The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-07-30

life OF course commissions are for the most part
engraved but there names and dates to be
filled in and these written defty and then
the pile OF parchment is laid on the desk before
the president, who frequently in a seemingly aul,
tomato way signs his name to commission after
commission while carrying with 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 trivial
affairs.
When takes into consideration the fact
that hundreds Of persons who have really legit-
mate business with the White House either call
or write every day, it be at once that
the secretarys hands time and mind well
filed There are certain orders of rank which
have to be resrected and in democracy it is
pretty hard work to convince the ordinary citi-
zen that any man has the right of precedence.
AS far precedent is concerned the presidents
audiences are governed by the supposed mpor-
tance of the VISITORS official business. For in
stance. II senator is waiting to the presi-
dent and cabinet officer happens to in
the member n the presidents official family al.
ways will resident Taft first unless he says
specifically that his business is of little impor-
tance and expresses a willingness that the sen
ator shall get 10 the president ahead of him.
A newspaper man with whom President Taft
years went to he White House morning and
told Mr. Taft nat he would like to see him alone
for a minute if he could and the president
took him into side room and closed the door.
They staid together talking for fifteen minutes
and then the newspaper into the
presidents main office, leaving the president be-
hind him to write letter in seclusion. On entering
the president office the caller met senator
who had been waiting for fifteen minutes. The
senator is iovial soul and with mock soemnity
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 com.
pleted his affairs of state with a newspaper cor
respondent he will consent to an 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
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 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 black looks which II they could be put
into words would be tantamount to declaration
Of war against the United States
The American officials in Washington life are
not above being pqued II junior gets in ahead
of senior. though troubles of this kind are COZ,
fined far as Americans are concerned al,nos
wholly to social o6enses, for senator's represe-,
tatives. supreme court Judges and the rest hav
finally made up their minds that at the Whit
House one must take his changes of precedence