The new era., 1910-08-04

life. OF course commissions are for the most part
engraved, but there names and dates to be
filled In and these are written deftly and then
the pile OF parchment is laid on the desk before
the president who frequently in seemingly au
tomato way signs his name to commission after
commission while carrying on with some visitor
at his elbow conversation relating perhaps to
intricate matters of state.
The White House officials. secretaries and
clerks have to concern themselves with all kinds
OF matters. Secretary Norton is the recipient
of letters from people all over the United States,
who write to the president upon the most trivial
affairs.
When one takes into consideration the fact
that hundreds OF persons who have really legiti-
mate business with the White House either call
write every day, 1t can be seen at once that
the secretary's hands. time and mind are well
filled. There are certain orders of rank which
have to be respected, and in democracy it is
pretty hard work to convince the ordinary citi-
that any man has the right of precedence.
AS far precedent Is concerned the presidents
audiences governed by the supposed impor-
tance of the VISITORS official business. For in
stance, IL senator Is waiting to the presi-
dent and cabinet officer happens to come in
the member Df the presidents official family al
ways will see President Taft first unless he says
specifically that his business is of little impor-
tance and expresses willingness that the sen
ator shall get to the president ahead OF him.
A newspaper man with whom President Taft
has had frequently personal reatlonS Tor some
years went to the White House morning and
told Mr. Taft that he would like to see him alone
for minute if he could and so the president
took him into side room and closed the door.
They staid together talking for fifteen minutes
and then the newspaper went out into the
presidents main office. leaving the president be-
hind him to write letter in seclusion. On entering
the presidents office the caller met senator
who had been waiting for fifteen minutes The
senator is jovial soul and with mock solemnity
of spirit he bowed low to the newspaper man.
would you mind going back to ask the presi-
dent" said the senator. "if now that he has
pleted his affairs of state with a newspaper cor
respondent he will consent to see humble
senator of the United States?"
The ambassadors and ministers representing
foreign countries In Washington are great stick
lers for precedence and every known means has
to be taken to prevent giving them offense. 1t
is almost impossible for any human being except
cne or two of the state department officials. to
keep rigid track of the rank of the diplomats and
the attaches at all the foreign legations In Wash
ington So it occasionally happens that some
second assistant secretary of the legation OF the
king of the cannibal islands is allowed to get into
a room ahead of the first assistant secretary of
the legation OF the king of ballyhoo. and then
there are black looks which If they could be put
into words would be tantamount to declaration
of war against the United States.
The American oficials In Washington life are
not above being piqued II junior gets in ahead
of a senior, though troubles of this kind are con
fined as far Americans concerned alrnos'
wholly to social ofenses. for senator's, represer
tatives, supreme court Judges and the rest hav
finally made up their minds that at the Whit
House must take his changes of precedence