The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-01
From the Vice President to the
Humblest Citizen.
President Roosevelt Shook the
Hands of All Corners.
WAS Att FOURHOUR
Waiting ThrOng Extended for
Blocks From White House.
1t Began Forming at Nine
O'clock This Morning.

Washington, Jan. Theodore
| Roosevelt today officiated for the
| seventh time as president of the
United States at the New Year recep-
, ton at the White House. Assisting
him in exchanging the salutations of
| the season were Mrs. Roosevelt and the
members and ladies of the ca binet.
| The niceties of diplomatic etiquette
were religiously observed in the con-
! duct of that part Of the reception,
which has grown during the past hun
dred years more and more to partake
| largely of the nature of an official
/ function. In this way, but without
prearrangement, the president first
/ greeted the vice president and the
members of his cabinet, then each
| foreign nation represented in the per-
son of ambassador or minister, the
| Judiciary, through the personnel of
| the supreme court bench and the
| judges of the local federal and district
courts; senators and representatives in
congress, officers of the army, navy.
marine corps and militia of the Dis
| trict of Columbia; heads of govern
ment bureaus. and members of the
| government commissions, organiza-
! tions of veterans, including the society
sociated Veterans of the War of 1876
At; Military Order of the Loyal Leg
ion, Grand Army of the Republic,
Medal of Honor Legion, Union Vet
eran Legion, Union Veterans, Society
of the Army of Santiago, Spanish War
Veterans. Army and Navy Union,
Minute Men. Sons of the American
Revolution. and Oldest inhabitants
association of the District of Columbia,
and then the public.
Gathering in constantly lengthen-
ing line at the west gate TO the White
House grounds, the people had stood
since o'clock in the morning. 1t was
1 O'Clock when the gates were opened
to admit them. The line kept intact
by a special detail of police, that ex-
tended in double column for two
blocks down Seventeenth :. street,
passed the State, War and Navy build
ing. It was joyous holiday throng
and left it's impression of good feeling
on the president, who after more than
four hours of handshaking, expressed
exhilaration rather than exhaustion.
Impressive in its dignity, interesting in
its personality, animating in it's pic
turesqueness, the representation was
composite of twentieth century civil
zation on dress parade. To review it
in it's entirety requires a look at the
preliminarieS.
The president and Mrs. Roosevelt oc-
cupied the hour preceding the stroke OF
II in receiving and entertaining the
mebers of the cabinet, and those spec
tally invited to membership in the re-
ceiving party in the library on the up
per floor. Diplomats. judges. legisla-
tors, army officers. gathered in con-
versational groups in the state dining
room. The red coated Marine band,
hemmed in by the potted foliage on
either side the entrance to the lofty
lobby with its white marble floor. fur
nished the stage setting for the Teceiv-
ing party. The red, green and blue
parlors, forming connecting links be-
tween the state dining room on the
west and the east room. were fragrant
with cut flowers, effectively placed. 1t
was in the blue parlor or state room
that the receiving party took position
shortly after II o'clock. Trumpeters
heralded the approach of the president
and Mrs Roosevelt down the gray white
marble stairs and to the bands rendi-
ton of Hail to the Chief the recep-
tion began. I1eiSurely and with no sem
blance of formality those in the state
dining room passed through the red
parlor into the presence of the presi-
dent.
The Introductions.
The receiving party formed the arc
of a circle. filling the large bow win
dow opening to the south. They faced
thus viewing and in view of the scenes
and throngs there. Introductions were
made to the president by Colonel
Charles S. Bromwel1. superintendent of
public buildings and grounds. and to
Mrs. Roosevelt by Captain Frank r.
Mccoy. military aide to the president.
Leaving the blue parlor the route of
exit was through the green parlor, the
east room, down the stairs to the
social annex" and the east gate
Numerous changes in the diplomatic
corps have occurred during the year.
so that for quite a number of the for
efgn representatives in Washington it
was their first New Year experience at
the White House. Death. the rotation
in office. followed by some foreign ma
tions with the members of their dfplo-
matte corps, and the vicissitudes of
political life, were responsible for the
absence of familiar and the presence of
new faces. Among those who attended
last years reception the most notable
absentee today was Viscount Aoki, the
Japanese ambassador now returning to
Japan and that nation was represented
by the members of the embassy staff
with Baron Tsunejiro Miyaok, the
counsellor at the head of the line. The
familiar figure of Chekib Bey, the for
mer Turkish minister also was missing.
having been succeeded by Mehmed Ali
Rey China likewise changed her min
lister during the year, Sir Chen Tung
LANG Cheng having been recalled and
the former Minister Wu Ting Fang
having succeeded to the position. The
latter however has not yet arrived in
washington and Mr.. Chow Tszchi, the
first secretary headed the delegation
from China. Death has made vacancy
in the legation from Norway, Mr.. c.
Hauge the minister, having died on
December II, at his home in Europe,
and in his stead was Mr.. Oskyback, the
secretary of legation and charge daft
faires.
The DIPLOMATS who were making their
first appearance at a New Year function
at the White House included Ambas-
sador Bryce of Great Britain, Senior
Don Ramon Pima, the Spanish minister,