on the floor and bolted out
of the door. Two days later he re-
turned, went through the same per-
Torrance and he has not seen the
President yet He is still in town and
may be here for an indefinite period.
"The CoIOred Brother" Caller.
Then there is the ''colored brother"
Since the Booker Washington incident,
the &c. B." (colored brother), mag
ines he has first mortgage on the
White House. 1t is a treat to see As
sistant Secretary Barnes, Secretary
Loeb's understudy. dispose of an over
enthusiastic negro delegation or a sin
gle c.. B. The c. BIS are all great
hand-shakers. but Mr.. Barnes is not
After a long delay Mr.. Barnes
comes out into the anti-room with the
c. BIS card in his hand. The @. b.
springs to his feet, and with broad
smile rushes towards Mr.. Barnes and
, offers a hand-shake. At that partic-
ular moment 1t requires both OF Mr..
Barnes hands to hold the card, so the
hand-shake overture Is rejected unin-
tentionally apparently. Mr.. Barnes Is
not naturally frigid. but he is a good
actor.
When Congress is not in session the
White House Is a popular resort for
the Queens of the Lobby" and there
are dozens of them. One particular
Queen-she is very unattractive too
rushes to the White House almost
daily. She is always. on rush. Must
see the President, just for minute;
has something he would give oceans
TO know: cannot write II, too impor-
tant to put on paper. must see II only
for a second. Again the Loeb room
bluff is worked by the doorkeeper and
the Queen faunts herself out OF the
room vowing dire vengeance against
the entire Republican administration.
The day would not be complete with
out a delegation with a set OF reso-
buttons or a campaign poem. IL tho
delegation is under the guidance OF a
congressman II gets in, otherwise the
road to the Presidents room seems
long and weary. If the delegation seee
the President and the resolutions strike
him as being worth a cabinet photo
graph, with his autograph, the chair
man Of the delegation leaves the White
House with Presidents picture I'm his
hand. and at the same time having ac-
qulred the envy OF the other members
H.