The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-30
PRECEDENCE IS BIG
 WORD JUST NOW AT
 NATIONAL CAPITAL
Coming of So Many European Celebrities Has Social
 Leaders In Quandary
By BETTY BAXTER <pecial Correspondent to The ARe- Herald Copyright 1891, by The Ee-Heraldl

much, or whether the Pacific prob lem will overshado@ disarmament? That is what our serious minded ones are talking about. But so-called frivolous Washington has a problem all its own just as weghty--yes, don't smile; because it's no laugh ing matter, and that problem is prece- dence, spelled with bigger letters than ever before.
 Noah Webster made one great bis mistake when he put that word in his dictionary. And to make mat ters worse, he gave it nine synonyms, when It hasn't one. No, not one. I'm sure all the diplomats and mem bers of the cabinet in Washington agree with me that there's nothing like it on the face of the globe. This is the view of Robert Woods Bliss and Alvey A, Adee, of the state de- partment.
 While his chief, MT. Hughes, is en- gazing with weighty matters of world concern. MT. Bliss, third as- sistant secretary of state who, as some hotels would put it, Is our of ficial "greeter" of all foreign dele gates and representatives, Is arming to the teeth with etiquette of prece- dence. And without a doubt, Alvey Adee, oldest official of the state de- partment in service, whose hobby used to be bicycling through Europe in the summertime, will have to pol ish up his well-nigh inexhaustible memory.
 But weren't Joffre and Balfour and later the Prince of Wales and the King and Queen of the Belgians here before? What is all the excitement about?
 Never Such An Array.
 Yes, but never did such an array of European statesmanship as that due on November Il ever descend upon Washington all at once. That's where the big precedence rub and all the social rub-adub dub comes in. And you must know that this prece- dence matter isn't trivial! When the Romans come, you must do as the Romans do; also the British, the French, the Japanese and the Chi nese which Is a large order, you must admit. What Is said at the tea table or at a dinner part, and how the wife of some dignitary is greeted by the wife of another, may have much to do with diplomatic re- suits and diplomats after all are just human.
 And I'm wondering If maybe Gen eral Diaz and Jaques, and Admiral Beatty didn't think so, too, and de- cided in desperation to leave town before the dinner and reception to- night that the French Ambassador and Mme. Jusserand gave for Marshal Foch, who arrived on the scene last night-just in time to make his bow before the curtain goes down on the prologue for the big show.
 Yes, they've gone. General Ar mando Vitto Rio sDiaz, commander in chief of the Italian armies; General Daron Jacques. commander in chief of the Belgian armies, and Admiral of the British fleet, Earl Beatty, o. M, c. c. B., C. c. V. O., K. c. B K c. V. O., D. s. O., NJ. V. O., and all and everything. They are on their way to Kansas City to attend the big convention of the American Legion, which is the why of their visit to America. General Diaz and General Jacques left with their parties on their special train direct for the west and Admiral Beatty, with Lady Beat ty and probably Young Peter Beatty. by way of New York and Chicago, to be entertained by their relative and friends before joining the others at Kansas City.
 Answered for Everyone
 And maybe precedence didn't have anything to do with it, but at any rate their leaving answered the question Tor everyone else, who was wonder ing if they would attend a function given for some other celebrities of the same rank and importance and by so doing. give us a chance to see them all on the stage at once,
 Which would have been very grand for us, but not entirely decorous for them.
 Because to observe the rules as they are laid down, one celebrity Is not supposed to attend function given for another. unless the guest of honor outranks him. For instance. the Vice President and Mrs. Coolidge could not go to the reception at the Italian embassy Tuesday evening which the charge d'affaires gave for General Diaz because a Vice Pres ident cannot attend anything given to one less important, the ambassa- dor in this case being still in Flu rope on his way home.
 The President and Mrs. Harding, who are so loathe to observe prece- dence. overcame the difficulty by leaving for their southern trip and returned Friday in time to welcome General Foch and give him lunch con. Yes, that's precedence. Prece- dence is an honor which if given to anyone. instead of giving them more privileges gives them fewer because you see the more precedence you have the fewer parties you can att tend, and those poor souls who are socially inclined, and at the same inn portant, are in hard luck.
 Jacques Goes Anyway
 Unless, of course, you are like Gen eral Jacques, who went to the recep- tion of General Diaz regardless of precedence, maybe taking advantage of the fact that he was in a free country, and having just come from his own country which along with France is turning itself upside down to be democratic, and where princess, counts, marquis and barons are busy al bees making sardine cans, run ming nail factories. clerking in banks and doing anything they can to make an honest living, forgetting prece- dence and titles and social standing, and bringing their humble business friends home to dinner and into their clubs. and those who can't earn their living being billed" and canned" regardless of rank and title.
 So it seems to me that the few rules of precedence which are left. are observed very grudgingly and very often forgotten, and with Mrs. Harding presiding at the White House we will probably grow more and more practical and If the exam pie which she set on Saturday is fol- lowed by inviting all the Senate la dies to the White House in order that all the cabinet ladies might call on them in one body--why all the off