The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-01
WHITE HOUSE
OPEN TO ALL
President Taft Holds His Last
New Years Reception.
Thousands Are in Line to
Shake His Hand.
1T WAS A RIOT OF COLOR
Representatives of Foreign Ma
tiOns in Native Costume.
Knox Gives a Breakfast in Pan.
American Building.
Washington

Washington, Jan. President
Taft's fourth and last New Years re-
ception at the White House was
greeted by a day beautiful and bright.
Thousands early turned their eyes and
their steps in the direction of the ex-
ecutive mansion. Long before the
time at which the chief executive of
the nation was ready to shake hands
with every citizen who cared to avail
himself of the privilege, a crowd of
men, women and children stood in line
from the front door of the White
House to the distant gate and far be-
yond towards the state, war and navy
buildings.
The rich and gorgeous uniforms of
the foreign diplomats. the gold lace of
the long line of American army and
navy officers and in the background
the brilliant scarlet coats of the ma
rine band were features in the NOV
ing picture of the days events at the
White House with the color customs
of thousands of ordinary citizens
The president and Mrs. Taft wished
a happy New Year, first to members
of the cabinet and their wives and to
the diplomatic corps. These were fol-
lowed by members of the supreme
court and by the judges of the other
ficers, ambassadors and ministers.
next members of congress. then II
army and marine corps officers. After
ward came a long line of go-ernment
then members of the Grand Army of
the Republic and a number of other
military societies.
Doors Open to All.
After all these had been greeted
the doors of the White House stood
open to the humblest citizen in the
land and he, too. was assured of a
hearty hand shake and smile.
One picturesque touch, absent from
the New Years Kaleidoscope of color
ho White HnnGa ha frQt frf1a
in ten years. was missing because
Baron Hengelmuller, ambassador
from Austria Hungary, dean OF the
diplomatic corps, was not in the city
His royalty gorgeous costume of
rich purple and red always attracted
much attention. Several other diplo-
mats were unable to be present be-
cause of sickness, the Chilean and
Colombian ministers being among the
number. The diplomatic line was led
by Ambassador Jusserand of France.
For one ambassador, Viscount
Chinda of Japan, it was a first ap-
pearance at a New Years reception
at the White House, while a number
of ministers had never attended onf
before, these including the repre-
sentatives from the Dominican repu
lie, Peru, Sweden, Siam, Hondur 4.
Denmark and Panama.
Brilliant Spectacle.
The army and navy contingent
Every officer of the two services
as we'll as of the marine branch now
in Washington was under orders to
report at the war and navy depart
ments The former gathered in the
offices of Major General Wood, chief
of staff, and headed by that officer
and Lieut.. General Miles retired in
double file, moved slowly through
the corridors and down the granite
staircase on the eastern approach and
across Executive avenue to the White
House. Many officers of high rank
held place in the line While the
army officers were being presented,
the officers of the navy were pre-
pared to fall in at Secretary Meyers
offices under the leadership of Rear
Admiral Vreeland, aide for opera
tions, and Rear Admiral Badger, the
new commander in chief of the At
lantic fleet.
Secretary of State and Mrs. Knox
prepared to receive the diplomats i'm
mediately after they left the White
House at a breakfast in their honor
given in the Pan-American Union
building.
To meet them there were Invited
also the members of the foreign rela-
tions and house foreign affairs com
mittees- Not only at the White House
and the Pan-American building. but
through all official Washington re-
ceptions were the order of the dev
Cabinet officers and their wives pre-
pared to dispense hospitality to all
who might come. Secretary and Mrs
Knox alone received none but the
mem berS of the diDlOmafic corna