The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-08
WHITE: HOUSE
FORCE UNEASY
Employees at Executive Offices
Fear They'll Lose Jobs Un-
der New Regime.

As the time for the change OF
administration approaches there Is
some uneasiness and misgiyinRs on
the part Of employees at the White
House as to their fate under the
Harding regime, although there have
been no indications yet Of any sweep
ing upsets Of the present personnel.
WILSON KEPT ALL.
Contrary to all expectations, when
Joseph p. Tumulty took possession o.,
the executive offices on March 4, 1vlo
as Secretary to President Wilson. he
did not remove a single employe, an
nouncing that IL would be his unal-
terable policy to recognize merit ana
past service. He has adhered To TINS
principle through nearly eight years
now, although he WAS stormed by
many hungry ofYice-seekers and was
subjected to much political pressure
Most Of the employees and officials
have held their places for more than
a score of years, their faithful ana
efficient service having made them
virtually fixtures. A few of them
come during the Mckinley admins
tration, but q greater number date
their terms OF service from the
Roosevelt days.
NONPARTIsAN TRIO.
Foremost among the "old reliaoles'
whose service reach nearly thi'
wears are Rudolph Forster. executive
secretary; Nelson p. Wooster. q"
bursting officer, and Irwin II. Hoover,
chief usher. This nonpartisan trio
are a part of the White House ma
chine, and to their efficiency may be
credited the methodical smoothness
with which the routine business Is
conducted.
Forster not only has a most init
mate knowledge of all the nicetles
and technicalities of official anairs'
but also knows personally as many
public men as any individual In
America Likewise. Mr.. Hoover has
a knowledge of the social formalities
and acQuaintances that makes MIN
peculiarly fitted for his post.
Another veteran is Maurice c.
Latta. record clerk. who has filled
several Of the most important places
in the executive offices. In the file
room with records of more than TWEEN
ty years service are c. b. lnglins'
william T. Marshall, Charles Pussy,
7. Chancellor Willis and John S. Roll
Inns Veterans holding confidential
positions are Clarence T. Hess. Ira H.
n. Smith and Charles wagner. me
social secretary, william f. Rockwell
is also a long timer with splendid
record.
HAS THREE OPERATORS.
Tho three operators in the tale
rraph room are old timers barking
back to the days OF Mckinley, 81
though they don't like to admit 1t.
They are Edward w. Smithers. CHIEF.
who has prepared the itineraries cf
the Presidents for the past twenty
five years. arranging schedules COW
ering hundreds Of thousands OF miiHs'
Jules A. Rodier and Frederick Hon
helm. This trio handles all the tele-
graph and telephone messages for the
White House, operating both the
switchboard and the telegraph IN
struments.
A Roosevelt find" still doing bust
ness at the old stand is Patrick r..
NcKenna. the buffer mot bluffer) be-
tween the public and the President
or hts Secretary. 1t is necessary to
see pat" before entering the sacred
and seclusive chambers OF the Chler
Executive. He has ruled with dig
nifty and diplomatic skill through five
administrations and all callers at
The Executive offices for twenty-five
years know "Pat"-and he knows
them.
POLICE ARE VETERANS.
Among the policemen there are
csuple who hrst entered the service
as guards during the Cleveland ad'
rninistration. They are Frank X
Jmmert and John s. Jamison, the for
ner being detailed first to protect the
Cleveland children after threats had
been made to kidnap them Guardians
pf the Executive office trenches are
Noble A. Beans and Walter S. Brady.
whose spotiess records assure them
continued service.
AS matter of fact, Secretary
rumulty will turn back to the Re-
publicans practically the same force
hat they left him eight years ago,
md II is not expected that President
Harding or his Secretary will make
many changes.