Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-05-08

ably was among those who went down
with the ship. He instantly left the
theater, went tc the White House and
telegraphed steamship officials in New
York for information asking that he
be informed hourly day and night as
long as there was the slightest hope
| for the majors safety. The employees
of the White House were in nervous
condition which untitled them for
work during the days of uncertainty
concerning Arches" fate.
There was not a newspaper man in
Washington who did not like and ad-
mire this major of the quartermaster's
department The correspondents felt
personal affection for Archie" as
they all called him. ignoring his rank,
for Butt was one of the genial. sym
pathetic men who invite liking. close
comradeship and wholesome respect
At one time he was a newspaper cor
respondent in the capital This was
prior to the days of the Spanish war.
When war came he received a COM
| mission and went to the front and aft
| erward was given a commissioned
rank In the quartermaster's depart
ment His birthplace was Georgia.
There are hundreds of stories told
of Archibald w. Butt during his stay
in Washington. President Roosevelt
chose him for a personal aid, and it
was expected that when President
Taft came in some other officer would
/ succeed him. but Mr.. Taft knew the
captain and asked him to act in the
same capacity during the present ad-
ministration. Butt was part OF
Washington official and social life for
years. and he bore every burden well
and conducted himself with infinite
tact and judgment
Did Trying Work Well.
One of the majors duties was to In
troduce at the great public and semi
public receptions and at the dinners
and banquets given to and by the
president the guests who filed by TO
shake the hand of the chief executive.
1t may seem that this would be no
particularly arduous job. but it is one
of the most trying things which o
presidents aid has to do.
AS the guests approach the presi.
dent the one who is nearest whispers
his name to the introducing officer
Names. as everybody knows, are the
hardest things in the world to catch
properly. and then there are men con
ceited enough TO suppose that their
faces ought to be known ard that
therefore only perfunctory mention oil
the name is necessary. Major Butt
almost invariably caught the muttered
name correctly and transmitted II just
as correctly to the president There
never was any trouble with the ma
jor's enunciation. The most peculiar
foregn names were spoken fiuently
and clearly, and this thing in Itself
made Major Butt invaluable. because
If the president had made a mistake
himself in addressing harshaker the
guest, as is always the case. would
have felt hurt and Inundated.
The kindness of Archibald But
was shown in thousand ways. There
is a great army and navy reception
given at the White House every year
The persons eligible for invitation are
officers of the army, navy and marine
corps, both active and retired, and al
the National Guard of the District o.
Columbia. The army and navy lists
carry the names of all the officers
who have a right to be invited. but
Archie Butt was not satisfied will
these lists. He knew that living II
Washington were men who had served
their country in army and navy as
officers. but who either had resigned
from the service or had been muster
ed out at the close Of hostilities. He
took it into his hands to look UP az
many of these officers as he could and
to crafty them with the presidents
approval, of course. with invitations
to the army and navy reception
Still Suspicious About Alaska.
Congress has before it a bill
TO grant home rule to Alaska. II
seems to be entirely probable that
it will pass the house. 1t makes pro
visions for an Alaska legislature. eact
member OF which will be paid $40 I
day. This seems to be good sun
OF money for the daily service OF {
legislator when the ordinary pay o.
Ike officials of the various states il
considered. but things are high IL
Alaska and travel is expensive anC
moreover, If it is not wicked to sug
gest it, it may be that when man Ii
We'll paid he is above yielding to be
setting temptations.
Alaska has not had much done for II
at this session Of congress, notwith
standing the fact that there has beer
so much suggested in the way OF leg
islation. Just what is to be done IL
the matter OF substituting govern
ment railroad in Alaska does not yet
appear There are still all kinds Of
conflicting interests at work in the
matter of the northwestern territory
Suspicion is still rife and II one max z:
move another man says that ne fl
headed straight to the road of graf
and the ran accused retorts in kind
Alaska is still! "the Land of Sus