Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-15
Presidents New Secretary
Succeeds in Pleasing All.
HE HAS MADE NO MISTAKES
Mr.. Taft Sees More People Than He
Ever Did.
WAY TO HIS EAR MADE EASY
Newspaper Men Get Help in Collect
ing News and Are Given All
Available Information.

Charles D. Norton, President Taft's
new secretary, has methods all his own
in performing his duties. According to
tho verdict Of those who have come IN
contact with him. he has made good ana
has been a success from the start.
With undisputed tact and skill, re-
markedly clear head and mental and
pr ysical enarg1es never before SO active
ly applied In connection with the work
Of the post, he has grasped and Is
grasping Che important. intricate and
delicate tasks assigned to him.
Practically no complaints have been
made against him. On the other hand
he has been highly eulogized by those
who have watched his methods and move
ments.
Gets Along Swimmingly.
Mr.. Norton has gotten along swim
mingly with statesmen, politicians, news
paper men. ofiic!al end other callers hav-
ing business at the White House. With
the single thought Of serving best the
interests Of his chief, the President. he
has smoothed out many difficulties that
threatened to make enemies for Mr..
Taft.
In doing this he has tactfully forced
upon the big boss" more people and
more work than the preset executive
ever before attempted to handle. 1t has
all been put through with an ease that
has kept kicking down to minimum.
More appointments are made to see the
President than ever before. More people
see and talk with the executive who do
not have appointments than ever before.
In fact, no one with a good case is
turned down in a request to see Mr.. Taft.
Appointments are made promptly, in
stead Of being delayed for days and
sometimes weeks.
President Not overtaxed.
So long as the President makes no COM
plant about being rushed Mr.. Norton will
keep on as he Is going. But he is at
the same time careful not to overdo the
Presidents nervous strength. and draws
the line at afternoon appointments. leav-
ing the President free to go out for the
exercise 60 necessary to keep him in
good health.
Mr.. Norton so arranges matters as to
encourage the Presidents love for golf,
horseback riding and walking. The abb
sence Of the President in the afternoons
also gives Mr.. Norton time and oppor-
tunity to go over the mass OF correspond
ence flowing through the Office.
He wishes to keep in touch with every
thing going on, and no: only keeps close
track Of all correspondence, but through
out the day is in and out Of the Presi-
dents office. frequently taking part in
the conferences being held.
1t Is impossible, however, to be with
the President at all times and talk with
the scores of callers having business
either with the executive or the secre-
tary's Office.
Norton Kept Hard at It.
The result Of this Is an amount of leg
work and brain work unprecedented at
the White House. The new secretary is
on the move every minute of the office
hours OF the President. first in the Office
OF the executive and then in his own.
Under Mr.. Norton's new arrangement
all callers. whether with or without ap-
pointments with the President. pass
through the secretarys Office. He be-
him to keep in close touch with what Is
going on Tao with any possible COM
plant
Heretofore callers with appointments
have gone directly into the President 8
Offices or awaited their turns in the re-
DAY looks like a reception room, and there
is no mystery or secrets. private talking
being almost out OF the question.
Mr.. Norton's frank way Of dealing with
tne newspaper correspondents has been
pleasing to them. Access to him is as
easy as the circumstances of a busy day
will permit.
He answers questions with an openness
directness and willingness that show a
desire to aid the correspondents and re-
porters In ascertaining all facts that they
are legitinately entitled to. In many in
stances the men are taken into the conf
dence Of the new official in questions not
ripe for publication. This confidence is
not. of course, betrayed.
Mr. Norton's one request, now we'll I'M
derstood. is that he is not to be quoted by
the newspapers. His statements to the
reporters and correspondents are often
made hurriedly and are done to aid the
men in their search for information.
Quotation might bring trouble.
Mr. Norton objects to it because he is
not seeking notoriety. He anxiously tries
to avoid It,
In only one case, so far has his request
against quotation been violated. It will!
probably not happen again.