Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-02
PRESIDENT RECEIVES
MANY WELL WISHES
Diplomats of Foreign Nations Extend
Greetings to Family of Chief
ExecutiVe-ItaIian Disaster
Causes Sadness

there been a gathering at the White
House so fraught with elements of in
terest as that which assembled today to
extend to President Roosevelt wishes
for the new year.
1t was the last opportunity Of the
public to meet their present chief exec
utive, and it was distinguished by the
presence Of the diplomatic representa-
tives Of nearly all the nations Of the
world, Of officials from all branches of
the government and citizens in every
walk of life.
shadow of sadness was cast over
the company by the recent terrible
calamity which has fallen on the Italian
people, whose ambassador was present
as the dean of the diplomatic corps.
and by the absence of the representa-
tive of the emperor of China, who is
wearing a badge of mourning for the
late emperor and dowager empress of
his country.
To Mr. Roosevelt the occasion was
Aae~Snrable beyond any in which he
has participated since his elevation to
the presidencS. In the exchanges of
salutations there were many references
to the events of his career during the
coming year, when he Will face the
dangers of the African wilderness.
The first greetings of the day were
extended to the president and Mrs
l..
bers. al the CABINET and their ladies
without the least show of formality.
These Fluctuations were exchanged in
the private rooms on the second floor
Of the mansion
Diplomats Meet
While the presidential party was
gathering above, there was another as
senblage in the state dining room on
the first floor. There, in the prescribed
attire of their respective countries,
were the diplomatic representatives ac-
credited to this country
The central figure in this company
was Baron Edmondo Mayer des
Planches, the Italian ambassador.
The greetings extended to him were
characterized by manifestations of sor-
row over the dire calamity under which
his countrymen have SO recently suf-
fered, rather than the usual salutation
attending the first day of the year.
When at the head of the line of
diplomats he passed into the blue
room, President Roosevelt shook his
hand and assured him of the sincere
sympathy Of the American people for
his stricken countrymen. Mrs Roose-
Welt also expressed sympathy. The
mourning which kept Special Ambassa-
dor Tong away prevented WI Ting
Fang, the Chinese minister, from at
LSAlOluS the reception.
Chief Justice Fuller and the asso-
c1ate justices of the supreme court led
the judiciary party, after which came
the senators and representatives in
congress.
Brigadier General J. Franklin Bell.
chief of staff, led the army, which was
fully represented, all of the officers be-
ing in full dress uniform. The navy
also was well represented.
Many viii Retire
The officials of the government repre-
senting all important bureaus of the
government, many of whom will re-
tire to private life on March 4. were
followed by representatives of various
patriotic societies which had been
given places of honor in the line.
AS the rear of this procession en-
tered the White House, the policemen
who had struggled for hours to keen
the stream of humanity in the line
were almost completely exhausted. The
president had friendly word of greet
ing for each visitor and seemed to en-
JOY the time spent at his arduous task.
After the public reception the presi-
dent led the way to the dining room,
where refreshments We're served
Mrs. Roosevelt had left the line be-
fore the public was admitted to the
White House. So had most of the
women of the cabinet and others who
had been invited to step behind the
line
Miss Ethel Roosevelt had mingled
with the crowd throughout the morn
ing, but she, too, disappeared with
some of her young friends early in the
day.
Attending for the first time recep-
ton at the White House were the Phil
ippine commissioners. Legarda and
Ocampo, who mingled with the crowd
in the state dining room. They were
among the first to wish the president a
happy new year.
They talked much with the repre-
sentatives of other insular govern
ments of the United States In the
congressional party Speaker Cannon
was a conspicuous figure.
His greeting to the president was
particularly cordial. Many of the SEN
ators and representatives had parties
with them.
Mrs. Roosevelt, too. took an unusual
interest in the public feature of the
reception, remaining at the side of the
president longer than at any previous
reception. The reception closed at 2:25
o'clock. when President Roosevelt
shook hands with Chief Usher Thomas
Stone.
The number attending the reception
was announced by the automatic
counter to be 1867, which is more than
last year.