The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-11-14
PAGE THREE

public functions revolve-providing, of
course, that the voters select with dis
elimination. In the national capital
there comes at intervals a family in
variably selected from the nations
choicest set, who Immediately become
the leaders in society and all public
affairs in Washington. Mr.. Taft in an
address last year referred to himself
as mayor of Washington From a
purely personal standpoint Washing.
Taft, but unfortunately Mrs. Taft has
been unable TO appear but little in
public, while the children's ages have
been such that they have mingled
almost altogether with the younger
set. SO there is an air of expectancy
regarding the Wilson family and the
polished Wilson, who happily has a
brilliant wife and three dashing,
charming daughters, will constitute a
formidable social strength that even
the office of President has not given
to the White House in many years.
Washington will bend the knee and
make its courtesies TO a family by
nature destined to rule.
Upon his election to the office Of
president the secret service completed
plans to safeguard the life of Cover
nor Wilson. This is the result of a
law enacted by congress following the
assassination of President Mckinley,
and Chief Wilkie Immediately put the
act into effect. Thus the government
has solved the problem of how to take
care of our presidents, leaving in
allegiance the old conundrum: What
will We do with our ex-presidents?"
All flags over government buildings
are required by executive order to re-
main at half mast for a month, as a
mark Of respect to the late Vice-Presi-
dent Sherman. The morning after
election the stars and stripes over the
United States treasury were floating
at the top OF the pole. 1t was suggest.
ed in Washington that there must be
a democrat running that flag.
People of the interior miss the
dashing splendor of the United States
navy, but it must be a good thing be-
cause they are helping to pay $780,
100000 for its maintenance the pres
ent year. England is expanding $685.
100000 for the same purpose. The
eight great powers of the world are
spending for this purpose nearly a
billion and a half dollars. In every
country there is a crying demand
that bigger, better and "grimmer"
warships be odded, and that the ap-
preparations be increased. In our
own peace-loving America a big minor
ity in congress and high official cir
cles, nearly worked themselves in
Mysteries last summer because the
house insisted upon but one battle
ship. In recent years two Of these
monsters a been built each year,
and not in order to make up for the
omission an attempt will be made to
crowd through three ships the COM
ing year. Which reminds one that the
season for worlds peace dinners is
rapidly approaching! These latter
events were among the most success
full social stunts of the capitol a year
ago.
Individually all the old residents of
the capital are preparing to throw
their old shoes at Mrs. Cleveland, IL
1t will help to add to her happiness,
as the lady was one of the most popu-
lar of all the White House mistresses,
and here as elsewhere the good wo-
man has ever made friends. Mrs.
Cleveland has the free use of the mails
of the United States, and her ranking
privilege is for life. Someone has
suggested that when she marries
again she will forfeit his privilege,
but this does not appear to be the
official view and it is improbable that
the government will see the widow
Of Grover Cleveland shorn of this dis
%tinctive honor, even though she does
take a second jump at the broomstick.