Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1914-04-02

NAAo oubJSNN AS
Is a word miser, writes Lambert st.
Clair In Golfers.
now, II they would select baseball.
the weather or something like that for
discussion he would gladly consider
any fair offer. On such topics he con.
verses ably and affably. OF living
hrst men Of the nation he probably
knows more and says less than any
man In this country.
Wherever the president has been
during his term Of Office in the last IL
years, at work or play, on land or sea,
atoot or horseback, Sloan generally
has been at his elbow. Yet few peo-
pie know hin by sight, for his Job Is
to be never noticeable and to keep his
eyes open and his mouth shut. In
Washington's official circles, where he
Is best known, he is Jimmie" Sloan,
able-bodied gentleman.
When l learned--not from him
mat he had received %flattering offers
for lectures, I asked him why he did
not accept. He grinned and said:
It's not for me; I'm a working
man."
That explains why Sloan has made
SO good on his job hat three presl-
dents have retained him without ask
Ing his politics. He knows his work
and he likes 1t. He is a born protect
or. His father before him was sheriff
of Vermilion county. Illinois, and when
he died ne was In the employ of a rail-
road as a special officer. A brother,
Henry, was a deputy sheriff, and later,
in the Illinois state fire marshal's Of
nee, he made an enyiable record. The
first time l ever saw Sloan was back
in 1890, out in Danville, Ill. He was a
deputy sheriff, but wore only a small
star.
Within three years l began to read
In the newspapers that Sloan had
reached the White House, via the se-
cret service, so I just naturally had
to brag around u town about seeing
him face to face. Something told me
then that Sloan no longer was lacking
In regalia. pictured him as being
dressed like a military aid with a
sword swinging around when he
walked and making his left leg all
black and blue. Again, when / re-
nected that he really was a high grade
detective 1t occurred to me that posi-
bly, he had six or eight sets of false
whiskers to help keep his identity Sc
cret 30 that he could slip into an.
archists meetings and learn their
plans.
Time came when | saw him on duty
In the White House, and / never was
more surprised. / asked for Sloan and
he was pointed out right away. He
sat Just outside the presidents office,
and he was dressed like q business
man rather than a soldier or a Hawk.
shaw. He was the best tailored and
best groomed man in sight. II he wore
a star I did not see It.
A presidents protector does not
work union hours. When the presi.
lent leaves the White House It Is
Sloan's duty to go with him.
There are other secret service men
detailed to the executive Offices, but
Sloan is the chief staff and personal
bodyguard. Many times he works
every week day at the office and then
spends part of the night motor riding
with the president, or at q theater-
which President Wilson attends fire.
quently--and again Is on duty on Sun.
day. He seldom is more than a few
feet away from the president in pub.
lie. Every move made by the execu.
tive and those about him is noted
carefully by his bodyguard.
Sloan's life under President Wilson
Is quiet compared to what It was un.
der Colonel Roosevelt. Because Sloan
was Of the athletic type the colonel
admired him greatly and they were
boon companions. 1t was nothing un-
usual to see them trudging around
Washington in the rain late at night
or %galloping over the hills In the day.
time. Under President Taft life for
Sloan was less strenuous, though he
walked many miles acroas rolf lL,b.