The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-02-25

OFFICIAL TITLES rs DIFFICULTY
FOR THE uNINlTlATED.
Changes Made u Sic Forms % Ad-
dressing the President and 9th
ers ID High Posltion-"con-
aressman' Not uEod.


cellency, as MT President on as
just PRESIDENT
Tm sure / don't know Just muir
mur President, and / guess he won't
know the difference.
This conversation, overheard AZ one
OF the White House receptions, Is I'M
dicatiye Of the difficulty with titles
encountered by visitors to the ma
tlonal capital. Nor Is there any print
Cd guide to follow These things must
be learned from well-Dosted friends
or mistakes will be made
In We olden times no one ever
thought 81 addressing the chief ex-
ecutiye Of the United States less for
mally than as Your Excellency," but
that expression is now relegated to
tho list of things that were "Mr. Presi-
dent is the correct form, both in
speaking and writing. Mr.. Roosevelt
has even eliminated @The Executive
Mansion as the name Of the presi-
dents oGicial residence, and his sta
tionery bears the simple inscription:
The White House"
It is not only with the title Of the
chief executive that the uninitiated
find difhculty, for there are many
forms to be learned. For instance,
cabinet oflcers are not addressed as
Secretary Root or Secretary Car
field" but as cMr. Secretary On the
other hand, senator's are addressed by
their titles, as Senator Lodge, Sen
ator Hale" A few people prefix Mr.
saying Mr.. Senator, but # is not
considered as necessary, and by some
ii pronounced an affectation
Polite usage requires, Invariably the
prefix to the titles Of members Of the
supreme court For instance, one adj
dresses the chief justice as Mr. Chief
Justice, and the associate justices as
''Mr Justice" although in making an
introduction 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 adj
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 diplomats personal il
tie Of baron, count, Or whatever II
may be.
Throughout the government ser
vice there are officials who are ad
dressed BY their titles with the prefi1
Mr.. such as the civil service com
missioners, the interstate commerce
commissioners, the controller Of the
treasury and It is always safe wher
in doubt to SO address man who
holds a public ONCE.
with members Of the house the
simple Mr. should be used. ant
not Congressman which is regard
ed as provincial, despite the fact thai
President Roosevelt is apt to use tha'
form. There are some members OF ths
lower house OF congress who ike t,
be addressed as Congressman, ans
It IS probably In Difference to suel
preference that the president hai
adopted that expression. The speake
Of the house Is always addressed Al
Mr.. Speaker"
Army and navy circles also presen
no little confusion because Of the con
iiict between official titles and socia
usage For instance. those who khos
never address socially lieutenan
by his title. despite the fact that he 1
SO designated IN the army register
and is SO addressed BY his brothe
officer when 0n official business. H
is simply "Mr. Smith" or whateve
his name may be. and receives hi
nlia IN the social world only whe
he reaches the grade Of captain. But
you may object. every one refers I
and addresses the leader of the Ms
rine Band as Lieutenant santelmann.
Very true. and that is because Lies
tenant santelmann is not a commits
stoned officer He receives the It'll
by virtue Of his position as leade
Of the Marine Band. which carrie
with It the rank Of lieutenant, an
therefore every officer. whether speal
ing socially or officially, is punctiliou
to use the title And so, too Is th
same care exercised by every ONCE
should he have occasion socially /
speak 10 or communicate with an ei
listed man Of any arm Of the milltar
service. to address him by his ran
alone. as Sergeant Corporal
Private
Cat with Knowledge q Muslc.