The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-19
No Cinch, Even for a High
Official, to Obtain an
Audience with Him.
JUST NINE EXCEPTIONS
Brother Charley and the
Cabinet Officers All
Have Free Entry.
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

the white House, even though the
caller Is senator. representative,
holds high position on the judicial
bench, is member of the diplomatic
corps, or Is big" In the business or
political life OF the nation II is n
hard journey, "a troublesome one that
the caller must make before he Is
finally. II he be successful. ushered
into the presidents private Office and
Is given word or two by the presi-
dent himself.
To this number. and Il includes all
Of the people of the United States and
elsewhere there are only nine cXccp-
tons. President Tafts' brother. G.. i.
TAFT, OF Cincinnati and the eight mem.
bcrs OF his cabinet. OF course Secre-
tary Norton. assistant Secretary Eos
ter. and Chief Clerk Latta of the
White House stan. have access to
the president at all times.
Every day brings changes that
make II harder to see the president.
Tho day of the open door" at the OK.
ecutive mansion Is u thing of the past.
IL the senator wants to see the presi-
dent he arranges Tor an interview seT-
eral days i'm advance. Tho same is
true of representatives. Sometimes
they get weary OF trying 10 see the
president. and give up the task
What the Process Is
n the representative has a delega-
tlon of the big men from back home
coming to the nations capital to ask
the president to visit them, he must
20 TO the White House. send in his
name to Secretary Norton and wait
After while, perhaps an hour or
more. Secretary Norton or Assistant
Secretary Foster sees the caller. He
states his mission. They make "A note
of his request. and advise him later
when he may come. II he has n very
big delegation he must stand at the
main door Of the White House Office
on the day the delegation is to be re-
ceived. and 20. X" every man who
enters AZ one of the delegation.
The secret service operatives and
the White House police are particu-
lar as to the identity of those who en-
ter the White House Offices. The
stranger at the door explains his mis-
sion TO Detective Sergeant Dalrimple.
DIAL has been at the main door of
the White House offices. during work
ing hours for twelve years. He knows
by sight every member of congress,
every senator. every government Off
Cial. all of the railroad presidents.
and thousand or more ex-senators
and Representatives He 10 also en-
pert on picking out cranks. II the
stranger has mission that seems rea-
sonable he Is passed on by "Dal" to
one of the secretary's door keepers
II he is crank Dalrimple escorts him
TO the basement where he is examined
closely.
Up to this session of congress it
WAS not SO difficult to see President
Taft, IL you were member OF con.
Eress or high government official.
In the old days there was separate
reception room for the congressional
callers. They had a door keeper who
ushcred them into the presidents pre-
eence through n private door. They
entered for the presidential talk In the
order In which they arrived at the
White House. Government officials
and prominent visitors had a recep-
ton room. and they got i'm to see the
president through the secretary's Of
flee Then all of the doors leading
to corridors and into the reception
rooms had been taken of their hinges.
and the White House offices were tru.
~ Opened up"
Norton Makes Reforms.
Since Secretary Nortons reforms
for handling visitors have gone into
effect there have been many changes.
All Of the missing doors have been re-
set and closed. There is a door keep
err for nearly every one of them. The
congressional waiting room has been
abolished. The room is now used by
the clerks OF President Taft's econo-
my board The door through which
the congressman used to enter direct.
~ to the presidents study is closed
and the key thrown away, after the
door was locked. Now congressman
with officials and distinguished guests
assemble in the public reception room.
To make room for the overflow, for
on busy days there are many callers.
especially when the legislative mill is
grinding on Capitol Hill, the corridor
leading to Secretary Norton's Office
has been screened off. and has been
turned over TO tho congressman who
have time to wait for an audience.
The corridor has been named Lame
Duck Alley"
Senator Depew. waiting to sec he
president. took a seat in Lame Due
Alley" the Other day, and said he en-
joyed the experience. Vice President
sherman remarked to White House
attendants that the alley was not
large enough to accommodate the de.
feated senators and representatives
who are to be dropped from the pay
rolls of the senate and house at noon
on March 4. 1911.
10 Closely Guarded.
While congressman and other call
ers are given chairs In the ALLEY"
in the main corridor or in the public
reception room. they are looked
over" by secret service operatives.
The secret service guards are on
hand. too. when the president begins