The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-02

'O1 Your Excellency,' as Mr..
President or as just Presi-
dent?"
I'm sure I don't know. Just murmur
President and I guess he won't know
the difference"
This conversation overheard at one OF
the White House receptions, is indicative
of the difficulty with titles encountered
by visitors to the national capital. Nor
is there any printed guide to follow. These
things must be learned from well posted
friends, or mistakes will be made.
In We olden times no one ever thought
of addressing the Chief Executive of the
United States less formally than as Your
Excellency," but that expression is now
relocated to the list of things that were.
"Mr. President is the correct form, both
in speaking and writing. Mr.. Roosevelt
has even eliminated 1.-THE Executive -dan-
sion" as the name of the Presidents Off
cial residence, and his stationery bears
the simple inscription 1.-THE White
House."
1t is not only with the title of the
Chief Executive that the uninitiated find
difficulty, for there are many forms to
be learned. . For instance, cabinet Off
GERS are not addressed as Secretary
Root" or Secretary Garfield" but ais
"Mr. Secretary" On the other hand, SEN
| ators are addressed by their titles, as,
Senator Lodge, Senator Hale" A few
| people pref, the Mr." saying, Mr..
Senator" but it Is not considered as
necessary and by some is pronounced an
| affectation.
! Polite usage invariably requires the pre-
| fix to the titles of members of the SUI
/ preme court. For instance, one addresses
/ the chief Justice as MIR. Chief justice,
and the associate justices as Mr.. JUS
tce, although in making an introduce
ton one would add the name, as Mr..
Justice White
The rule which applies to the Presi-
dent applies also to the Vice President
and to foreign ministers, who are ad-
dressed as Mr.. Minister" but in the
case of ambassadors the form, Your
Excellency," is used except where one
/ is reasonably well acquainted when the
simpler Mr.. Ambassador is adopted,
and in every instance one or the other OF
these terms is used instead of the dplo-
mats personal title of baron, count or
whatever it may be.
Throughout the government service
there are officials who are addressed by
their titles with the prefix Mr." such as
the civil service commissioners, the inter7
state commerce commissioners, the con-
troller of the treasury, and it is always
| safe when in doubt to SO address man
who holds a public office.
/ With members of the House the simple
Mr." should be used, and not Con
| gressman,' which is regarded as provin-
cial despite the fact that President
! Roosevelt is apt to use that form. There
are some members of the lower House
| of Congress who like to be addressed as
| congressman and it is probably in
Difference to such preference that the
! President has adopted the expression. The
speaker of the House is always addressed
| as MIR. Speaker
Army and navy circles also present no
little confusion because of the conflict be-
| tween official titles and social usage.
| For instance, those who know never adj
| dress socially lieutenant by his title,
the ARMY register and is so addressed
| by his brother officers when on official
| business. He is simply 'Mr. Smith, -
| or whatever his name may be, and re-
| ceives his title in the social worl. only
when he reaches the grade Of captain.