The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-28
Social Code i'm
Capital Strict

Official Washington has a social code
as obdurate as Mosaic law. It differs
from the law of the land in that every
phase of it is rigidly enforced at all
times. 1t is the outgrowth of tradition
and custom as amended by each sue
ceeding administration. 1t provides in
the minutest detail for all that has to
do with social affairs, including prece-
calls, receptions, and is applicable to
both men and women in the official
set. If one would be eminently prop
er in his or her conduct in Washing
ton, knowledge of the social rules and
regulations is as necessary as is IA
miliarity with the Constitution of the
United States to a statesman or of the
rules of the senate and house to a mem
Der of congress.
Just who is mainly responsible for
the social code which governs official
Washington is a matter of conjecture.
The Taft administration found it IN
unofficial form handed down from the
Roosevelt administration. When IT
was first applied to this country is
unknown, but the fact remains that
social code has been in existence in
Washington probably since the days of
George Washington, and it has been
elaborated by each administration since
that time.
Each succeeding President and his
wife have brought to Washington
new social set. With all its democracy
the Taft administration is perhaps the
best exponent high society has had in
the White House in more than two
generations. By this assertion, 1T is
not meant to be understood that for
mer Presidents and their families have
not commanded a social station well in
keeping with the dignity of the posi-
ton held by the head of the family
On the other hand, it must be remem-
bered that many Presidents occupied
comparatively lowly stations before be-
ing elected to the Office of President,
and some of them came from commu-
mites wkere polished society did not
exist in the sense in which it is I'M
derstood today.
Success in such lines is also due IN
part to temperament. The Roosevelt
York, and being one of the Knicker-
bockcrs, has inherited the social stand
lngs for generations which has been
;uaintained by succeeding generations.
While Theodore Roosevelt furnished
high social standard in the White
House during his administration, he
was not by temperament exactly suit
ed to that phase of life IN this more
Of Tnll hi ~
Mrs Roosevelt was essentially
mother. while she entered into the
spirit of all occasions with zest and
did her share toward maintaining the
social code among women; at the same
time. her heart was elsewhere. Like
wise, under the Mckinley administra-
ton there was a certain adherence to
formalities. The McKinleys We're COM
parativeIv plain people, "close TO the
soil.'' as self made men like to put
it and Mrs. Mckinley was handi-
capped by physical disability from TAX
ing her place as the first lady of the
land.
President Cleveland's experience in
society began as sheriff at Buffalo,
extended through the governorship at
Albany and reached its zenith in the
of his administration, President Cleve-
sand was a bachelor, and not until he
married Frances Folsom did the social
side of President Cleveland become
thoroughly fixed.
President Harrison was one of the
most polished men who sat in tho
White House in recent years. His
chief accomplishment, however, was ID
his scholarly attainments and in his
strong endeavors to obey any law, po-
1itical or social. which he found on
4he statute books This process OF
characterization could readily be pur-
sued to a period before the Civil War.
but il would only tend to confirm the
EXPRESSION alraady given to the fact
that the Taft administration promises
to attain a higher social standard than
has usually attended an official admin
astration Of Washington.
During the last national political
campaign it was frequently urged that
President Taft was the only man
who had ever run for the high office
who had been educated at the expense
of the American people to fill it. He
had been frequently referred to as the
ssnessenger boy of the Roosevelt ad-
ninistration. As such it had been
his business to circumnavigate the
globe.
Through this experience Mr.. Taft
maintained his democracy, so charac-
teristic of a true American, but at the
same time those present were i'm
pressed by the dignity which well
ordered program gave to everything
With which he had anything to do.
On the other hand, he came from an
old established family at Cincinnati
Ohio, and had married into the Her,
rem family. which was the social equal
of his own. Not only. therefore, had
the president and Mrs. Taft entree
into the best society of their home city
but they had had nearly fifteen years
s.A-:..o,,t snoial exnerience in the