Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-07-30

life OF course commissions for the most part
engraved, but there are names and dates to be
hlled IN and these are written deity and then
the pile of parchment is laid on the desk before
the president who frequently in a seemingly
tomato way signs his commission after
commission while carrying with some visitor
at his elbow a 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 the United States,
who write to the president upon the most trivial
affairs
When takes into consideration the fact
that hundreds of persons who have really legiti-
mate business with the White House either call
write every day, it can be at that
the secretary's hands, time and mind are well
filed There certain orders of rank which
have to be respected, and in a democracy it is
pretty hard work to convince the ordinary citi-
that any has the right of precedence.
AS far precedent is concerned the presidents
audiences governed by the supposed impor-
lance of the visitors official business For in
stance, If a senator is waiting to the presi-
dent and cabinet officer happens to come in
the member of the presidents official family al
ways will President Taft first unless he says
specifically that his business is of little impor-
lance and expresses a willingness that the
ator shall get to the president ahead of him.
A newspaper with whom President Taft
has had frequently personal relations for some
years went to the White House one morning and
told Mr.. Taft that he would like to see him alone
for minute if he could, and the president
a
They staid together talking for fifteen minutes
and then the newspaper man went out into the
presidents main ONCE, leaving the president be-
hind him write letter in seclusiOn. On entering
the presidents Office the caller met a senator
who had been waiting for fifteen minutes. The
senator is a jovia1 soul and with mock solemnity
of spirit he bowed low to the newspaper man
Would you mind going back to ask the pres
dent" said the senator, eff now that he has
pleted his affairs of state with newspaper
respondent he will consent to humble
of United States ?"
The ambassadors and ministers representing
foreign countries in Washington great stick
lers for precedence and every known means has
to be taken prevent giving them offense 1t
is almost impossible for any human being except
one 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 cannbal 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
of war against the United States.
The American officials in Washington life are
not above being piqued If junior gets in ahead
of senior, though troubles of this kind are con-
fined far Americans concerned almost
wholly to social onenses, for senator's, represen-
tatives, supreme court judges and the rest have
finally made up their minds that at the White
House must take his changes of precedence