The Washington herald., 1909-02-25
White House" Is Good Enough.

II is a pleasure to observe that our
plea in behalf Of the Rooseveltian limo
walton Of officially designating the Presi-
dental residence as the White House
has met the widespread approval OF the
press. Even the New York sun. apt 10
be severely critical Of the styles. fashions.
and literary department OF its present
occupant, agrees that White House" Is
the popular and fitting appellation. or
course, Mr.. Roosevelt was not the in
ventor OF that name, nor was any at
tempt made 10 thrust the honor OF IL
venting il upon him. as our contemporary
appears TO have thought; what Mr..
Roosevelt did was simply 10 use the
words White House" as the Official de-
scription Of the Executive dwelling. place
them upon all Official stationery, and at
tach them 10 al Executive papers As
the sun says. White House has been
traced as far back as Madison's ad-
miuistration. during which. in fact. the
term had its origin For many years.
however. the White House stationery has
borne the words Executive Mansion. -
which Mr. Roosevelt promptly elided.
We are reminded by a correspondent that
before Madison's time The Presidents
House" was one designation Of the Ex-
ecutive residence. Our correspondent
writes.
Il quite agree vish you as 70 the undssirA5ility
n Executive Nanzcn' IS q uzms for the residence
q ths PTsSidgni-thzt Is toe general q tern being
used n al the States for the house Of the gov
enu-. But I csnn0t szrss that White House Is
go0d name for 50 digTfhed building Anrbody
rasy have 2 white house. and as matter Of fact
this sppella,ion vas Only given after TIE painting
made Necessary b. the smoke the British created
in lsli 50 White House is a reminder a 4
diSaETseabls event
The proper designation Is that given Oh the
I'Eufaut nap, I7sl. The Presidents House- This
title Jefferson used in a letter % Andrew EIlico,t
dated November q 1871 and Washington used il.
in 1877 III letter 70 the Commissioners who laid
C1r the CITY. TheSe are Instances chosen n ran-
dom oEst q a 1unber showing That Presidents
Hons was the early Official name. Tie wonder
is thar 50 dignihed and spFT0priats title should
have fallen into disuse-"
Of course. Presidents House" is in.
fnitely better than the stIted and pomp-
Gus Executive Mansion but the popular
verdict has long since gone in favor Of
White House" Those words are hal
lowed by long usage, by many memories.
and now have the prestige OF official
sanction II would be impossible 20
upToot The term, and White House Il
viii be 10 the end OF the chapter. no
matter what individual Presidents may
put on their stationery. We hone. with
our New York contemporary. that Nj.
Taft is no friend Of pomp and swollen
words. and that he prefers to live in a
house" rather than in mansion %
But some Of our Congressional friends
have already consigned him TO the latter.
We read in the Official programme Of the
inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol that
following the delivery OF his in
augural address. the President. accom-
panied by the committee Of ARRANGEMENTS.
VIII proceed 70 the Executive Mansion. -
With some establishment we observe that
the Hon Philander Chase Knox. the
Hon Henry Cabot Lodge. the Hon. Au-
gustus Octavius Bacon. the Hon. James
Francis Burke. the Hon Horace DIN
Young. aud-of all men-the Hon. John
Wesley Gaines have attached their classic
signatures 10 this grandiIoquent phrase
oiogy- Mr. Roosevelt quits the White
House; Mr.. Taft will proceed TO the
Executive Mansion. There will be a new
atmosphere and q different temperature
in the fine old dwelling Yet. may We not
hope that Mr. Taft viii maintain al least
one ROoseveltian tradition2