The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-08

the president, Vice President. foreign am
bassadors, foreign ministers. the Chief
Justice. and the President pro TEN. of
the Senate preceding him. Every Speaker
since this change was made has contest
ed it, Neither Mr. Reed nor Gen. Hen
derson would accept invitations TO func-
tons where they would be given a lower
place among the officials than that 10
which they believed they were entitled.
Mr.. Reed Resents Slight.
At the dedication Of the Grant mauso-
leum in New York. Mr. Reed. then
Speaker, was placed IN a carriage behind
those occupied by the members OF the
Senate. He resented the slight put upon
his Office. II was obviously impossible
10 force an issue on such a solemn oc-
casion, but after the exercises were over
he made a formal protest TO the commit
tee Of arrangements.
The conflict between Senator Frye and
Speaker Henderson for social ascendency.
or social precedence. rather, IS still fresh
in the public mind. II happened that
the President pro TEN. Of the Senate and
the Speaker Of the House were both
invited TO the first official dinner Of the
season, following Mr.. Henderson's cleo
ton, at the White House. When the
escorts were allotted II fell to Senator
FRYE TO take Mrs. Mckinley TO table.
whereas. according TO Gen. Henderson's
idea, he should have been allowed this
honor. There was, Of course. no dis
pute at the time, but following the dinner,
the Speaker brought the Presidents at
tenton TO what he termed the error"
that had been committed. The President.
however, refused TO alter the ruling that
had been made, and Senator Frye out
ranked the Speaker as long as he re-
manned in Office.
In later years the official arbiter has
been more tactful Since Mr. Cannon
held the gavel there have been no social
.contretemps of consequence, which is
due to Miss Cannon's tact more than 10
the cIeverness of the director of social
affairs that are semi-official Miss Can
non takes the place that is allotted 10
her without comment or rancor. Some
times she Is given the first place some
times the second. sometimes. when the
wife OF the Vice President, the wives
Of ambassadors and Of the justices of the
Supreme Court are present. she is put
quite low down on the list, and her posi-
ton as an unmarried woman is often
made the excuse for placing her in an
other position than that which would be
assigned to the wife of the Speaker.
But Miss Cannon. with rare wisdom
and lsrge-heartedness, goes on the prin-
ciple that every one inviting her to their
houses seeks to honor her If her hosts
are uniformed as 10 what her exact
staus should be. or if they differ from
the general opinion regarding the Mace
that should be hers. she makes no pro-
test or comment. but accepts the hos
pitality in the same hearty spirit it Is
offered.
Easily Settles Question.
AS TO the Speaker. his position is, natu- !
rally, a different one from that Of his
unmarried daughter, and more considera-
tons guide his conduct But there has
been no scandal over the question of
precedence since he was elected TO the
Speakers chair. for when a difficult ones
ton is likely to arise Mr.. Cannon settles
II by the simple method Of remaining
away.
Men OF every style. character, and orr !
gin have occupied the Office of Speaker
The manners of some suggest the Judges
bench, as those of Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.
Crisp; others recall the old-time school |
master, and the gavel in the hands NJ
these is welded not unlike the ruler OF
the ancient pedagogue, such one as
was Reed. who was in some ways the
severest and most exacting master the
House ever had. Colfex was the smiling
good-natured man Of the world, and Of |