The Washington times., 1912-01-01
White House Reception
Largest in History of
\ the Republic.
OFFICIALS AND PLAIN
CITIZENS IN LONG LINE
Music and Much Gold Braid
Makes Spectacular Scene at
Old Mansion.
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NSoHtlHueQ from First PageD
various bureaus of the War Department
More than 500 officers Of the Army par.
ticipated In the reception.
Almost as many naval officers filed
through the mansion. Rear Admiral
Hicnard wainwright was at the head
OF the list and was the first to- receive
a New Year greeting from the Presi-
oent. Other rear admirals came next,
and then the remainder Of the officers
OF the army. according to rank. went
Secretary of the Navy Meyer did an
unusual thing. Instead Of remaining
with the Cabinet he went to the Nayy
Department and headed the line of
naval officers; That is, he went before
eomPahied by his naval aide, Com
The fall of Rear Admiral Potter on
tpo steps OF the Department. caused the
naval line to break for few minutes.
Flo was hurriedly taken away by some
o. the officers who were with him ana
the line again formed.
Department Chiefs Turn.
Shortly after the officers Of the mill
tary and navy were presented the de-
partment chiefs were shown in.. They
were headed by Soil itor General Leh-
tnan. of the Department Of Justice. He
10 the dean Of department officials next
to the Cabinet officers themselves.
The Solicitor General was fankcd by
the Assistant Attorneys General, in
cluding William H. Lewis, the colored
1 lawyer from Boston. He took precedence
cept those of the Department OF JUS
tice. After him came the Assistant
Postsmasters General. the regents and
secretary OF the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, the Civil Service Commission, the
Tarih Board, the Railroad Securities
commission, the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia. the lsthmian
of the ofsd statss the ne.
Of Congress. the Public Printer, the
heads OF the bureaus Of the various de-
partments, end the president of the
Rolumbia Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb.
The President and Mrs. Taft then re-
cetycd the various civic and patriotic
societies Of Washington. This list in
ciuded the Society Of the Cincinnati; the
of the LOYAL Legion: the Grand Army
Of the Republic: the Medal Of Honor Le-
Eion; the Union Veteran Legion: the
Union Veterans Union; the Society Of
Veterans; the Army and Navy Union;
the Minuts Men: the Sons Of the Amer
lean Revolution, ami the members OF
the oldest Tnhabitanrs' Association D.
Washington.
Citizens Chance.
Py hurryIng events along the White
House attaches were able to dispose of
the official visitors few minutes be-
fore Il o'clock. This made II possible
for the line of citizens to get started
half an hour ahead of schedule. Usually
this line moves forward from one half
t. an hour late
Then. until nearly 2 in the afternoon,
the people were pressed along. They
entered at the northwest gate, and
double file. At the main portico they
were pressed into singles file. and as
such passed through the East Room,
then on through the Blue. thc Red. and
the state dining rooms in order. They
passed out through the eastern entrance.
Lrcllas .or bundles of anv kind were
held up and compelled either to surren-
der their packages or else turn back.
Attendants took care of these bundles
and returned them to these who were
willing to part with them. At the en-
trance to the Blue Room Secret Service
r1en were stationed and compelled each
visitor TO remove his or her LANDS from
pockets or from NUTS. This Is a pre-
caution which Is taken every year when
public receptions are being held.
The registration machine recording
the number that passed through to
Mrs. Taft shows the largest assemble ge
that ever attended a Taft reception and
close to the largest that ever came to
shake hands with Theodore Roosevelt
when he was President. AS the line
was thinning out the machine showed
more than S,4O0 had passed through.
Last year It registered but $500.