The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-09
Who Shall Be Received First at
Receptions a Question That Is
Worrying Society.
CHIEF JUSTICE HUFFl
Blame for Present Trouble Laid at
Door of Maj. McCawley, on
Duty at the White House.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

the Supreme Court, much to the chagrin
of the gentlemen who comprise the highest
judicial tribunal in the land Figuratively
speaking, the jurists and the diplomats do
not speak as they pass by. They are at
daggers' points. The feud is still on. 1t
has been raging for years. The question
of precedence between the corps and the
court must be settled. or one of these
days something will surely happen.
AT the reception in question the diplo-
matte corps passed in review before the
President in advance of the justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States. Only
a few present at the function witnessed
the Indignation expressed by the august
Jurists. The day following the reception
Chief Justice Fuller and Associate Justice
Harlan presented themselves at the gates
of the White House. 1t is related that
they called on President Roosevelt to pro-
test against the action of Major McCawley,
the military aid, in making the Supreme
Court play second fiddle to the foreign
ambassadors and ministers resident in this
capital. 1t is now reported that a plan has
been hit upon which will prevent for the
present the recurrence of a social conflict
between the diplomatic corps and the Su-
preme Court Hereafter at all social func-
bassadors representing the persons of their
sovereigns shall take precedence over the
court The remainder of the corps, how
ever must follow in the wake of the ius-
tices. This much has been settled But
the procedure to be followed at the judicial
reception or next year has not been de-
cided upon. The social experts refuse to
tdckle TINS knotty problem until they are
brought face to face with 1t. Accordingly
the dlHerences between the corps and the
court are not finally settled; they are like
~ 10 break out again at any time or place.
WAS A BREAK MADE?
There is difference of opinion among
those versed in the rules governing official
society whether Major McCawley made a
Dreak. Some contend that he did not
The question hinges on the point as to
whether or not the function was technic-
ally judicial reception. Some declare that
1t was, others that 1t was not That the
reception was given in honor of the Su-
preme Court there can be no doubt This
| settled, the majority contend that the JUS
| tees, being guests OF honor, there was no
doubt as to the position they should have
| taken In the line. The divergence of views
| on this simple matter demonstrates forcibly
| the absolute lack of any hard and fixed
rules governing official society at this dem
ocratic capital.
The diplomatic corps has strict regard
| for puntilous official etiquette. 1t mem
| Ders time their arrival and departure at all
functions with military precision. on the
night of the judicial reception the corps was
on hand at the appointed time. Only two
or three of the justices had arrived. The
foreigners began to grow FESTIVE, and Major
McCawley requested that they be received
The word was given for them to advance.
BY this time the august members OF the
Supreme Court had assembled. But much
to their surprise they followed instead of
preceding the diplomatic corps. While de-
tanned at the door of the blue room Chief
Justice Fuller gave Major McCawley, the
| aid, a low-voiced dressing down that the
| officer will probably remember a long time
| Associate Justice Harlan, towering head and
shoulders above his white-locked chief add
| ed a few well-chosen remarks to those
| of the chief justice.
you'll have to wait, your honor" said the
major: THE diplomatic corps goes first"
But this is the reception to the judiciary
| SIR, Indignantly replied Chief Justice Full
| Ter. we should certainly have precedence
! tonight"
Cant help 1t. your honor" responded
| the aid. 1.-The diplomatic corps goes first"
CHIEF JUSTICE IN RAGE
| 1t is reported that the chief justice there
upon asked the aid when he had been ap-
| pointed social director of the White House.
and from whom he had received the re-
| markable instructions he was carrying
| out.
Justice Harlan asserted that never in all
| his experience at the capital had he heard
| of such an occurrence. The major seemed
| somewhat ruffied, but nevertheless held to
| his course and did not permit the justices
1 to reach the Blue Room until the assembled
diplomats big and little, had passed along.
| Not only were ambassadors and ministers
| given precedence over the chief justice and
| his associates, but all the legation secreta-
| ries and other attaches who had arrived
up to that time were allowed to receive
| the Presidents greetings before the men,
berS OF the judiciary were permitted TO
| leave the room. Friends Of the court as
| sert Indignantly that the plan to give the
| diplomats precedence was worked out de-
| liberately. Others say that the incident was
| due to Sle tardy appearance of the court.
So there you are. Strained relations con-
| tinue TO exist between the corps and the
| court. and where 1t will all end no one can
| predict. 1t is agreed however, that the
question of precedence between these two
bodies must be fixed beyond the possibility
| of controversy. Maj. McCawley, a hand
some young officer, has had 10 shoulder
| the blame. Like a good soldier he carried
| out his orders. but he has declined to in
| dictate whether he received them from the
President direct or from Col. Symons. his
| immediate superior
The question of precedence in official So
ciety at the national capital has often been
| productive of much humor, and more often
| edy was enacted at the dinner of the
| Gridiron Club the other night. based on
the jealousy between the Supreme Court
and the Diplomatic Corps. Justice Day and
Baron Won Sternberg, the German ambas-
| sador, were guests. In order that both
| should enter the dining hall simultaneously
| a door was cut through the east wall and
| the justice and ambassador entered and
| were seated at the same time, thus avoid
| ing any conflict to precedence. The
hit coming closely after the White
| House incident was well received.
NOT FIRST TROUBLE.
Early in the Mckinley administration
| Lord Pauncefote. the British ambassador.
and Vice President Hobart had a passage
at arms on the question of rank. The Brit
| ish ambassador, the representative of
his sovereign. claimed precedence. and
| carried it to the extreme of ascertaining the
| list of guests invited to every function
! which he expected 10 attend. If he dis
| covered that Mr.. Hobart was to be present
| he desired 10 be informed to the seating
| ARRANGEMENTS. If they did not suit him
| his Britainic majeSty'S representative did
| not put in appearance.
| Speaker Henderson and Mr. Frye, preSi-
| dent pro TEN. of the Senate. also had a
| spat on the question OF precedence. The
| Sneaker admitted that the vice president
| outranked the incumbent of his Office but
| he would not yield the palm TO the sue
| cessor OF the vice president. Speaker Hen
| derson's attitude in this respect created
| quite a sensation. The question has not
| Vet been settled. Joseph c. Cannon the