The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-01
OPEN TO ALL.
Doors of " hite House Part for
Everybody.
New Years Reception Is Attend
ed by Thousands.
CITIZENS ON A LEVEL.
No Distinction Shown I'm the
Presidents Handshake.
Ceremony Begun at IL O'clock
Lasted for Hours.

Washington, Jan. Each year the
White House doors swing open to all
the nation on January 1 and a heartier
welcome was never extended to visi-
tors than greeted the thousands who
called today to pay their respects to
the chief executive. New Years cheer
banished rank and class distinction.
The president met ambassador and la
borer with the same firm handshake.
While the marine band played pa
| triotic airs the great throng moved
| slowly through the executive mansion
and In the greeting of the president
men and women of all ages and con-
ditions found renewed devotion to re-
publican and democratic ideal.
The diplomatic corps, the judiciary
the army. the navy and civilian Of
4 1clals in the various departments were
received in turn before the thousands
! or citizens who had been standing In
line for hours. could meet the presi-
dent The President and Mrs. Roose-
welt, Vice President and Mrs Fair
| banks and the members of the cabinet
and their wives exchanged New Years
greetings in the library. Here they
i assembled about a quarter of eleven
| o clock, remaining until few minutes
to the hour when, escorted by Captain
Frank r. Mccoy, U. S. cavalry, one of
| the aides to the president, the entire
! party descended to the blue room, the
| President and Mrs. Roosevelt in the
lead. AS the latter made their ap-
pearance at the head of the stairs
fanfare of trumpets by musicians of
the marine band, standing in the vesti-
bule, announced their coming.
March TO Blue Room
The march to the blue room was
made by way of the state dining room
and the red room through which all
tne guests except those of the diplo-
matte corps entered before being pre-
sented: the latter assembling in the
~ n Ia "a
way of The southern entrance to the
White House. BY means of a velvet
cord twisted with old gold the blue
room mad been roped off so as to form
ciear and uninterrupted passa geway
for the callers. President Roosevelt
took position near the door. at the
head OF The reception line. At his
right was Mrs. Roosevelt; to her right.
Mrs Mfs. Falrnanks, and SO on down the
line, the ladies of the cabinet taking
their positions In the order of preced-
ence. Behind them stood the vice
president and the members of the
cabinet.
TO the opposite of the reception line
We're the presidents aides, with the ex-
eeption of Col. Chas s. BromweII and
captain Mccoy who made the introduce
tons The former included Lieutenant
commander Albert L. Key, U. S. N;
Captain Arthur E. Harding, u s. M.
G.; Lieutenant Chauncey Shackford.
U. s. N; Captain Fitz Hugh Leo U. s.
cavalry; Douglas McDougal. corporal
of engineers: Lieutenant c. r. Train,
U S. N. Lieutenant Philip H. Sheri-
dan. U. S. cavalry, and Ensign Semmes
Reed, U. s. N
With the exception of the members
of the diplomatic corps all the intro
ductions to the president were made by
Col. Bromwell, and to Mrs Roosevelt
by Captain Mccoy. AS each caller
passed the president he gave a cordial
shake of the hand. Mrs Roosevelt and
the ladies of the cabinet each carried
a handsome bouquet of roses The
diplomatic corps were presented to the
president by Assistant SecretEry of
State Huntington Wilson each head of
the foreign missions in turn introducing
to the president the members of his
staff.
The Diplomatic Corps.
Heading the diplomats was Baron
Mayer Des Planches, ambassador from
Italy, the dean of the corps, followed in
turn by Baron Hengelmuller, Sne am
bassador from Austria Hungary, who
has just returned from trip to his
home Ambassador Juesserand of France
Ambassador Speck Won Sternburg from
Germany, Joaquin Nabuco, the ambas-
sador from Brazil; Baron Rosen, the
ambassador from Russia, and NiScount
Aoki, ambassador from Japan, who to-
day appeared at a White House New
Years reception for the first time. Fol-
lowing the ambassadors and the mem
bers of their staffs came the ministers
and the members of their official house
holds, headed by Constantine Brun, the
Representative from Denmark, and in
cluding Senor Quesada from Cuba and
Senor De Obaldia from Port Arthur,
who have appeared at this function
on several previous occasions.
Because OF the death of the minis
ter's mother requiring him to go into
mourning for a period of one hundred
days, Sir Chentung LANG Cheng, the
Chinese minister, was not present. Most
of the members of his staff. however.
were in attendance in their oriental
dress.
The kingdom of Sweden was repre-
sented by A. E. Kengren, its charge
d'affaires, ad interim. Mr.. c. Hauge
today appeared for the first time at a
New Years reception as the minister
from Norway, he having acted last
year in the capacity of charge.
New Face Seen.
Among the new faces in the corps
were Senor Carlo, minister OF Ecua-
Colombia and DIR. Don Luis Lafinur,
the newly appointed minister from
Uruguay. Sir Mortimer DGrand. who
has just vacated the post of ambassa-
dor from Great Britain at Washington,
was always conspicuous figure at the
presidential social functions. King Ed
ward was represented today by Esmc
Howard. charge d'affaires.
Following the diplomatic corps
came the representatives of the judi
cial branch OF the government at
washington. headed by the justices or
the supreme court. Chief Justice Mel
Vile w Fuller came first, each jus
tice following. The first time in his
new capacity as an assistant justice or