Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-04-14
URMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY. APRIL H. 1921

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problems.
The procedure when an effort Is
made to arrange an interview with the
President for persons who have Eot
made an appointment Is simple
enough. First the visitor confers with
the policemen who are on guard at
the entrance lobby. These men have
been there many years and they study
each stranger with an eye that 10
trained to detect the crank.
If the caller has apparently sound
reason for getting by the first line OF
entertainments, he Is directed to the
small office adjoining the secretary's
Office. where the chief clerk, Rudolph
. Forster, is stationed. Mr.. Forster has
. been there since President Taft's time
and is an experienced buffer. As
rule he finds some excuse.
In rarer instances Mr.. Forster agrees
to call the matter to the consideration
of Secretary Christian. 1t is then up
to Mr.. Christian to handle the matter
Mr. Christians authority is fur
reaching. If he decides against the
applicant there is, however, one course
left open. The applicant may hunt
up his senator or congressman ard
endeavor to bring influence to bear to
arrange an interview. But 1t Is only
In unusual cases that these senator's
or representatives press the matter
once the secretary to the President
has rejected the request.
Cranks have poor chance Of caus-
ing trouble. They are handled expedi-
tiously and effectively.
How President Works.
The secret service operatives at
tached to the White House work quiet
ly, hut none the less effectively. 1t Is
their duty to see that no person who
possibly might be under suspicion gets
anywhere near the President. They
must, therefore, have complete
check on the Presidents activities.
If the President leaves the White
House the secret service men always
are with him. There have been times
when President attempted to elude
his gA,rdians by hurrying from the
White House without giving notice OF
his Intentions. The chief usher or
some other employee gets the word
to the secret service men, and they
are Immediately In pursuit.
President Harding, because Of the
rush of business, has been tied down
to his desk in the Presidents room
In the executive offices most Of the
time since his Inauguration. Confer
ences of Importance have frequently
lasted from 80 minutes to an hour
Because of the rush of business, con-
sultations concerning appointments
and patronage have been very brief,
seldom more than five or ten minutes.
President Harding Is planning to
assemble the cabinet but once week,
unless some unexpected emergency
arises. These meetings probably will
be on Wednesdays. They are held
behind closed doors and none but the
President, the vice president and the
members Of the cabinet attend. Mr.
Harding established the custom Of in
viting the vice president to sit with
the cabinet.
The President sits at the head Of the
cabinet table and Vice President
Coolidge at the foot. The seats of
the cabinet officers are arranged ac-
cordlng to the period when the office
Of each was established. On Presi-
dent Harding's right is the secretary
Of state and on his left the secretary
Of the treasury. Then In the order
named come the secretary Of war,
attorney general, postmaster general,
secretary of the navy, secretary Of the
interior, secretary Of agriculture, sec
retary of commerce and secretary Of
labor.
At these meetings there Is a general
discussion of all departmental prob
lens upon which decisions must be
made. Developments in senate and
house also frequently are discussed.