The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-12
.LkMONT'S
DIPLOMACY
How CIeveland's Secre-
tary Kept Callers
in Check.

pie. some of them obviously queer, and
others simply pigheadedly determined,
who appear at the White House and
announce to the attendants that they
are going to sit right there till the
President does see them" The late
Col. Dan Lamont, when he was secre-
tary to President Cleveland, was a
great hand at gently nudging the in
sistent and impossible ones toward the
| outer air.
He was once passing out of the main
White House door when his attention
was attracted to a colloquy between a
couple of doorkeepers and a sharp vote
ed spinster of most severe aspect. This
| woman had just been removed from her
post as a school teacher in Washing
ton for criticising the public school
system of the District of Columbia in
a series of extraordinary letters to the
Washington press.
She had developed an acerbity of
temper which made it impossible for
her to get on with anybody, including
her pupils, and so she had to go. She
had come to the White House that
day to lay her case before President
Cleveland.
I'm going to see him whether you
want me to or not" she was saying
to the door-keepers as Mr. Lamont
passed by on his way out. Hes moth
ing but a servant of the people, and
I'm one of the people. I'll see him if
1 have to stay here a thousand years
and wait and she pumped herself
into one of the big chairs in the outer
corridor and arranged her skirt with
great elaboration.
Mr.. Lamont walked over to the spin
ster with the grievance.
I'm sorry madam he said, that it
isn't possible for the President to see
you because he's not in the White
House. nor in fact in Washington. He
went down Chesapeake Bay this morn
ing on a little hunting trip. and won't
be back for two or three days which
was the truth.
spinster. never budging from her chair,
I'll wait right here in the White
House till he gets back"
but" said Mr.. Lamont, rubbing his
chin thoughtfully and smiling. would
that be exactly proper 10 you think?
sleep here nights during Mr.. Cleve-
lands absence, and there is no lady
staying in the building al present
L.,
erOned, are you not?"
The Goddess of Justice will be suf-
ficient chaperon for me. sir" replied
the spinster, although she was plainly
Modified by the Secretary's courteous
tone and deferentiaI manner
True, true" said Mr.. Lamont, but
-er-who could get to-er-chaperon
me. I wonder?'' This in thoughtful
tone.
oh. well, never mind-Tu return
when Mr.. Cleveland gets back said
the spinster, rising, and the trick was
done
The woman went away almost smiI-
ing.
On another occasion he was called
from his office by the sound of a wordy
conflict in the corridor outside PeO-
pie visiting the White House did not
have to run the same long gauntlet in
those days that they do now. and the
woman making the noise in the corri-
dor had got thus far by stating with
great propriety upon her entrance that
she had an appointment with the Pres
ident and it was near the Presidents
hour for receiving general visitors with
appointments.
ident's offices. she had become violent
ly angry when restrained from walk
ing right in upon Mr. Cleveland. and
had turned loose upon the doorkeeper
the stream of denuncfation which sum-
moned Mr.. Lamont into the hall Her
husband. a postmaster in a little Mary
land town. had, it seemed, just been
removed by the remorseless axe of
Headsman AdIai Stevenson, who was
then in the Post Office Department. and
she had come to see the President
about it.
Mr.. Lamont found her in the hall
tossing her arms wildly and shooing
! the somewhat alarmed looking attend
, ant into a corner.
: Madam" said Mr.. Lamont, sooth-
ingIy, will you kindly tell M what 1
can do for you?''
And who are you. runt?" flashed
out the woman, regarding Mr. Lamont
/ contemptuously
MI Lamont wasn't any son of Anak
! in stature but a little thing like that
was never any sore point with him.
and he laughed pleasantly over the an
! cry Woman'S shot.
Well" he said. good naturally. Il
! work here, and it's part of my JOB to
+ do anything I can to obIige visitors.
/ If YOU would be good enough to state
. your case Ia be obliged. and -''
J Well, I came here to tell Grover
! Cleveland what I think Of him, that's
! what broke i'll the woman.
Mr.. Lamont tugged refectively at his
EriZZied. chopped off mustache.
Madam he said. tell me. Tell me