The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-08-03

life. OF course commissions are FOR the mos, par,
engraved, but there are names and dates 10 be
filed IN and these are written DEITY and then
the pile Of parchment is laid On tie desk before
'ne PRESIDENT. VITO frequently in a seemingly Al.
tomato way signs his name 20 commission after
commission while Carving On with some visitor
a. his elbow conversation relating perhaps TO
intricate matters Of state.
Tie 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 TIE most trivial
affairs.
When one takes into consideration the fact
that hundreds O: persons VITO have really Ieg-i-
mate business with TIE white House either call
or write every dag. i, can be seen al once thai,
the sscretary's hands. time and mind are well
filed. There are certain orders Of rank which
have 20 BE- respected and IN q democracy IL is
pretty hard work 20 convince TIE ordinary ci.i-
zen that any man has the right Of precedence
AS far as precedent Is concerned the presidents
artiences are governed By the supposed impcr-
taace Of the visitors oacial business Fer in.
stance. IL . senator Is waiting to see the presi
cent and q cabinet of!cer happens TO come In
the member >; the presidents Official family al
wars will see Presiden, Taft first unless be says
specifically taat his business is Of little iupor.
lance and expresses a willingness that the SEN
ator shall get to the president ahead OF him.
A newspaper man with whom President TAR
has had frequently personal relations for some
years went 70 the White House one morning and
told Mr.. Tai. that be would Ike 70 see him alone
for minute he could. and so the president
took him Into side room and closed the door
They s.aid together talking for fifteen minutes
and then the newspaper man went OFT into the
presidents main once. leaving the president BE-
hind him 10 write letter n seclusion On entering
the PRESIDENTS Office the caller met q senator
who had been waiting for fifteen minutes. The
senator is !ov.al soul and with mock solemnity
Of spirit he bowed low to TIE newspaper man
.Wou,i you mind going back 10 ask the pres!-
dent" said the senator. II now that he has COM
p,e-ed his affairs Of state with q newspaper cor
respondent he will consent TO see al humble
senator Of TIE United S,aces:-
Tia ambassadors and ministers representing
foreign countries in Washington are grea, stick
lers for precedence and every known means has
20 be taken to prevent giving them osense. II
is almost impossible for any human being e1cep:
che OF two Of the state department osic:als. 10
keep rigid track Of the rank 0: the diplomats and
the attaches at all tie foreign legations il Wash
ington. So il occasionally happens that some
second assistant secretary o! the legation OF the
king Of the cannibal islands Is allowed get into
a room ahead o: the ars, assistant secretary Of
the legation o. the king Of baIlyhoo and then
there are black locks which II they could be put
into words would be tantanounc 70 a declaration
Of var against tie United States.
Tie American officials In WASHINGTON u.e are
net above being piquei il Junior gets in ahead
Of senior. though troubles o: this kind are coz
fined as far as Americans are concerned almost
wholly 70 social ofeoses. for senators. represea-
tat!ves supreme court judges and the rest lave
finally msds Up their minds tia: at the White
House one 0ust take his changes Of precedence.