The Washington times., 1905-12-30
Soldierly Directness.

appointment"
Soldierly Directness.
There is a decisive and a soldieriy di-
rectness about General Bingham which
has often been mistaken for abruptness
or brusqueness. but that mistake was
usually made by some one who had
given cause for the exhibition of the
military side of his training. 1t is re-
lated of him that on one occasion, when
there was a social function of import
ance at the White House and 4 laroe
number of guests were present. one of
the guestss a well-known Senator. be-
gan the narration of a story in a tone
which attracted attention throughout the
room. Colonel Bingham saw that the
President was annoyed. Without waiting
for anything further. he stepped UP to
the Senator and said:
The President desires to have quiet -
The Senator was extremely wroth. but
it made no difference to Colonel BIHs-
ham He had merely noted and stopped
a rude interruption of what was going
on
His fine appearance and soldierly bear
ing attracted attention anywhere, and he
coupled with them courtliness of man
ner and deftnesS of management which
carried him through the difficult task OF
Strengthening out all the tangles in in
tricate official etiquette which have
sometimes proved the source Of no lit
tie bother in White House affairs. But
there was one occasion when his usually
tactful recollection served him false
There was a diplomatic dinner at the
White House. and IL was Colonel Bing-
hams place to arrange the seating OF
the guests. among whom were the am
bassadors from Austria and Mexico and
their wives For the moment il escaped
tho memory OF Colonel Bingham that
not since the Mexicans shot MaXimil-
lian. an archduke of Austria. had there
been any diplomatic relations between
Austr d, and Mexico. 1t was well recog-
nized n Washington society generally
that there was always 10 be found an
opportunity for the two ambassadors TO
pass by without seeing each other. But
on this occasion Colonel Bingham ar
ranged that the Baroness Won Hengel-
muller wife of the Austrian ambassa-
dor. should be taken in 10 dinner by
Senor AZpiroZ. the ambassador from
Mexico. who had been one of the judges
who sentenced MaNimillian 10 death.
When the baroness learned or the ar
rangement she protested that IL would
be an insult TO her Emperor. and for a
few minutes there was lively consulta-
Iion. But the seating list was quickly
revised, and the Mexican ambassador
took in another lady.
II Is singularly fitting now that the
man who created a whole police force In
Washington right on top of the old and
developed Metropolitan force should be
put at the head OF the New York police.
MS Is what Colonel bingham Ola Wnen
he was Superintendent or Public Build
lngs and Grounds. He soon found when
ne entered on his duties at the Capital
that IL was a difficult task 10 protect
the many beautiful parks Of the city.
Nandals woUlS pick flowers, cut bushes
and carry of plants.
His Own Force.
He decided TO have 4 police force all
his own, and not 20 rely on Major SyI-
vester and his thousand or more men.
He got Congress TO allow him money for
a policeman for each park, and they
were all his subordinates. He designed
a pretty green uniform for them and
had them drilled now and then and
braced up straight and soldierlike until
they made a quite policemen-lil1e set OF
men
Sirpe Colonel Bingham left Washing
ton ne men who have been trying 10
undo the many good things he did have
stripped the old fellows Of their hand
some green clothes and rugged them out
In the "garbaee" Of real policemen.
which Is not nearly SO attractive as the
uniforms Colonel Bingham created
Colonel Bingham's s masterful efficiency
as the social director Of the White
House set mark which cclpsed his
predecessors and has been the constant
despair Of those who have followed him.
As the social counselor of William Nc
kinley, 4 man who was n plain Ameri-
can without the scholarly furnishings
and the talking grasp Of modern Lam
guage that would make association witt
diplomats anything more than panto-
mime. Colonel Bingham was IN his ele-
ment.
He had acquired from his residence in
Berlin homelike familiarity with tho
German language and his Freneh was
also good enough for home cons'irau;t1 81
lie was on Ine best OF terms with AL
the foreigners. and did his best 20 ff;.i x
the rigors OF the functional affairs al
the White House as pleasant for then
as posi- BILE.
A story is told of n young German at.
tache who was attending his first New
year reception at the White House after
Colcnei Bingham became the social di-
rector there Coming very late. he was
duly presented TO Mr. and Mrs McKin-
ley. Accidentally he entered into "A 1T
tie conversation with Colonel Bingham
Are you German" he asked
Oh, no.. replied Colonel Bingham
just plain Yankee"
Mcln Gotti exclaimed the Young
German. "and you, Yankee, have that
umlaut."
Flight 10 Paradise.
When Prince Albert of Belgium was
the guest of the President it was CoIone
Bingham who had charge OF All details
and worked out the elaborate program
which made the young princes visit, as
he described It. "a fight to Paradise -