Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-16

men. night and day. as well as by squad
Of plain clothes men detailed by the
eecret service of the Treasury Department.
In the White House there is a branch po-
Ice station, in charge Of q sergeant with
a corps of officers divided into three beats
There probably Is not a day in the year
when the President is not marked by some
anarchist or lunatic, and yet he lays him.
self open to public criticism IL he allows
any outward sign of safeguard or precau-
ton. Mr.. Cleveland was ridiculed because
he permitted sentry boxes to be erected
in the White House park, for the use OF the
watchmen. Mr.. Lincoln was criticised for
allowing sharpshooters to be posted on
the roofs along the route OF the procession
which accompanied him to take his sec
ond oath of office and at the time the pup
lie mind was infiamed by the civil war
No matter how retiring he may be by
nature. President can never Tor mo-
ment step out of the lime-light. Under
his office roof Is newspaper sanctum oc-
cupied daily and often nightly by reporters
and correspondents. who keep tap on ms
every move and cross-examlne nus eve,y
visitor. But while these sagacious journal
lists have personal access to the natlon
great fountain-head of news, he never per-
mits them to quote him IN an interview.
The President is always In harness.; nc
can never get away from the shop. Naca
ton means to him simply a removal VI
the tools of his trade to fresh scene VI
Industry When Mr.. Mckinney mace NE,
tour to the Pacific coast he had 10 ia u
along with him his entire cabinet ana I,
good part of his clerical force MT. CleVe-
land managed to isolate himself Tor rev
hours at a time by SAILING OUT ih.o 80 "a
Yards bay, but at the wharf ne aiWays NJ NJ
to run the gauntlet of the hol polioi- WI :
ROOSEVELT seouestered himself for a rev
days in Yellowstone Park, but even a Doos
of soldiers could not keep the lhquis =, =
from breaking through the lines anu ms
nrivate secretary had to be posted nearly :,
= 40 COL connected
the presidential camp
Magnet for Lunatics.
Mr.. Roosevelt's successor-whether 1t be
himself or Judge Parker-will receive from
geo to 1000 letters a day. People from all
corners of the land will conf!de to MIN
their grievances and if he should happen
to have a sore throat scores of old LADIES
will send him the formulate of home rem
edies certain to cuie him. Nine persons
out of ten believe that the President has
the power to overrule state authorities
and pardon criminals who nave not Vio-
lated the federal statutes. A Dack-Woous-
nan down in the south complained to MT.
Mckinley that he was not allowed to eN-
hibit a four-legged rooster without paying
license, and asked the Presldent TO risn.
this injustice. Requests OF TINS nature
pour into the White House weekly. "A
large proportion of the lunatics suffering
from the mania of persecution hold the
President responsible for their wrongs,
while a greater proportion or the rehslous
maniacs believe that heaven has 1ntrusted
them with the mission of eXtermnatiiie
the chief magistrate of the land.
A sensitive occupant of the presidential
chair must suffer many bitter pang.
Every President from the first to the last
has been publicly insulted. George WASH
ington. while in the highest Office. was
openly charged with theft, and New YORK
newspaper published the accusation that
he had overdrawn his salary $1,000. At
banquet of politicians held in Alexandra,
John Randolph of Roanoke proposed the
toast:
George Washington. May he be id. y
The father of his country was charged,
moreover, with murder during one Of these
campaigns.
An election to the presidency as good as
guarantees a government paidup life In
surance. 1t is the custom of Congress to
vote to each presidential widow a pension
of S. 600 a year and the free use of the
mails, adding to this her husbands unpaid
salary for one year If he die in office.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.